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Ad hoc committee formed to plan 25th‑anniversary sculpture fundraising; board discusses selling engraved bricks
Summary
Board members discussed fundraising for a 25th‑anniversary sculpture installation, including selling engraved bricks (estimated 324 bricks) and possible pricing between $100–$250 per brick. Staff recommended forming an ad hoc committee and exploring fiscal sponsorship through local nonprofits.
Members of the Athens Recreation Advisory Board discussed plans to raise private funds for the department's 25th‑anniversary sculpture installation and agreed to move the project forward through an ad hoc fundraising committee.
Catherine, a staff member, described a proposal from Joshua Tree for the sculpture surface and said the board could sell engraved bricks to help pay for the work. “So if we did a $100 a brick, then that would more than cover and pay us back for the work,” Catherine said during the discussion. The staff reported a count of roughly 324 bricks and estimated the brick surface at about $27,500.
Board members suggested options to increase fundraising capacity, including offering larger plaques on sandstone seating blocks, seeking verbal commitments ahead of formal marketing materials, using a shared prospect list and selling bricks at events such as the farmers market. One member recommended setting the brick price at $250; staff calculated that at $250 per brick the project could raise roughly $81,000.
The group discussed administrative pathways for handling donations. The advisory board has previously explored a nonprofit, Friends of Athens Arts, Parks, and Recreation; members said that entity appears on the IRS site but had not maintained an active treasurer and therefore had not remained active. Catherine noted the board could pursue a fiscal sponsor such as the Athens County Foundation or ask an existing nonprofit to accept funds on the department’s behalf. Members noted tradeoffs: using a fiscal sponsor can accelerate large fundraising needs, while accepting donations directly into city revenue affects budgeting and appropriations.
Catherine said staff will assemble the ad hoc committee (Annie, Stewart and a third member) and loop in Erin, who will serve as a primary point of contact for outreach. The committee will clarify engraving specifications, pricing tiers (brick sizes and plaque options), marketing materials, and whether sales can begin prior to reestablishing a Friends organization or securing a fiscal sponsor.
No formal vote was recorded. The ad hoc committee is expected to meet to create a prospect list and follow up with Joshua Tree about materials and engraving details before reporting back to the full board.
