Pressroom Story

Women’s Council Celebrates 70 Years

In Brief:

Title: Rochester Museum & Science Center Women's Council Celebrates 70 Years of Service by Setting New Fundraising Goal

Detailed Information: www.rmsc.org; Facebook; Twitter (@rocRMSC)

Rochester Museum & Science Center Women's Council Celebrates 70 Years of Service by Setting New Fundraising Goal

ROCHESTER, NY—The Women's Council, a volunteer service organization that supports the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC), celebrates its 70^th year in 2012. The Women's Council contributed $801,000 to the RMSC during the past ten years and hopes to add another $100,000 in 2012—the RMSC's centennial year.

The Women's Council, founded in 1941, is dedicated to providing members with opportunities for educational growth and social interaction, and has been fundraising for the RMSC since its inception. During the past twenty years, a multitude of successful projects and the dedication of its members enabled the Women's Council to make numerous gifts to the Museum.

The annual "Holiday Bazaar Arts & Crafts Sale" on November 16 through 18 will be a key contributor to the fundraising goal for this year. The sale continues to be the Council's biggest fundraiser, and it has been popular for the past 41 years. In addition, the "3^rd Annual Garden Tour" will take place June 23 of this year, the "7^th Annual Golf Tournament" on August 13, and the "Fantastic Findings Sale" September 21 and 22—all are expected to help boost funds.

"The success of the Women's Council after 70 years is a tribute to the enthusiasm, energy, talent, vision, dedication and camaraderie of its members," said Kate Bennett, president, RMSC. "We are grateful for their countless hours of hard work and unwavering commitment to our institution. We are so fortunate to have their support."

From 1991 to today, the Women's Council grew in its activities and contributions to the RMSC. In 1991, the Women's Council presented the thirtieth annual "Herb and Flower Sale," and also began the "Taste Sensations" fundraiser. "Brushstrokes," a group of crafty Women's Council members who created items for sale at meetings and the annual "Holiday Bazaar Arts & Crafts Sale" became a new source of income.

With a payment of $15,000 in 1993, the Women's Council completed "Accepting the Challenge" (ATC), a gift of $150,000 that was given during the course of five years. Between 1994 and 1995, the Women's Council fulfilled their two-year commitment of $100,000 toward the Museum's Capital Campaign Phase 2. In addition, the Women's Council gave $72,000 for upgrades to Museum facilities.

Fundraising continued as the Women's Council gave increasing revenue to the RMSC. The greatest addition to the RMSC in 1996 was the hiring of Rochester native, Kate Bennett, as the new president. Spring of 1997 was the beginning of the formal interaction with the other cultural councils, their directors and presidents. Funds raised by the Women's Council provided upgrades to the Eisenhart kitchen and a fellowship for an RMSC staff member. In the fall of 1997, the Women's Council gave $30,000 to the Museum as half of their year's pledge.

Throughout the next five years, profits from a multitude of fundraisers continued to increase: the Museum was given $75,000 in 1999 and $65,000 the following spring. Further fundraisers were three on-going projects: "Fantastic Findings Sale," which started in 2002, "Artistry in Thread," which started in 2003, and the "Golf Tournament," which started in 2006. From 2002 through 2005, $280,000 was the total gift amount from the Women's Council to the RMSC.

Then, the volunteer fundraisers stepped up their activities and raised $420,000 in the years from 2006-2010. This culminated in a donation of $101,000 for the year 2011. This brings the grand total to $801,000 from 2002 through 2011. The Women's Council hopes to contribute another $100,000 in 2012.

Also this year, the RMSC celebrates 100 years of service to the community. The Museum invites community members to celebrate its birthday through various activities, events and opportunities as it honors its past and looks forward to the next 100 years of discovery, exploration and inspiration. Visit www.rmsc.org for more information.

Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) receives major funding from Monroe County. RMSC includes a planetarium, nature center and science/regional history museum. The Rochester Museum & Science Center stimulates broad community interest and understanding of science and technology, and their impact—past, present, future—on our lives. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@rocRMSC).

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