Tyler Center Opens Exhibits, Announces $500,000 Gift
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Just hours before it opened the doors of the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center to the public for the first time, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society kicked off Phase 2 of its capital campaign, announcing a $500,000 donation from Dr. Maria Fok.
The fundraising goal for Phase 2 is $1.5 million. Fok's donation will underwrite a permanent exhibit on the first floor of the center, “People of the Mahoning Valley,” says Cheryl Lewis, campaign director for the society. Lewis noted that Phase 2 has already raised $582,843 for the society.
“Our exhibit budget is in excess of $750,000. So [Fok's donation] is a major step toward that goal for the permanent exhibit in the first floor gallery,” said the historical society’s executive director, Bill Lawson. “As we finish the second phase of the campaign, we will complete our endowment goal and we will use other funds to pay for the permanent exhibits and other educational programs.”
David Sabine, chairman of the society's Campaign Steering Committee, said he expects the capital campaign to reach its goal by September.
Over the past three years, the society has worked with Dayton-based Exhibit Concepts to create a plan for the first and third floors of the Tyler Center -- where the two galleries are located -- that will be paid for by the Phase 2 campaign.
“It helps us better define and better exhibit our collection and also to do more quality exhibitions and programs,” Lawson said. “The Tyler History Center is what we call a community history center. It's based on the history of our region.”
Beginning at 1 p.m. today, the public is able to see the center's three exhibits, which feature several items that the historical society has not had on display before, including a number of wooden clocks from the 19th century made in Trumbull County.
“We have completed the renovation, restoration and adaptive reuse process and we've continued to raise money toward our goal,” Lawson said. “After moving the Historical Society's archives collection and putting together exhibits, we are having a first-phase opening of the center.”
The Arms Family Museum, where the historical society's archives were for many years, will now be used to display a decorative art collection, Lawson said, adding that admission to one location will be valid for both, as long as the visit is on the same day.
The president of the MVHS board of directors, George Beelen, praised the historical society's new location and urged members of the community to continue donating.
“History is captured here. History helps us understand the present and plan for the future. Mahoning County has a wonderful history and it continues to be featured here in the history center,” Beelen said.
Pictured: Bill Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Cheryl Lewis, campaign director, and George Beelen, president of the MVHS board of directors.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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