Wednesday, April 04, 2012YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Mahoning Valley Historical Society received three major foundation gifts totaling $750,000 to support its renovation of the Harry Burt/Ross Radio Building on West Federal Street into the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center, and areas of the museum will be named in recognition of the gifts.
Announced yesterday, the three donations coincide with the 90th anniversary today of the opening of Burt’s Confectionary, where proprietor Harry Burt sold his Good Humor ice cream confections. The treats were made using the process Burt invented for freezing a wooden stick in an ice cream bar and coating it in chocolate so it could be eaten without being touched.
The three donations of $250,000 each, from trusts managed by Huntington Bank’s trust department, bring the Campaign for the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center to $4.6 million of its $6 million goal.
“The history center campaign is the largest, most significant endeavor the Historical Society has ever undertaken. The entire Valley will benefit from a substantial increase in the society’s educational outreach. The trustees of these three foundations felt that the center was important enough to make a major commitment of support,” said David Sabine, head of Huntington’s trust department and MVHS board president.
Special areas in the building will be named in recognition of the contributions.
The main entry foyer/admissions area will be named the Andrews Assembly Area in acknowledgement of the contribution from the John S. and Doris M. Andrews Memorial Fund. The Ward Beecher Foundation will receive naming rights to the north and south stair and elevator towers, which will be known as the Beecher Towers. Named in recognition of the gift from the John F. and Loretta A. Hynes Foundation, the Hynes Mezzanine will be utilized several ways, including as a gathering lounge for guests who rent the second floor Thomas Ballroom or for portable exhibits which can be moved or stored as needed.
More information about the campaign is available at the MVHS website, or by contacting Cheryl Staib Lewis, campaign director, at 330-743-2638 or via email.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.