By Jennifer Ruth
Staff Writer for Houlton Pioneer Times
HOULTON — The Houlton Community Arts Center’s fund-raising efforts remain strong throughout the community and Houlton’s Key Bank in Market Square has joined the long list of people and businesses working with the organization to bring a better arts center into the community.
Key Bank Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President Robert Faulkner presented members of the Houlton Community Arts Center with a check to kick off the bank’s donation.
“We are pleased to have Key Bank become one of our sponsors in our efforts to raise funds for our project,” said Joe Fagnant, president of the Houlton Community Arts Center. “This is a great example of a large bank supporting a project on a local community level. The Community Arts Center board appreciates the efforts of the Houlton branch and the Key Bank employees that were instrumental in making this donation happen.”
Faulkner moved efforts along by requesting the support from the bank officials and he said they showed a keen interest in wanting to support the center.
“It’s such a worthy cause and we need to dig deep, even in tough times because it’s going to be a huge boost for the area,” explained Faulkner. “I was the one who put in the request and I got strong support with it. We’re donating $15,000 total — with a pledge of $5,000 over the next three years.
“It’s a definitely a step in the right direction,” he said.
The Community Arts Center will provide an expanded selection of arts-related programs and services for the area. The expansion will include 13,000 of new space for separate band, chorus, theatre and dance rehearsals, as well as increased storage space and a larger stage to accommodate performance and exhibits. Approximately $750,000 has been raised over the past year.
The Houlton Community Arts Center Council and fundraising committee has planned an aggressive fundraising campaign for the next several months. This 501C3 organization is seeking to raise $2.5 million in private funds to match the 2007 November bond referendum. More information about the campaign can be received by calling Joe Fagnant at 694-3041 or going to www.houltonarts.org.