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PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON

Gantt Center President David Taylor said the $3.5 million capital campaign for start-up costs and programming has raised more than $3 million.

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Art + Culture has raised more than $3 million for start-up costs and programming.

Gantt Center President David Taylor  set a March 31 deadline for the Founders Campaign to top its goal of $3.5 million. Both Taylor and Patrick Diamond, the center’s development director, said they are confident they will declare success that day.

“We see support for the Gantt Center growing with each passing day,” said Taylor. “Additional money is critical for us to succeed in our new home in the South Tryon Street Cultural Center. Gifts are flowing faster as more people visit our completed facility and appreciate the value that the Gantt Center can and will add to our city and region.”

Attendance is encouraging, Taylor added, with local, regional and out-of-state visitors flocking to the state-of-the-art museum that opened in October.

Diamond said more than 200 individuals, families and businesses have contributed to help the Gantt Center reach its financial goal.
“Charlotte residents and business leaders have shown tremendous generosity in supporting our fund-raising efforts, despite the unprecedented challenges of the economy,” he said.

With less than $400,000 remaining to be raised to achieve success, Diamond said he hopes individuals and organizations alike will consider a gift of $100, $500 or $1,000 to help close the gap. There is still time, he added, for donors who pledge $10,000 and greater to have their names permanently inscribed in the lobby.

Payment of pledges to the Gantt Center may be scheduled over five years, Diamond said, and all gifts are tax deductible.

The $18.6 million Gantt Center includes three galleries. A centerpiece is the John and Vivian Hewitt collection, a 58-work body of art from African-American artists. The Hewitt collection was a gift made possible by Bank of America.

The Gantt Center launched its fund-raising campaign in March 2008.

For information on giving to the Gantt Center, call Taylor at (704) 547-3737 or Diamond at (704) 547-3739.

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