The Miner’s Institute Foundation recently announced that it received a $6,115.00 grant from the Boeing Employees Community Fund of St. Louis.
Photo by Roger Starkey
The grant will help buy code compliant exit and egress lighting in the building, first opened in 1918. The grant continues a string of fundraising efforts by the MIF as they work toward re-opening the historic building in 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the structure. The group’s next major fundraiser is a live auction on Oct. 5.
Current plans are to open the Miner’s Theatre ground floor first. Restoration needed to open the first floor includes a new set of restrooms; automatic doors; a fire notification system; wheelchair accessibility to the stage and backstage areas; a new HVAC system; electrical upgrades; third floor insulation; and cosmetic improvements to the interior.
”The theater requires significant renovation to make it ADA accessible and compliant with current building codes before it can be reopened to the public. The Miner’s Institute Foundation is so grateful to the Boeing Employees Community Fund for their generous support so that we may accomplish the task of installing new emergency exit lighting and signage” MIF Fundraising Chairman Eric ODonnell said in press release.
The Boeing Employees Community Fund of St. Louis is an employee-owned and managed pooled fund giving program that allows employees to support the needs of the Greater St. Louis region via tax-deductible recurring payroll deductions. Funding decisions are the sole responsibility of each Boeing ECF Board of Directors in accordance with the best interests of the community and its membership.
6 grand doesn’t sound like its going to go very far. It sounds like they are in need of millions and I just don’t see a market for it out there. Especially since they have been fundraising and attempting this for over a decade non stop and haven’t secured virtually anything.
Collinsville area recreation district took over the theatre & put 1 million dollars worth of repairs into the building including new windows a couple years ago. The theatre was turned over back to the miners institute foundation just a year ago. In that time we have had several successful fundraisers & raised over $15,000 locally. The Boeing gift is a big plus that will hopefully encourage others to give to this great building. So give us some time MJ3 we are an all volunteer group & are going to accomplish the task at hand. Visit http://www.historicminersinstitute.org & email or call & we’d love to show you & any other doubters around on a tour.
Sincerely,
Eric O’Donnell
Fundraising Chairman