COLUMBUS, Ind. — The nonprofit that cares for Columbus’ art and architectural gems enjoyed a diamond day of overflowing generosity at its annual meeting Tuesday at Upland Columbus Pumphouse downtown.
Three longtime community leaders made large gifts to the endowment fund of the Landmark Columbus Foundation that tends to the city’s art and architectural showpieces and its cultural heritage. Philanthropist and business leader Tony Moravec donated $100,000, and longtime community philanthropists and leaders Rick and Alice Johnson donated $50,000.
Rick Johnson also serves as board president for the foundation.
Each announcement was greeted with enthusiastic applause from an estimated crowd of 100 people on the venue’s back deck. Attendees included representatives from the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, the Columbus Area Visitors Center, the Columbus Area Arts Council, business leaders and others.
“This is all about us working together to do great things for a really remarkable place in America,” said Richard McCoy, the foundation’s executive director. “And we think we’re making great progress.”
The multifaceted Landmark Columbus Foundation, launched in 2015, is perhaps best known for its Exhibit Columbus architectural exhibitions and symposiums that have attracted international designers, speakers, tourists and media attention. In fact, the exhibitions alone have seen attendance figures from an estimated 20,000 people to an estimated 40,000 people.
Last year, the foundation received a Lilly Endowment grant, in collaboration with The Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, of $524,000 to launch its endowment. The gift came with a challenge to push the overall endowment total to $2 million by 2025.
“That’s a big, ambitious goal,” McCoy said. “But we’ve always tried to be ambitious in what we’re doing.”
The endowment currently stands at about $700,000, according to McCoy.
For the complete story and more photos, see Thursday’s Republic.
