IN 2014 WE DOUBLED DONATIONS FOR COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS ON NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY!

The Friends of the Bath House Cultural Center received over twice the gifts they did last year for the Bath House Cultural Center, the city’s oldest neighborhood cultural center. “We are thrilled and touched by the generosity of Bath House patrons and neighbors,” announced Karen Casey, chair of the North Texas Giving Day Team for 2014. Casey explained that while the City of Dallas budget for 2014-15 increases funding for the arts overall, the funding for the Bath House has still severely constrained the Center’s arts and cultural programs. “The additional programming money will enable the Bath House to better serve the community,” commented Enrique Fernández, visual arts coordinator/curator at the Bath House.

The North Texas Giving Day 2014 surpassed its own national record for number of donors; the $26.3 million received was larger than the national record set last year. The $3,205 raised for the Friends of the Bath House Cultural Center will be incremented by bonus money from the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). This year’s campaign, the third in which the Friends of the Bath House have participated, marked a turning point in the growth of community awareness about North Texas Giving Day. It is the perfect opportunity for small groups, such as the Friends, to participate in a wider effort coordinated by the CFT. “CFT’s resources and assistance in organizing our campaign were invaluable,” said Casey. She added, “The Friends are sincerely grateful for the support shown by the donors on North Texas Giving Day.” The full list of results (sortable by nonprofit status) and prizes is listed at www.northtexasgivingday.org/#leaderboard.

Members of The Friends of the Bath House Cultural Center volunteered to assist with donations made early in the morning wearing their finest breakfast attire at the Bath House Cultural Center on North Texas Giving Day. Left to right, in front, Bob Quaglia and Sharon Shero, back row, Laurie McClurg, Friends Co-Founder Mel Cyrak and Giving Day Committee Chair Karen Casey.