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Fitton’s  fundraising  drive short of its goal

Creative arts center’s  ‘Common Threads’  campaign will continue  until month’s end.

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 9:09 PM Tuesday, February 2, 2010

HAMILTON— The Fitton Center for the Creative Arts has extended its fundraising campaign through the end of February, having thus far fallen just short of its goal.

The center had hoped to raise at least $200,000 by the end of January, but as of now has raised $180,000 for its “Common Threads” campaign, said Rick H. Jones, Fitton’s executive director. Launched in November, it funds the center’s arts education endeavors.

The center had set a “stretch” goal of $225,000, “but we decided early on that was too much of a stretch,” Jones said. It was decided to extend the campaign until Feb. 28 to tap into a new list of potential contributors and to make the $200,000 goal. The previous campaign had raised $201,000 for Fitton.

“We thought we might have to (extend the campaign) because of the economic situation,” Jones said. However, he noted that arts organizations tend to struggle, no matter what the economy is like.

“People see this big, contemporary building and they assume we’ve got all the money we need. But we always operate at some sort of deficit. That’s been true since we opened (in 1993),” Jones said.

The center has tried to vary its programming to maintain interest in the community, such as the addition last year of the Fitton Family Fridays series, which brings family-friendly acts like magicians to the center about every other month.

Those who wish to donate to the campaign may do so by calling the Fitton Center at (513) 863-8873.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.

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