To collect a matching
By Susan Kreifels
$500,000 donation, it needs
$20,000—NOW
Star-BulletinA half million dollars is on the line for the Honolulu Symphony.
By midnight tonight, the symphony must raise just under $20,000 more to collect a $500,000 contribution from an anonymous Hawaii donor.
Phones have been busy at the symphony headquarters as money comes in to beat the deadline. "We're confident we can make it, but we still need everyone's help to come up with the money at this last minute," said Donna Bebber, the symphony's director of development.
The symphony has raised a little more than $480,000.
The $1 million would let the symphony eliminate debt, pay off loans and allow the orchestra to start its next season without debt for the first time in 10 years.
The anonymous donor is insisting that all future operating budgets are balanced and that the organization commit itself to operate in a financially responsible manner, symphony officials have said.
The symphony returned to concert operations in December 1995 after missing several seasons because of labor and financial woes.
The annual budget has been reduced by more than $1 million and its season shortened to 30 weeks from 42. City and state funding has dropped from more than $2 million a year in 1992 to $300,000 this year.
The $1 million will push the symphony's endowment fund assets to more than $6 million.
Bebber said the pledges have been "all over the board" from $3 to $50,000. More than 2,700 people have donated. "It's so hard to explain how wonderful it feels to have such support from the community."
Donors can call 524-0815, extension 227, until midnight tonight and can give a pledge or use Master Card, Visa or American Express credit cards. If lines are busy, leave a message and staff will call back.
