bergenPAC Sees Major Leap in Fundraising, Nears Goal of Reaching $1 Million by June 30

bergenPAC Sees Major Leap in Fundraising, Nears Goal of Reaching $1 Million by June 30

Performing Arts Center Needs $316,000 to Secure Matching Grant, Calls Upon Supporters to Help Push Fundraising Drive 'Over the Top'

ENGLEWOOD, N.J., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Through a tremendous outpouring of support from its patrons and the local community, bergenPAC announced today that it has raised $700,000 as part of a Capital Endowment Campaign to ensure its long-term financial stability. As it nears its goal of securing $1 million by June 30, the performing arts center has called upon its friends and supporters to help push its fundraising campaign "over the top."

"Backed by the incredible support of our friends and patrons, we've seen a huge leap in fundraising. We're now in striking distance of our goal and the next week will be crucial as we work to preserve the long-term future of bergenPAC," said Frank Huttle III, bergenPAC Chairman of the Board.

To complete phase two of its three-year growth plan, bergenPAC needs to raise $1 million by June 30, which will trigger a matching grant from The Russell Berrie Foundation -- which doubles the value of every gift to the endowment before June 1. The success of the Capital Endowment Campaign would set a strong financial foundation that would ensure bergenPAC's long-term stability and support its mission of bringing cultural enrichment to Bergen County and making art education and live performing arts accessible to the entire community.

Bolstered by the support of the performing art center's friends and patrons, bergenPAC's Capital Endowment Campaign has raised $700,000 over the course of several weeks:

   Goal: 1,000,000   (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080619/NYTH096 )   

Added Huttle, "Despite a soft economy, we're now very close to completing phase two of our growth plan. We're calling upon the support of the community to help us close the gap to create this endowment that ensures bergenPAC will continue to be a thriving center of the arts for years to come."

About bergenPAC:

Known as The John Harms Center for 27 years, this cultural hub in Englewood, has been reborn as the Bergen Performing Arts Center or bergenPAC. This 1,367-seat theater is a landmark, and in its fourth season as bergenPAC it remains one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States. The legendary Tony Bennett and Canadian crooner k.d. lang recorded their 2003 Grammy award-winning CD live on bergenPAC's own stage through a broadband fiber-optic connection with Bennett Studios. bergenPAC is the home of a media production system that is unparalleled, upholding its reputation as a venue for outstanding music, dance, and theater. As a non-profit corporation, bergenPAC has thrived thanks to the aid and generosity of sponsors, donors and patrons.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080619/NYTH096
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN12
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: bergenPAC

CONTACT: Joe Cohen of MWW Group for bergenPAC, +1-201-964-2443,
jcohen@mww.com

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Profile: International Entertainment