2011 Fundraising
FALL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN BEGINS
It’s that time of year again: Time to show your support for the Block Association. Our fund-raising goal this year is $20,000. We will reach out to residents, businesses and civic organizations. The money will pay for the project that best advertises our effectiveness—the holiday lights ($15,000)—as well as the travel scholarship for students from the High School for Environmental Studies, community outreach and education, spring and fall planting, the July 4 Block Party, tree guards in our most vulnerable tree beds (three new ones were installed this past weekend) and other events and activities.
This past year we have worked together with residents of West 56th Street to help increase community involvement. We continue to meet with other Block Associations on the West Side to work together on issues that affect all of us. In the coming year, we would like to put up a community bulletin board on the block to keep the neighborhood better informed about local news and events.
Remember, because we are a 501(c)(3) organization, your donation is fully tax-deductible.
You can donate using the PayPal account on our website (www.West55BA.org); just click the yellow “Donate” button at the lower left-hand corner of the home page. Or, use the form below.
Fundraising Drive: Postcards & T-Shirts
W55BA is soliciting ideas and concepts for our new t-shirt. Create your design at www.customink.com and then share your finished design with west55ba@gmail.com. Deadline for submissions is Friday, September 30. Once submissions are collected, we will post a selection of designs on www.surveymonkey.com, where you can vote for your favorite. The design with the most votes will be available for a suggested donation at a price to be determined.
We are also accepting photo submissions for a postcard project. Photos should reflect scenes or aspects of the block or neighborhood and have a general appeal to increase salability. Please submit your photos to the Flickr pool at http://www.flickr.com/groups/w55ba-community-photos/. Deadline for submissions is Friday, September 30. Winning entries will be posted on www.surveymonkey.com, where you can vote for your favorite. If you would like to help, email west55ba@gmail.com.
West Side Coalition of Block & Community Leaders
W55BA along with W75BA and others is currently conducting a survey study of nearly 100 block associations and community groups across the West Side of Manhattan from 35th St to 125th St, and from 5th Ave to the Hudson River. Preliminary findings indicate communities along the West Side are most concerned about traffic related issues; urban planning and development, historic preservation and open spaces; nuisance issues with local businesses, crimes/safety and sanitation; and urban greening, gardening and tree stewardship.
Community organizations surveyed also expressed a need for greater volunteer participation, more funding, improving organizational infrastructure, and expanding use of technology. Organizational strengths listed by respondents included community organizing, knowledge of historic preservation and development, and access to elected officials. Survey data will inform planning a fall symposium of block and community groups. Visit west55ba.com for a link to a recent article in the West Side Spirit.
Fall Block Clean-Up & Daffodil Planting
This fall, W55BA will work with students and faculty from the High School for Environmental Studies as well as New Yorkers for Parks, Trees New York and neighbors to bring the Daffodil Project to West 56th St between 9th and 10th Aves. We are also considering planting daffodils along 55th St east to Broadway and west to 10th Ave.
Our fall block clean-up and planting day is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 15 (rain date is Saturday, October 22).
If you would like to participate in either event, please email west55ba@gmail.com.
