Central Florida's GLBT Center will launch a capital campaign in an attempt to pay off its headquarters building located on Mills Avenue. According to The Center's executive director, Randy Stephens, if he and the board of directors can raise $350,000 by March of 2013, they'd pay off the rest of the mortgage on the building and be able to operate debt free.
They're launching the campaign in the face of a looming balloon payment on the property, $350,000 due February 2013. Stephens said he and the board are â┚¬Å”looking at different optionsâ┚¬Â to address this deadline but they know it will not be paid in full unless â┚¬Å”someone shows up with an endless supply of money.â┚¬ÂÂ
He said the board would like to pay it down some and refinance, but â┚¬Å”we're not at the point of panicking.â┚¬ÂÂ
As far as any rumors that The Center will lose the building, â┚¬Å”that's not going to happen.â┚¬ÂÂ
He did say it's not appropriate to discuss details of what the options are at this time, as the Board is still exploring solutions. Stephens said he hopes it's handled quickly but it's moving a little slower than he expected.
Stephens said the capital campaign is an attempt to pay off the Center's mortgage and it's a way to celebrate the 35th anniversary as an LGBT organization.
â┚¬Å”Everyone talks about how important the Center is and how glad we are that we have it,â┚¬Â he said. â┚¬Å”That's wonderful to hear but now we need the community to come through and show us that we're important to the community.â┚¬ÂÂ
Stephens emphasized that it's a difficult time to fundraise right now, in the midst of campaign season.
â┚¬Å”We've decided we need to take more initiative and try to get our fair share,â┚¬Â he said. â┚¬Å”I hate to ask for money but in all reality, we have not asked for major contributions like this since I've been here.â┚¬ÂÂ
Stephens stepped into the executive director position two years ago.
â┚¬Å”I think sometimes because we don't ask as much as other groups do, people assume we're probably okay with our finances,â┚¬Â he said. â┚¬Å”No non-profit is ever going to be okayâ┚¬â€Âthere's always going to be needs.â┚¬ÂÂ
He added that his goals for the past two years have been to bring in and support more women, transgendered persons and seniors, and â┚¬Å”we've done all three things but unfortunately, the money to support these groups has remained stagnant.â┚¬ÂÂ
Donors can contribute at TheCenterOrlando.org.
In addition to the capital campaign, the Center is launching two other fundraising efforts: a casino cruise and its first annual Black and White Gala.
The cruise kicks off with a bus shuttle from The Center at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 14 and the ship departs from Port Canaveral at noon. A $35 ticket includes bus transportation, lunch and $10 in slots credit. The ticket can be used on any date the cruise regularly operates, but bus transport will only be offered Oct. 14.
The Black and White Gala will be held Nov. 16 at the Abbey and according to Stephens, is â┚¬Å”the prom we never got to go to.â┚¬ÂÂ
Organizers request guests wear black or white semi-formal attire. Tickets are $60 a person, $100 per couple and includes food and live music. A $150 per couple tickets get VIP seating.
Anyone interested in joining the event planning team can email director@thecenterorlando.org.
