It is hard to believe that we are already half way though 2010, which means we are also half way though the Annual Fund year. I thought this would be a great time to remind our current members and those thinking about becoming members that
memberships at the $100 level and above, meaning Adventurer, Explorer and Extreme Explorer, are eligible for a full tax deduction. If you are a family or grandparent plus member you could simply add $5 to your membership and receive a tax benefit for your family as well as give to Conner Prairie.
One thing that your additional $5 to Conner Prairie goes to is to offset the cost of bringing school children to Conner Prairie. While it typically costs $9 for children aged 12 and under to enjoy our programming and grounds, we offer a discounted rate of $4.50 per child for
school groups. As many of us know, school budgets are getting tighter every year and cutting field trips is a way for schools to save money. For less than $5 a child, we have made the Conner Prairie experience accessible to many more children than would otherwise be able to participate.
According to 2009 numbers there were 358 families with $100+ Annual Fund level memberships. In the remaining half of 2010 I would like to challenge our current Basic and Plus members, as well as those of you who have been contemplating membership, to either upgrade or join as an Adventurer ($100-$249), Explorer ($250-$499) or Extreme Explorer ($500-$999). And for those of you who are already members at one of these levels, I challenge you to increase your membership level or donation amount. Every gift makes a difference and every gifts helps Conner Prairie fulfill our mission of providing educational experiences that inspire curiosity and foster learning.