The Downtown BG Foundation is raising funds to buy several more pole-mounted LED
snowflakes for the downtown holiday decorations this season.
The foundation is a charitable organization chartered to help the Downtown BG Special
Improvement District maintain the downtown for the benefit of the community. The
fundraising goal is $3,000.
Downtown BG started replacing its holiday lights in the downtown with
energy-efficient LED decorations in response to shrinking budgets for municipal
organizations. Barbara Ruland, director of the Special Improvement District,
said the pole-mounted snowflake decorations are not just cheaper to operate, but
are also less vulnerable to casual vandalism. "The first few years I was on
the job here, we had to replace up to 80 percent of our decorations each season
because of losses to vandalism." The changeover is expensive but, when
completed, will allow the Special Improvement District to devote more of its
resources to other services."
According to Ruland, the fundraising drive is off to a good start. Newman’s
Kettlecorn, H&R Block and an anonymous donor have contributed $775.
"This kind of project, that helps members of the community support public
improvements, is exactly what The Downtown Foundation was created to
facilitate," she said. Other recent projects that were funded through the
foundation include the Black Swamp Arts Festival mural in the 100 block of North
Main, and the "Alvie Clock" and the Great Black Swamp Mural
restoration in the 100 block of South Main.
Donation jars for the Holiday Lights Fund are out at the First Federal Bank branches
at 1226 W. Wooster Street and 1200 N. Main Street. They can also be found at
several downtown businesses.
Those wishing to make larger donations may do so at the Downtown Bowling Green
office, at 121 E. Wooster, or online using PayPal at www.downtownbgohio.org.
Donations of $50 or more will be recognized publicly and all donations to the
Holiday Lights Fund at The Downtown Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, are tax
deductible.
Additional information is available by phone at 419 354-4332.
