Poplar Forest Newsletter, Spring 2006

Foundation Offers Third Challenge for ’06

“ Poplar Forest ’s Friends now have three opportunities to multiply the impact of their support this key year,” announced Lynn A. Beebe, President of the Corporation For Jefferson’s Poplar Forest .

The Perry Foundation has announced a new challenge grant of $50,000 to advance the restoration and reconstruction of Jefferson ’s “wing of offices,” to be awarded as soon as matching gifts can be raised.  

Reconstruction of the wing’s roof had resumed last fall, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Roy Charles Trust.  An anonymous source provided a new gift of $25,000 this winter that is now sustaining the momentum at the wing into the spring, enabling restoration carpenters to make steady progress handcrafting the shingled lower layer of Jefferson ’s unusual roof scheme.  The Perry Foundation’s commitment and the funds to be raised to match it would enable work on the roof to advance even farther this year.  “Replicating Mr. Jefferson’s intricate roof design takes some staying power!” said Poplar Forest ’s President Lynn A. Beebe. “We are thrilled that the Perry Foundation chose Thomas Jefferson’s retreat for this challenge.”  

Poplar Forest has entered the homestretch on two other important challenges.   Another $172,500 must be raised by June 30^th to complete the dollar-for-dollar match for the Commonwealth of Virginia ’s fiscal year 2005 appropriation.  Gifts for any purpose will help meet that goal.  In addition, Poplar Forest has nine months remaining to complete the rescue of the east half of Mr. Jefferson’s “Lower Field.” The Watson-Brown Foundation had offered a challenge grant of $500,000 if the rest of the $1.9 million to purchase the east half could be raised by December 31, 2006 .  Strong progress has been made, but it will take another $650,000 in gifts or pledges to meet that deadline and secure that land.