Individual and corporate donations exceed expectations; community
celebrates at rally
The eternal flame at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial
will no longer be extinguished after July 4, thanks to an individual and
business grassroots fundraising campaign. The flame that burns atop the
217-foot Liberty Memorial tower was to be extinguished due to budget
cuts unless $45,000 (the annual flame operating costs) in private
donations was raised. Pioneer Services, a Kansas City-based company,
donated $5,000 to keep the flame lit between Memorial Day and July 4,
and offered to match all contributions up to a total of $22,500.
At a rally this morning at the base of the Liberty Memorial, it was
announced that $41,000 had been raised from individuals and corporate
donations, with contributions ranging from $5.00 to $5,000. With Pioneer
Services' matching contribution, the Save the Flame campaign raised more
than $60,000 in less than four weeks.
At this morning's celebration event, attended by several hundred
persons, National World War I Museum President and Chief Executive
Officer Brian Alexander, and Pioneer Services President Tom Holcom,
thanked those individuals and corporations that stepped up over the last
several weeks to save the flame.
"The eternal flame is a symbol of our eternal gratitude for those who
sacrificed so much," said Holcom. "I'm proud to have been part of an
effort recognizing the sacrifice of our veterans, young and old, and
have been amazed at the outpouring of support from the local community
and across the country."
"We truly appreciate the individual and business grassroots campaign
that helped saved the flame," said Alexander. "In particular, I would
like to thank Pioneer Services for their leadership in this effort,
106.5 FM The Wolf, and The Kansas City Star for making this so
successful."
Other major contributors to the campaign included Bank of Kansas City,
Lockton Insurance Co., and the William T. Kemper 2nd Charitable Trust;
each donated $5,000 to the effort.
To learn more about the Save the Flame campaign, go to www.savetheflame.org.
For more information visit www.PioneerServices.com.
All loan applications subject to our credit policies. No official US
military endorsement is implied. MidCountry Bank is a member FDIC.
Pioneer Services
Karen Von Der Bruegge, 704-907-3175
fax:
816-561-9333
media@pioneerservices.com
