Museum Association Has Received $20,000 Challenge Grant

The Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum Association has received a $20,000 challenge grant.

Delaine Donaldson, one of the early leaders of the Museum Association said he was approached by a former Effingham resident when the former resident was visiting the museum.  As they talked, the former resident offered to contribute up to $20,000 toward the museum development project if others would match his contribution.

The Association has completed much of the work planned on the main floor of the museum, so the scene is shifting to the second floor.  The major project on that floor is the restoration of the main courtroom to its former glory.  The original courtroom was much larger than the dimensions utilized in the last few decades before the courts were moved to the Effingham County Government Center.  The work is also designed to restore the dome that crowned the original courtroom.  Much of the dome remains intact.

Donaldson said the donor offered the $20,000 up to the end of 2013 so the Museum Association has three months to raise the matching $20,000.  Contributions can be mailed to ECCCMA at Post Office Box 324 in Effingham.

Here is our conversation with Delaine Donaldson regarding the challenge grant...