Presbyterian Historical Society nears successful completion of major fundraising campaign
Launched in 2023, “Preserving the Past … Empowering the Future” has ambitious $500K goal
LOUISVILLE — When the Presbyterian Historical Society — the faithful steward of the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.)’s national archives for over 170 years — launched its first major fundraising campaign in 2023, both its goal and its scope were ambitious.
Yet because faithful Presbyterians firmly believe that “history (PHS) matters” — in the words of PHS’s well-known motto — the $500,000 goal is nearly met.
To date, PHS has raised $430,000 in actual gifts and pledges.
“I feel confident that we will reach our goal by the end of the year,” said Luci Duckson-Bramble, PHS’s Director of Development in the Interim Unified Agency of the PC(USA). “I am grateful for the generous support that we’ve received from donors across the PC(USA) as well as from members of the public who are committed to preserving history.”
Duckson-Bramble added that gifts to “Preserving the Past … Empowering the Future” have come in all sizes, many from longstanding friends of PHS.
“In some cases, generous donors who are deeply invested in PHS’s mission have made multiple gifts during the course of the campaign,” she said.
Funding from the campaign is already at work supporting three major areas of PHS’s ministry.
The first of these goal areas, the hiring of a full-time outreach specialist to work with PC(USA) congregations and mid councils on uncovering and sharing their histories, has already been accomplished with the arrival earlier this summer of Olivia Cacchione, who filled the new position.
The other two campaign objectives are to enhance access to the building and improve the popular reading room; and to continue PHS’s collaboration with the Community College of Philadelphia and other educational institutions.
Progress is already evident in both of these additional areas.
“In 2024 we installed an [Americans with Disabilities Act]-compliant access ramp in the front of the building, and we’re in the planning process for upgrading the furniture and electrical outlets in the reading room, which will enhance usage of the space by visitors,” said Duckson-Bramble. “We also continue to work with classes from the Community College of Philadelphia.”
Duckson-Bramble noted that behind every gift, there’s a story.
“One gift came to us from a first-time donor who had given family records to PHS in the past,” she recalled. “Because he and his wife are passionate about preserving history, when he learned about the campaign in a call with staff from our reference area, after he and I spoke on the phone at length, he felt compelled to make a gift of $75,000 to expedite the hiring of the outreach specialist.”
A second major gift came as a $20,000 challenge gift from a former PHS board member and long-time supporter who wanted to help PHS reach its goal.
“As we continue to expand outreach and education in the denomination, further our collaboration with the community, and ensure that the PHS building is accessible to everyone,” said Nancy J. Taylor, executive director of PHS, “we are thankful for our many friends, board members, staff, visitors and others, whose generous support is bringing us ever closer to reaching this important milestone.”
There is still time to show your support by making a gift of any size to the “Preserving the Past … Empowering the Future” campaign. Click here to give online; or send a check to The Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147. For additional information, email Luci Duckson-Bramble.
Click here to watch a November 2023 testimonial from the Rev. George Abdo, past chair of the PHS Board.
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