The campaign was formerly known as Common Threads, but in 2015 was changed to “Building.Community” to better reflect its purpose, according to Executive Director Ian MacKenzie-Thurley.
“We really are focused on the community and providing the resources that respond to what people expect and need from us,” he told the Journal-News.
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MacKenzie-Thurley said the annual campaign does not have a targeted monetary goal — just like last year — but all donations go toward the center’s programming and involvement in the community, including events like Celebrating Self, which brings in speakers like retired Army Lt. General Rick Lynch, a Hamilton native.
Marie Brown, 78, who ran the Brown-Dawson-Flick Funeral Home with her husband Bud, 78, until eight years ago when the couple retired, said the Fitton Center has earned the support of the community and people will continue to support the arts in Hamilton.
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“I have been here for a long time and I can tell when something has an impact on the community,” Brown said. “They have something of educational value for the entire family from the youngest to seniors. … This place is one of the best values that Hamilton has.”
In the past two year the Fitton Center has increased membership by 110 percent, and has held more than 50 performances, theater, music, speaking, and gallery events, as well as offering more than 25 classes and more than 20 summer camps.
Director of Development Alisa Miller, said this year’s campaign is featuring six highlighted points of interest available at the Fitton: education, exhibitions, engagement, outreach, performances and vision.
“We have an exclamation point on the front of our brochure to emphasize these points,” Miller said. “Support for the Building.Community campaign will help the Fitton Center continue to provide quality arts experiences for greater Hamilton and the surrounding region.”
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Linda Wright, 68, said she participates in a Mosaic art class at the Fitton and hasn’t missed a class in two years.
“This past March I ended up retiring so this Mosaic thing has just changed my life,” Wright said. “It is my hobby now and I have a little studio in my spare room. I love art and music and I think it is good to get people interested in these things and the Fitton Center provided it for the community. People should check it out if they’ve never been there.”
HOW TO DONATE
To donate to the Fitton Center’s “Building.Community” campaign:
Call 513-863-8873, ext. 115
Visit fittoncenter.org/building-community
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