Gift will support fundraising campaign for educational programs and preservation maintenance
VIRGINIA BEACH (September 5, 2018) – Preservation Virginia, a private, non-profit and statewide historic preservation leader based in Richmond, has received a $100,000 lead gift from TowneBank to support their $525,000 fundraising campaign to fund educational programming and preservation maintenance at the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. In 1930, the Lighthouse was deeded to Preservation Virginia by the U.S. government to be preserved and opened to the public.
Preservation maintenance includes needed repairs to the interior of the Lighthouse tower and the addition of bathroom facilities, which are not associated with the upcoming dune restoration project starting this month. Preservation Virginia continues to engage with the Virginia Beach community to raise the remaining $425,000.
“For 226 years, the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse has stood guard at the mouth of the Chesapeake. Visitors from the region and across the world come to climb the tower, enjoy the walking tours and take in views of the Bay,” said Elizabeth Kostelny, CEO of Preservation Virginia. “We are grateful to TowneBank for providing this generous gift that will ensure the preservation of the Lighthouse and its active programming.”
“TowneBank is honored to support Preservation Virginia in their important work to benefit the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse,” says Bill Foster, TowneBank Virginia Beach president. “As a longtime resident of Virginia Beach, I know what a magnificent landmark the lighthouse is and how important it is to preserve it. The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is a treasure for local residents as well as the thousands of visitors who make a special trip to see it when they are in town.”
Cape Henry Lighthouse, which serves as the official symbol of Virginia Beach, was built in 1792. The Lighthouse is located next to the Cape Henry Memorial, a Colonial National Historical Park, where English settlers first landed in 1607 before continuing up the James River to Jamestown. It attracts over 65,000 visitors annually and remains one of the oldest, most historic lighthouses standing today.
Those interested in contributing to Preservation Virginia’s fundraising campaign for the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse can contact Will Glasco, Preservation Virginia’s director of development, at wglasco@preservationvirginia.org or 804-648-1889, ext. 311.
###
About Preservation Virginia
Preservation Virginia is a private, non-profit organization and statewide historic preservation leader founded in 1889 that is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and serving as an advocate for Virginia’s cultural and architectural history.
Media Contact
Brittney Jubert
bjubert@preservation.org
804-648-1889, ext. 304
