Let Us Begin Now to Prepare for Future Generations!
What is the ZORA!™ Circle of Friends?
– It is a group of individuals who understand and appreciate the role of heritage, education, and culture in the preservation of traditional communities such as Eatonville and who are willing to make the necessary investment that such preservation efforts require.
Why is The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.) soliciting on behalf of the ZORA!™ Circle of Friends?
– We at P.E.C. are taking up the challenge of strengthening our organization by concentrating on building the base of our individual donors. It is accepted wisdom within the field of philanthropy that the strength of an organization can be judged, in large measure, by the quality of its individual donors. We will continue to compete for grants; seek sponsorship dollars; develop strategic partnerships; solicit memberships from the general public. However, we also need to appeal those persons who will want to make a different quality of commitment.
What are the requirement(s) for becoming a member of the ZORA!™ Circle?
– The one basic requirement is a financial one. However, the Circle will be even more effective if its members also become “Ambassadors” on behalf of “Preserving the Eatonville Community.” You need not live in Eatonville to become a Member.
If I become a Member of the ZORA!™ Circle of Friends, is there an annual commitment I would need to make?
– No. Your tax-deductible investment would cover the period, April 2016 – December 2019. We would not solicit you again during this period of time. You would only be able to receive the tax deduction however during the calendar year that you had made the charitable contribution.
If I become a Member, how will my investment be used?
– Your investment would be restricted to two areas:
(1) Supporting the ZORA!™ STEM Initiative, our organization’s 10-year commitment to support a community-based, comprehensive family-focused program with the goal of engaging Eatonville’s youth, beginning at very early childhood and continuing on through the completion of high school, such that they are prepared academically to pursue opportunities int e fields of science, technology, engineering and math; and
(2) Supporting PE.C.’s vision of developing Eatonville into an internationally recognized cultural tourism destination for the arts and culture throughout the African Diaspora, with special emphasis on the multi-disciplines as represented in the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston.
What will be the level of accountability provided to Members of the ZORA!™ Circle of Friends?
– Funds received from Circle Members will be deposited in a separate account. All expenditures will be identified as supporting either (1) or (2) as stated above. Thus, we will have the ability to provide a finance report, specific to the ZORA!™ Circle of Friends. In addition, on an annual basis (Our fiscal year is October 1 – September 30.), our organization engages an auditor, external to our organization, to audit our books.
Are there different levels of membership within the ZORA!™ Circle of Friends; and, if so, are there any premiums associated with each?
– Yes, there are 4 different levels:
Bronze Membership — $1000.00
Silver Membership — $3500.00
* Gold Membership — $5000.00
* Platinum Membership — $10,000.00
To attain membership at the Gold and/or Platinum Levels, you may bundle lower amounts to reach those levels. In other words, you may give notice of your goal, and if you are able to encourage others to become a member of the Circle, then you will receive the credit for that success.
Here are premiums for each level.
Please note: Once the Membership Commitment has been met, The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.) will be responsible, witihin 5 business days, for shipping, via U.S. Mail, 2-Day Priority, the premium assigned to that level to the Member or to the Member’s Designee.
Bronze Level ($1000.00)
One each of these ZORA! Festivals’ posters:
( From the Tenth Annual, January 27-31, 1999) — John Biggers, The Stream Crosses the Path, 1960
(From the 22nd Annual, January 22-30, 2011) — Luz Lazard, Sugar Cane Dancers, 1965, oil on canvas, 32×38 inches
(From the 25th Annual, January 25 – February 2, 2014) — Zora Neale Hurston, Private Family Photo, circa late 1920s – early 1930s; cDorothy Faye Hurston, Barbara Hurston Lewis and Dr. Lois Hurston Gaston. Used by permission.
PLUS
(2) One copy each of these books: Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, originally
published September 1937;
Zora Neale Hurston, Tell My Horse, originally published 1938;
Zora Neale Hurston, Mules and Men, originally published
October 1935;
N. Y. Nathiri, ZORA! Zora Neale Hurston: A Woman and
Her Community, originally published 1991; and
—
Fred Opie, Zora Neale Hurston on Florida Food, Recipes, Remedies & Simple Pleasures, originally published 2015
Gold Level ($5000.00) —
(1) One each of these ZORA! Festivals’ Posters
( From the Tenth Annual, January 27-31, 1999) — John Biggers, The Stream Crosses the Path, 1960
(From the 22nd Annual, January 22-30, 2011) — Luz Lazard, Sugar Cane Dancers, 1965, oil on canvas, 32×38 inches
(From the 25th Annual, January 25 – February 2, 2014) — Zora Neale Hurston, Private Family Photo, circa late 1920s – early 1930s; cDorothy Faye Hurston, Barbara Hurston Lewis and Dr. Lois Hurston Gaston. Used by permission.
PLUS
(2) One copy each of these books: Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, originally published September 1937;
Zora Neale Hurston, Tell My Horse, originally published 1938;
Zora Neale Hurston, Mules and Men, originally published October 1935;
N. Y. Nathiri, ZORA! Zora Neale Hurston: A Woman and Her Community, originally published 1991; and
and Fred Opie, Zora Neale Hurston on Florida Food, Recipes, Remedies & Simple Pleasures, originally published 2015
AND
(3) If the Member Commitment has been satisfied during 2017, then once in 2018 (either the 1st 2 weeks in April or the 1st two weeks in November) and then again during the same time period in 2019, either the Executive Director, or a Member of the P.E.C. Board of Directors, or a Member of the ZORA! Festival National Planners will travel to the Member’s community to participate in a program developed by the Member. Please note: To redeem this premium requires a 7-month, written notice.
Platinum Level ($10,000.00)
(1) One each of these ZORA! Festivals’ Posters
( From the Tenth Annual, January 27-31, 1999) — John Biggers, The Stream Crosses the Path, 1960
(From the 22nd Annual, January 22-30, 2011) — Luz Lazard, Sugar Cane Dancers, 1965, oil on canvas, 32×38 inches
(From the 25th Annual, January 25 – February 2, 2014) — Zora Neale Hurston, Private Family Photo, circa late 1920s – early 1930s; cDorothy Faye Hurston, Barbara Hurston Lewis and Dr. Lois Hurston Gaston. Used by permission.
PLUS
(2) One copy each of these books: Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, originally published September 1937;
Zora Neale Hurston, Tell My Horse, originally published 1938;
Zora Neale Hurston, Mules and Men, originally published October 1935;
N. Y. Nathiri, ZORA! Zora Neale Hurston: A Woman and Her Community, originally published 1991; and
—
Fred Opie, Zora Neale Hurston on Florida Food, Recipes, Remedies & Simple Pleasures,
originally published 2015
PLUS
(3) If the Member Commitment has been satisfied during 2017, then once in 2018 (either the 1st 2 weeks in April or the 1st two weeks in November) and then again during the same time period in 2019, either the Executive Director, or a Member of the P.E.C. Board of Directors, or a Member of the ZORA! Festival National Planners will travel to the Member’s community to participate in a program developed by the Member. Please note: To redeem this premium requires a 7-month, written notice.
AND
(4) If the Member Commitment has been satisfied in 2017, then the Member will receive 4 V.I.P. registration packages at ZORA! Festival 2018 (January 20-28) and again at ZORA! Festival 2019 (January 26-February 3). If the Member Commitment is not satisfied until 2018, then the 4 V.I.P. registration packages would be redeemed for ZORA! Festival 2019.
For further information, please contact N. Y. Nathiri, Executive Director: ny@preserveeatonville.org or 407-647-3307.