History snippet by request: Gund donation

Question on George Gund Hall- were they major donors or what?   To the camp fund or directly to the council?  Kathleen
 
Answer- it looks like the Gund donation was specifically toward the camp campaign – and a later donation at that.   When I went to look it up I got involved in tracking the story over several issues of The Millwheel: 
 
 
Capitol campaign to improve the West Richfield property opened Nov 1, 1963.  Goal was $650,000 over 3 years.
 
General Campaign Chairman was Frank A. Kender
Mr. Frank C. Jones was the Campaign Director. 
 
The campaign Kick-off dinner was held at the Masonic Temple at 3651 Euclid Avenue on Dec 3, 1963. It was attended by about 350 members of the “Inner Leaders Division”.  These were selected business leaders as well as any GS volunteers who responded to an open invitation in The Millwheel.
 
The large color map that everyone likes was altered from the “centerfold” map of the Jan/Feb 1964 Millwheel.  It showed the numerous planned improvements
 
The campaign moved to scout families in March 1964.  Volunteers and parents were urged to talk the campaign up to small businesses and the girls’ parents.  ”Tell your prospects that they are making an investment not only for your daughters, but for your daughter’s daughters”  said Mr. Jones.  “Back in 1937 someone else bought the camp which your daughters are now enjoying” .  
 
Two large gifts were announced at that time: $25,000 each from the Cleveland Foundation and the Beaumont Foundation.  Also:
Addressograph-Multigraph Corp:  $2,000
Carling Brewing Co: $2,000
Clevite Corp:  $2,000
Ernst & Ernst: $650
Midland Ross Corp: $3,000
White Sewing Machine Corp: $1,000
Warner & Swasey:  $2,500
G.E. pledged dollar for dollar matching gifts
About 700 clubs and organizations were approached for donations by letter. 
 
By April 1, 1964,  $340,626 ( little over half of the goal)  had been collected in 10,716 individual gifts.  The official campaign office was closing although follow up phone calls would continue to be made. 
 
Sept/Oct 1964.  $435,000 had come in.  The council president, Mrs. Vernon Latimer, stressed that “some large contributors are waiting to contribute substantially, dependent on our making a larger percentage of our goal.  She urges those who would like to add more to what they have already given to do so.”   Pictured in this issue is General Motors manager Howard Holmes presenting LEGSC with a check for $15,000
 
Nov/Dec 1964-  reports Coach House upgraded to a troop site instead of being used as the camp manager's house.  A new caretaker house and maintenance garage were constructed. The entrance on Broadview Rd was formed and the long driveway cleared. 
 
Of the different  groups of targeted donors- the Scout Family and General Division was doing the best. 78% of goal at $153,771
Special Gifts Division - 70.1% of goal - $87,656
Inner Leaders - 60.3% of goal – $75,497
Advance and Major Gifts 58.1% of goal – $116,239
Clubs and organizations also contributed $1,890 to the fund drive. 
 
 
In Jan/Feb 1965, The Millwheel  reported $448,000 had been pledged. The Chagrin Valley District pledged the money for a new cabin which was then named after them. 
 
By May/June,  the total had inched up to $462,277
 
From The Millwheel March/ April 1966:
    A “less ambitious” swimming pool and dining hall for our West Richfield property has been decided upon by our board of directors because of failure to reach our goal in the Camp Development Fund Drive and because of the large number of unpaid pledges, Mrs. Alto Brown told those attending the annual meeting of the Lake Erie Girl Scout Council on Feb. 7.  “Even so,” she added, ”we are not able to definitely at this time able to say that we can go ahead with these revised plans.  It is our hope that enough pledges and additional gifts will come in between now and June 1 so that we can begin both projects, together with the sanitation system , as soon as the resident camping season is over”
    In the last year, she said, additional gifts have totaled $42,000, bringing to 492 the amount contributed toward the $650,000 goal. 
 
 
Nov / Dec 1966
    “ A new swimming pool and dining hall by next Summer!  That’s the prospect now for our camp sites at West Richfield, thanks to funds received and being received from our Camp Development Fund Drive.
    ” The ground for the pool is now excavated, the pipes are laid, and the gunite shell is going in on property north of the gas cut at Camp Hilaka. Central Pools is building it, and promises full operation by next summer
   “ Construction of the dining hall at Camp Hilaka,by the the Burns Construction Company, is now underway.  It will serve campers in less advanced units, and will be a commissary for the advanced units – paddlers, waterfront, pioneers, outposters, primitive, and CITs – who will still cook and eat out as usual.
    “Now finished and working at Camps Julia Crowell and Hilaka is our new sanitation system, also thanks to the Camp Development Fund Drive monies. Our new treatment plant is behind a fence enclosure near the parking lot at Camp Julia Crowell”
 
May/ June 1967:  announced the May 21 dedication date of  the Louis D. Beaumont Pool and the George Gund Dining Hall .
 
The centerfold of the Sept/Oct 1967 issue shows pictures from both with the the full names.