2024 was an exciting year in the history of The Colonial Dames of America. It marked the 225^th anniversary of the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden building’s construction, the 100^th anniversary of the building purchase by CDA, and the 85^th anniversary of the public museum. This summer also celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the museum’s prestigious Hearst Fellowship program.

We celebrated these important anniversaries with a yearlong fundraising campaign with the goal to raise a minimum of $200,000 to support the MVHM&G and all of the Society’s initiatives.Any donation, including donations to the annual year-end appeal, were designated for the MVHM&G Anniversaries Fundraising Campaign.

The MVHM&G Anniversaries Fundraising Campaign and celebrations culminated at the 2025 Garden Party, which was held on the Sunday of the Annual Meeting weekend. A bronze plaque in the museum recognizes all donors contributing $2,500 or more to the campaign; and recognized donors; individuals, chapters, or any organization contributing to the Anniversaries Fundraising Campaign. Recognition levels for the bronze plaque include:

• $2,500–$4,999
• $5,000–$9,999
• $10,000–$19,999
• $20,000–$29,999
• $30,000+

All donors to the campaign were recognized and thanked in a printed program at the 2025 Garden Party. Printed recognition materials reflects donors’ pledged commitment, and names were added to the plaque at the appropriate recognition when the commitment was fulfilled. Donations to the campaign not otherwise designated were unrestricted donations to the Society, which wholly owns and operates the museum. Donors to the campaign were able to designate their funds.

The recognition level for each donor was determined by their total contributions to the MVHM&G Anniversaries Fundraising Campaign, e.g., if funds were donated to the campaign in 2023 and 2024, the amounts were added for the purposes of donor recognition materials. Those who wished to make a larger pledge with installments paid over an extended period (up to three years). They submitted their pledge form to Jack Youngblut at comcoor@cda1890.org. Any donor who wished to remain anonymous did so.

There was a MVHM&G Anniversaries Gala on April 27, 2024. All proceeds from the gala supported the MVHM&G Anniversaries Fundraising Campaign. The entire purchase price of any gala ticket at any level counted towards a donor’s total for purposes of all donor recognition materials, e.g., if a donor gave $1,000 toward the campaign in 2023, $2,500 in 2024, and purchased one $1,500 Benefactor ticket, their campaign total for recognition purposes was $5,000. (Please note: the tax-deductible portion of each gala ticket was the amount over $200, not the entire purchase price.)

Plans were also in formation to recognize chapters who had a 50% participation rate in the Anniversaries Fundraising Campaign and special recognition for chapters that reached 60% or higher member participation. Donations of any amount, including gala ticket purchases and support, counted towards the chapter participation percentage.

Chapters or individuals who wished to sponsor particular MVHM&G projects and initiatives should have reached out to Chairman Anna Rich at annarich@mac.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.