Dear Sangha,

 

This year at the Harvest of Peace we launched a forward-looking fundraising campaign: Sprucing up Spruce!  We are still up and running with our fundraising campaign.  First of all, I offer my gratitude (on behalf of our whole local sangha) to all the people who have already very generously contributed.  With so many places of need, my experience is that giving and being asked to give is sometimes tiring, sometimes inspiring, and somehow always challenging.  It is always impressive when someone gives, regardless of the amount. 

 

A few months ago we received almost $60,000 from a sangha member who passed away and remembered the Center in her will.  This wonderful gift inspired us to invest in our sangha’s long-term financial well-being.  However, we also recognize the importance of our center’s many immediate needs. 

 

To address both of these areas, our plan is to attempt as a community to match the generosity of this gift with an additional $60.000.  This will make it possible to attend to the immediate needs of our center, as well as to start an endowment with $60,000.

 

Some of the hopes we have for Sprucing up Spruce include:

  1. Uplifting the space with new furniture, framing art, replacing the broken fountain in the entrance, and installing more storage in the kitchen.

  2. Purchasing new meditation cushions and covers.

  3. Completing the Rigden Shrine in the Shambhala Training Hall.

 

The endowment we start now will be a growing pool of money.  The principal amount will remain in perpetuity to generate interest which can then be used by the Center to fulfill its mission.  For example, if the principal eventually grows to $1,000,000, the endowment may generate an additional $40,000 of interest each year to be used for ongoing needs such as building maintenance and scholarships!

 

Some exciting news is that The Sakyong has asked our center to commission a Rigden Thangka from Cynthia Moku with images of the Dharmaraja, the Dorje Dradul, Shakymuni Buddha, and Aka Werma.  We expect this thangka to be ready within a year.

 

As of now, supporters of the Center have pledged approximately $25,000 towards the campaign!  If you have not had the opportunity to make an offering to the Boulder Shambhala Center, please consider making an end of the year donation towards this campaign. To give online please click here.

 

Yours in the Vision of the Great Eastern Sun,        

Ulrike Halpern

Center Director

Boulder Shambhala Meditation Center

1345 Spruce Street

Boulder, Co 80302           

303-444-0190 ext. 113