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By the grace of God
and the grace of the individuals moved to help this project
to completion by their contributions, the Freedom ART Project
Painting Fund is growing. Though I am a long way from the
$21,000 I will need to purchase the materials and labor
for the first prototype of Genesis, I am touched by the
charity I am being shown.
A
disturbing incident occurred where a rather large sum of
money was graciously donated to my little church for my
behalf, as a gift to be given to me. The donor had hoped
for a charitable tax credit, that is why he wrote the check
to the church to then be given as a ministry gift. Unfortunately
my church deliberated the ethics of handling the donation
this way, and after two weeks, the check was returned -
the money never made it to the Freedom ART Project Painting
Fund. Weeks after that, I was finally told the reasons for
gift refusal. My church deliberated such issues as, the
legality of this gift, whether the Project was a ministry
(though the Pastor believes it is a ministry, it seems the
Elders were divided), and discussions for ways to help the
Project's future by steering it into a 501c3 status - No
one EVER discussed any of this with me at the time, as if
it was none of my business (I find that ironic - I will
not mention what the donor thinks it is) (a side note -
my church has a congregation of maybe 300 on a good day).
Well it is behind me now. I love my church still, despite
this disappointment in their support. It is a good church
with good people.
However - I am still
faced with finding avenues of financial support. To avoid
this kind of disappointment in the future, I will look into
the 501c3 non profit status. I had plans for this eventually,
though the scheduling was not to be seriously considered
for another year or two. I suppose, if larger donations
are going to be given, it is a necessity. And it will open
the Project for receiving grants.
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