Wichita — An anonymous donor's outright gift of $100,000 will help the Mid-America All-Indian Center recover some of its financial footing, but officials said more money was needed.
"We are committed to making this work," said John D'Angelo, Wichita's director of arts and cultural services. "We also want the public to know that the work isn't over.
"Yes, this is a great gift," said D'Angelo, who is supervising changes at the center. "But there's still money owed."
The center has a $175,000 loan outstanding, and D'Angelo said it also owed $52,000 in state and federal withholding taxes. It also is two years overdue for an audit.
The donor pledged in April to match donations from the public, up to $100,000. But even with the deadline extended from July 1 to July 29, fundraising efforts brought in only about $13,000.
The donor then decided to make the pledge an outright gift.
"It was a blessing," said Newman Washington, the center's acting board chairman.
The center, which opened in 1976, was unable to pay its bills and was missing a number of artifacts and works of art when it closed in December. It reopened in May, under a city-run reorganization effort.
"The biggest part is behind them," D'Angelo said, "and now it's purely a matter of keeping the doors open, working hard to raise money and letting community members know that they are welcome."
The center also is taking nominations for board members until Oct. 5. The board, which will have up to 15 members when it is reorganized, will include representatives of the local American Indian community, as well as non-Indians.
"There's a certain reluctance for people to serve on the board until all these other issues are resolved," D'Angelo said. "It's a slow transition ... but we're working at it."
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