We are excited to report that the Eli Banana Fund has made a $500,000 pledge to the Jeffersonian Grounds Initiative to renovate the landscape of the East Courtyard of the Rotunda. The finishing touches to the magnificent Rotunda Restoration will be the new plantings, hardscape and furnishings of the East and West Courtyards, personally designed by Laurie Olin, one of the most celebrated landscape architects in the world and winner of both the Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture and the National Medal in the Arts.
The more prestigious, and yes, the more expensive is the East Courtyard with its fountain and more elaborate plantings, at a cost of $665,000. The East historically has seen more use by the students. The Fund has already contributed $100,000 to the Rotunda Restoration and is happy to commit another $500,000 towards the East Courtyard, the Jeffersonian Grounds’ top priority to help wrap up their Rotunda campaign. Our support will be recognized with a permanent plaque with the Eli Banana logo in the East Courtyard, as well as celebrated by Jeffersonian Grounds to encourage the final donors to their campaign.
We need your help to fund this commitment and are asking for gifts to be pledged over a five year period. Gifts should be made to the Eli Banana Fund, supportive of the Rotunda Restoration (one of the University’s highest fundraising priorities) and will be credited in the University’s upcoming Bicentennial Campaign. Individual gifts would be recognized annually in the Rotunda. This is a tremendous opportunity for Eli Banana to sustain our leadership on Grounds. Please consider a leadership gift for this effort.
With thanks for your past and continued support of Eli Banana and the University.