Kane County Reporter

The Batavia Parks Foundation proudly announces the best kind of gift at Christmas. A gift of PEACE ON EARTH. Parks Foundation president Britta McKenna comments, “The Batavia Parks Foundation is overjoyed to announce today that we have reached the $50,000 community goal for the PEACE ON EARTH permanent artwork.” McKenna adds, “It is fitting that we met our community goal at Christmas – what a gift to the community from the community.” 

A big reason the goal was met before the year-end is due to a generous year-end donation from the Dunham Foundation for the permanent artwork. A $5,000 check was presented to the Parks Foundation president, Britta McKenna, Vice President Stefin Steberl, and project founder, Craig Foltos, today by Dunham Foundation Program Director Lindsay Cochrane. Fittingly, a group selfie was taken on the Wilson Street bridge overlook featuring the iconic PEACE ON EARTH sign in the background. Dunham Foundation President & CEO Vicki Morcos shared, “The Dunham Foundation is pleased to support this special local project to help make the ‘Peace on Earth’ sign a permanent landmark in Batavia, and we look forward to witnessing the many ways this sign will continue to inspire the community.” 

The Dunham Foundation gift meant that the goal was only $35 away, so a challenge was quickly issued on the Parks Foundation RallyUp fundraising platform. The donation that surpassed the $50,000 goal was “In Memory of Nancy McCloud.” That tribute gift, along with hundreds of others who purchased “Play it Forward” raffle tickets, donated money, purchased merchandise, sponsored Batavia #peaceday, or sponsored a letter, all crossed the goal together.
 
Partners in the PEACE ON EARTH project include the Batavia Park District, Craig Foltos of Foltos Tonsorial Parlor, the Batavia Parks Foundation, and members of the community invested in promoting and preserving PEACE ON EARTH.
 
PEACE ON EARTH Major Donors
Contributing to the “PEACE ON EARTH” Campaign were the following generous major donors:  Anonymous, Barco Products, Batavia Rotary Club, Batavia Woman’s Club, Boyce Body Werks, Inc., In Memory of Dan Brace, Drendel & Jansons Law Group, Dunham Foundation, Earthmover Credit Union, Foltos & Friends, Richard & Joanne Hansen, Rob & Karen Hollis, Kluber Architects + Engineers, Alice Bonifas Lee, Marconi Family in Memory of Joseph Marconi, Steven & Britta McKenna, The Matt Novak Family, Lezlee S. Nuesca, Maureen O’Brien, Stan & Carolyn Oke, Premium Waterproofing, The Matt Rowe Foundation, Weaver Partners, Inc., Sarah J. Ryerson, and Steve Hopkins & Associates.
 
Community Engagement Was the Main Ingredient
The Batavia community is well known for rolling up its sleeves and volunteering to get “it” done, whatever “it” is. The PEACE ON EARTH project founder is Craig Foltos (and his band of merry barbershop donors), who was ignited by the Batavia Parks Foundation marketing and fundraising efforts last May. Joining in for the “Play it Forward” raffle were Batavia “Play Partner” businesses who teamed up with the Parks Foundation to donate raffle items. Many thanks to Boj-E-Bikes, Mirus, Sturdy Shelter, Katie O’Brien Photography, Sidecar Supper Club, Batavia Park District, Funway, Batavia Fine Arts Centre, The Comedy Vault, Pal Joey’s, and Four Hawks for their donations. Fold in the dozens of people who purchased PEACE ON EARTH merchandise, those who gave monetary donations and tips at community events, major donors, and those that wrote a check, and you have the recipe for a Batavia community project. Perhaps the best way to tell the impact of the project came from Batavian Betty Prestler, who shared her sentiments recently in a card to the Batavia Parks Foundation with her check:                                                                                                                                                          
“Dear Members of the Batavia Parks Foundation,
You make our parks so incredible! Thank you for this wonderful way to make the Peace on Earth letters permanent! How I have loved seeing this over the years – has brought such joy to my life – reflecting the prayer of my heart.”  Betty Pressler - Batavia, IL
 
History of the Peace on Earth Project
Craig Foltos had a dream some twenty years ago to place 12’ "PEACE ON EARTH" letters on the bicycle-pedestrian bridge in downtown Batavia, IL. That dream came true through his efforts alongside volunteers, who donated resources and time to build the letters. In partnership with the Batavia Park District, the message of hope has been proudly hung annually on the "Peace Bridge" during the Christmas season. The Batavia Parks Foundation teamed up with Foltos, who had already raised $4,000 through donations and merchandise sales toward the permanent art.  The Batavia Parks Foundation launched a community campaign in May of 2022, securing letter sponsors, selling “Play it Forward” raffle tickets, accepting donations, and selling merchandise that all added up to $50,000 on December 21, 2022. Any funds raised above the actual final costs of the project will be placed in a Batavia Parks Foundation dedicated fund to pay for future maintenance expenses for the artwork and lighting and Batavia #peaceday.
 
Next Up: 2023 Construction
Now that the community fundraising is wrapped up, construction planning for the permanent PEACE ON EARTH artwork is underway. A familiar name to the Batavia community project, Dennis Kintop, is the volunteer construction manager. Dennis is working with the Batavia Park District, Batavia Parks Foundation, and community volunteers to get the metal letters fabricated, install permanent electricity and lighting, and leverage in-kind donations wherever possible. Kluber Architects + Engineers’ in-kind donation of structural and electrical plans for the permanent artwork is already underway. Project installation is targeted for 2023 with fall ribbon cutting plans on the 2023 United Nations International Day of Peace on September 21, 2023. Local tradespeople interested in assisting with the construction project, especially electrical installation, should contact Dennis at denniskintop@gmail.com . 

Original source can be found here