Fan Pier

As an organization we began the fiscal year with two objectives. Number one, to secure a site for the Tower and two to continue our fundraising efforts. The Charlestown site that was pursued in 1998 has been abandoned. It is owned by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. After several meetings and a re-evaluation of the site, it was considered inappropriate for our needs.

We revisited the Fan Pier site and the possibility of sitting the Tower near the courthouse. Unfortunately the judges were not receptive to meeting with us and already made their decision not to site our project near the courthouse.

Now we are exploring another site by Fan Pier with Spaulding & Sly. They are developing property owned by the Pritzkers. We have already had an initial meeting that involved a presentation by our construction team. The response was very positive. We are awaiting a second meeting to continue exploring the possibility of being included in their master plan. In the meantime we have also submitted a proposal to the City Hall Plaza Trustee to be considered for the City Hall Plaza development. We are also pursuing U Mass as a possible site.

A major media campaign was kicked off in late Spring. Through the leadership and generosity of Robert Prince we received ad space for 200 posters in the MBTA. Hill Holiday Connors Cosmopulous donated the design services for the MBTA posters. Massport donated a 6’x6’ billboard space for the MBTA ad. Magic 106.7 donated public service messages on all of their five sister stations as well as WBCN radio. And WHDH television will have a story on Urban Update. The in-kind services of this campaign came to $21,100.

We created a website with the help of Michael Hemingway. It went up in May and the address is http://www.worldunityinc.org. This gives us exposure to a larger audience and it is anticipated it will generate contributions. We have received a pledge of $6,000 from The TJX Companies and will be challenging other corporations to donate matching funds.

We had our second annual fundraising event. The fundraising event raised about $17,000. Total revenue for the year is $22,380 and expenses were $3,587.

In-kind contribution from the construction team now totals about $150,000. The MacPherson Partnership have donated another $24,000 of services.

During the year three new board members were added, Russell Chin, Robert Prince and Janice Sousa. The following members stepped down and will continue to support in an advisory capacity, George Luu, Aidee Herman, Jim Kasper and Roger Harris. The primary objectives for fiscal year 2000 will be the same as fiscal year 99, that of securing the site for the Tower and raising the construction budget.