As we begin making our holiday gift lists, please remember our local non-profit organizations, including the Margret and H.A. Rey Center.  Waterville Valley Realty is a proud supporter of the Rey Center and we hope you’ll join us in making a donation to this year’s Annual Fund drive.

Read the Rey Center’s Annual Fund letter, below.

It is that time of year again when we write to you, our members, donors and friends, to ask you to contribute to the Margret and H.A. Rey Center’s Annual Fund. Before you consider your financial gift this year, let us share with you a few recently completed Rey Center initiatives that give us reason to celebrate. We hope these exciting developments, made possible by the generous contributions of people like you, will encourage you to join other Rey Center members and friends in making a donation to the Annual Fund today.

New Tales: A Strategic Plan for 2011-2014

In June of 2011, the Rey Center Board of Directors officially adopted our organization’s first strategic plan, which will guide our work over the next several years. Waterville Valley community members and Rey Center partners provided invaluable input throughout our planning process, thereby strengthening the process and the plan itself. Download the plan from our website or contact us to request a paper copy. The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Waterville Valley Foundation and a private donor generously funded this project.

Curious George Cottage & Mary Bierbrier Community Gardens Relocation and Renovation

The summer of 2010 saw the Curious George Cottage relocated to a more prominent location on the elementary school/recreation department campus and also renovated to complete much needed energy efficiency upgrades and structural repairs. With a new insulated foundation, attic and windows, dual-flush toilet, and energy efficient heating system and window coverings, the Curious George Cottage is now an environmentally friendly year-round facility hosting Rey Center art, science and nature programs for all ages. The Town of Waterville Valley, ABODE Homebuilders, NH Electric Coop Foundation, Pella Windows, Rod Ladman Window Designs and Gary & Cheryl Moak generously supported this project.

The Mary Bierbrier Community Garden Plots were reconstructed during the spring of 2011 with a generous donation from the Bierbrier family and the help of many volunteers. Ten brand new raised beds are now overflowing with vegetables and flowers. These garden beds provide families and adults who spend their summers in Waterville Valley, as well as students at the Waterville Valley Elementary School, the opportunity to experience the joy of gardening, a favorite hobby of Margret Rey.

Construction of the H.A. Rey Observatory

In the early 1950s, Hans and Margret Rey made their way to Waterville Valley and became enamored with the dark night sky, which aided Hans in revising his book, The Stars. The recently constructed H.A. Rey Observatory, located behind the Curious George Cottage, is now the site of monthly observing nights hosted by NH Astronomical Society volunteers. These programs are free and open to the public and enable us to share H.A. Rey’s passion for astronomy with young and old alike. The construction of the dome was funded by generous donations from the University of New Hampshire NASA Space Grant program, Bob Buttke & Kelly Monaghan, Chris and Len Bierbrier, Birdie and David Britton, and Ted Hammond.

2010 Sees Highest Number of Program Participants in Rey Center History

Last year, the Rey Center served over 4,000 youth, adults and families through programs and events that help people learn about and experience art, science and nature. These programs celebrate the Reys’ spirit of curiosity and discovery and include lectures, adult art workshops, science programs for schools, family nature adventures, youth nature explorations, literary discussion group, youth art camps, story time, walk-talks, and art exhibits.

Although our program numbers are steadily rising each year, fees charged to program participants in 2010 made up only 12% of the Rey Center’s annual operating budget. Eighty-eight percent of our income is generated from grants, fundraising events, membership dues, and generous annual fund contributions from donors like you. While the Rey Center is grateful to receive donations designated for specific projects such as those mentioned above, these donations do not help to cover our operating costs.

The Rey Center Board and Staff have done our best to cut costs and stretch our income dollars as far as possible. But the fact remains: We need your annual fund gift to help us continue to inspire curiosity about art, science & nature, and to serve that spirit of discovery in all of us! We are only $15,000 shy of our $75,000 annual fund goal thanks to all those who have already made generous contributions. Will you join these Rey Center members and friends and make your financial gift today to help us reach our goal?

Thank you and never stop being curious!

Sincerely,
Audrey Eisenhauer, Executive Director &
Birdie Britton, President, Board of Directors