1st Half 2008 Report, Freedom Bridge Project

 

Semi-Annual Report   Jan - June 2008

  

                                          Chairman's Letter:

 

It is with great pleasure that I provide the first semi-annual progress report of the Freedom Bridge Foundation (FBF) of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

 

The Freedom Bridge Foundation was formed during the fourth quarter of 2007, and officer positions were filled throughout the first half of 2008. By-laws were adopted and 501(c)(3) tax exempt status was applied for.

 

The objectives of the Foundation remain steadfast:  (1) Provide improved public access and safety to the Island, (2) create a Memorial for Freedom, (3) enhance the Bridgewater Channel area of Lake Havasu City, and the region, and (4) accomplish these objectives without requesting additional taxpayer dollars and without delays.

 

The Freedom Bridge Foundation's primary activities will be centered around a series of fundraising events, beginning with the sale of Memorial Bricks to be placed on the Freedom Bridge Memorial Walkway along the shores of the Bridgewater Channel, and also in the Freedom Park, expected to be located along the channel adjoining the Freedom Bridge in an area currently known as a part of Windsor Site 4.

 

The financial condition of the FBF is sound. This is primarily the result of the extraordinary efforts by a long list of dedicated community volunteers, most of whom have contributed time, services, or goods toward the completion of a wide variety of needed projects, all working toward the above objectives.  Where certain funds were needed for items such as printing materials, postage, outside professional services, etc., these needs were met with a small amount of seed money provided by a FBF Board member (see financial statements).

 

The Freedom Bridge Foundation has made significant accomplishments during its first six months of operation. An entire web-based fundraising business was conceived, product lines created, contracts signed, sales initiated, promotions, publicity, and advertising is underway, and the entire enterprise is now growing successfully with positive cash flow.

 

A local, regional, and soon-to-be national educational contest has begun by inviting students to write the Historical Essays on American Freedom.  A committee was formed to promote this contest, evaluate, and select the entries for permanent location along the Memorial Walkway.

 

A fundraising partnership opportunity for all charities, civic groups, and veterans organizations was designed and is now functioning smoothly via the website ordering process for Memorial Bricks.

 

Numerous endorsements have been received, including from the Arizona Governor, Arizona Secretary of State, and the Arizona Superintendent of Schools. An endorsement is pending from a U.S. Senator (and presidential candidate). Local and regional veterans groups have endorsed this project. The Traveling Wall (American Veterans Traveling Tribute), a potentially huge visitor draw to Lake Havasu City, has been arranged. Permanent location for the Traveling Wall in Lake Havasu City's new Freedom Park is a distinct possibility.

 

A Freedom Bridge informational DVD has been produced and distributed nationally. It is also playing on the website and was featured at the Lake Havasu City Film Festival in April.

 

Initial architectural drafts for the Freedom Bridge site and Freedom Park areas were completed and widely distributed. Bridge designs have been submitted by architectural firms and additional indications of interest have been received. (The basic bridge design and construction is not the responsibility of the FBF; only the enhancements are expected to be financed by the fundraising activities of the FBF.)

 

Significant cooperation agreements have been secured with the City of Lake Havasu, as this project is expected to be a huge long-term economic benefit for the entire area.

 

In sum, the first half of 2008's accomplishments as listed above might be considered an extraordinary achievement by a large, diversified corporation. However, it is even more amazing that the FBF has completed the above as the result of the efforts of a handful of dedicated community volunteers. The FBF knows of no other similar project where the local citizens are selflessly volunteering to assist the local government in completing a much needed infrastructure project, without requesting taxpayer funds.

 

I wish to thank all those involved. We can be proud of our Foundation, and of its goal of highlighting America's Freedoms.

 

Gary Meyers

Chairman

 

  

  

 

Time Line of Events, Jan-June 2008

 

January 2008

• Seed money received
• Freedom Bridge website work begins
• First FBF official meeting, officers elected, bylaws passed, committees identified, brick committee objectives discussed

 

February 2008

• FBF PowerPoint presentation created
• Bridge design suggestions received and discussed
• First FB presentation made to Vietnam Veterans of America, Lake Havasu City, Az

 

March 2008

• New DVD of entire Freedom Bridge project is completed.
• FB logos created.
• VFW endorsement received.
• Website undergoes continuous development and improvement. Blog added, allowing public input.
• Executive Director position filled.
• Numerous new volunteers join the FBF.
• GiftBricks Inc. sends representative to study FB Memorial Walkway project. Contracts negotiated.
• Weekly memorial brick committee meetings begin.
• Traveling Wall agrees to stage event in Lake Havasu City in March 2009.
• Memorial Brick reservation process begins on website.
• Historical Essay brick contest conceived and discussed.

 

April 2008

• FBF presentation to Lake Havasu City Council. City signs MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) giving FBF permission to replace the Bridgewater Channel concrete walkways with Memorial Bricks.
• FBF presentation to Arizona State Parks Department, requesting approval and redesignation of a small portion of Windsor Site 4 to become Freedom Park. Received draft of MOU giving approval for Freedom Park (awaiting final approval, expected in Sept 2008).
• Corporate Freedom Funder program conceived and discussed.
• Showing of the FBF DVD at the Lake Havasu City Film Festival, three consecutive days.
• Brick sizes, medallions, pricing, and specific ordering process finalized.
• Historical brick essay contest begins. Support received from local and statewide Superintendents of Schools.
• Press releases on FBF's progress and successes are issued.
• Speaking schedule on FB Project and Memorial Walkway begins.
• Website (www.havasufreedombridge.com) goes live for brick orders.
• Brick sales - print advertising begins.
• Brochures created and printed.
• Civic and veterans group applications received and fundraising partnerships initiated.
• Front page newspaper articles, positive news coverage
• Endorsements received from local and regional public officials.

 

May 2008

• FBF Banners donated and displayed at separate locations.
• Rotary Polio Plus fundraising partnership established (matching funds from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
• Brick sales tent and display at channel site.
• Run For The Wall 20^th Anniversary cross-country event with 4,000 Freedom Bridge brochures distributed to veterans.
• Run For The Wall blog on Freedom Bridge website become popularly viewed and greatly increases visits to website.
• Civic Group bricks sales begin.
• FBF Organizational chart created; numerous committees and projects identified.
• Public Service Announcements, on donated time, begin on local radio stations.
• Flags and flagpoles were donated and are now flying over the Bridgewater Channel on weekends, at the future Freedom Bridge site.

 

June 2008

• Brick sales volumes begin to grow.
• New brick order forms distributed, making donations easier.
• Numerous additional press releases, TV, national radio coverage.
• Secured fundraising partnership with Freedom Alliance national organization.
• Az Governor and AZ Secretary of State endorsements of Freedom Bridge project received.
• American Legion endorsement received.
• Donations of bricks for families of soldiers from Mohave and La Paz counties KIA in Iraq/Afghanistan.
• Presentation to CVB for funding and support for Traveling Wall event in March 2009.
• Numerous presentations around LHC to civic groups, real estate firms.
• Received multiple Corporate Freedom Funder commitments.
• Agreements made for July 4^th weekend brick promotion at Wal-Mart.