This sign will be changing.
Last year, the Irish community rallied around the Irish Center—the Commodore Barry Club in Mt. Airy—when a city tax reassessment threatened to crush what has been a focal point of Irish life in the region since 1958.
The Center was facing tax bills three times higher than the year before at a time when a harsh winter sent heating bills sky-rocketing and new city and federal codes required a handful of expensive upgrades, including installation of an elevator, upgraded wiring, new air conditioners, and a range hood for the kitchen.
Fundraisers, from a party at a local pub to Quizzo and comedy nights at the Center, as well as a direct mail and online campaign, raised more than $82,000 in a scant four months.
“People were showing us a lot of love,” says Kathy McGee Burns, who sits on the board of the Irish Center and is the informal chair of the fundraising committee.
Just recently, McGee Burns sent out a letter to donors and others detailing just what their donations bought:
• $32, 406.39 for taxes
• $14,981.28 for liability insurance premiums
• New carpeting in the lobby, Club Room and Ladies room
• Refrigerator units and dishwasher upgrades
• Painting of the John Barry Room
More improvements are on the docket, including a redo of the ladies’ room (“One of our donations last year was expressly for that,” she says); roof repairs; and an upgrade of the air conditioning in the ballroom to meet federal code.
“The best news of all is that we’ll pass the first phase of getting our 501 (c)(3) status tis fall,” McGee Burns says. “We’ll be operating under a new name too, the Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center. We’re going to concentrate on having lots of events that will showcase our heritage.”
The nonprofit status will not only ease the tax problem, but will qualify the Center for government and other nonprofit grants and aid.
The Center makes roughly a quarter million dollars a year, largely as an event space which is used not only by the Irish, but by its neighbors in the surrounding Mt. Airy community for events, weddings, and parties. It’s booked nearly solidly through the winter, says McGee Burns.
Nevertheless, the fundraising campaign is likely to be a permanent fixture on the calendar, she says. “We were desperate last year and the fundraisers took a lot of the edge off for us. It gave us hope that we could continue to stay here. But it’s not like we’re all set now. People need to know that we still need their help.”
McGee Burns has sent out more than 700 letters asking for donations; several of the other organizations that use the Center, like the Philadelphia Ceili Group and the county societies, have either shared their mailing lists or sent out the letter to their members. An online campaign will resume sometime this summer, although you can always donate via PayPal on the Irish Center website.
And in between, several events are planned that put the “fun” in fundraiser. This Saturday, the local group No Irish Need Apply will be headlining an event at McGillicuddy’s, 8921 West Chester Pike in Upper Darby, starting at 4 PM. There are two dozen raffle prizes, including Phillies’ tickets; passes to a concert by Celtic Thunder’s Emmett O’Hanlon; bicycles; restaurant gift certificates; kids’ games and craft kits; and many more. Local artisan Tom Gilbride donated three chiming mantle clocks he made, each one worth $400 to $500, for a silent auction.
There will be a painting party at The Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street, Philadelphia on July 11. With the help of the artists from Dish and Dabble in Havertown, you’ll paint two wine glasses, enjoy your favorite drinks from the bar and nibbles. The event starts at 2 PM and $25 of your $40 ticket goes to the Irish Center.
Also in the planning stages are a Designer Bag Bingo evening (date to come) and The Gathering on October 4 with dozens of activities, music, dancing, and food. Other events are also under consideration.
