Friends of Blenko "Sign UP"
Donation protected
Dear "Friends of Blenko" glass.
It is assuredly no surprise to anyone that times remain tough in the American handmade glass industry. The fact that almost all of our peers, competitors and fellow glass making companies making handmade consumer wares are gone. The list of now closed factories is long. The list of survivors is very short.
We are BLENKO Glass, of Milton, West Virginia. Our founder, John Blenko, began making glass in America in 1893. Blenko relocated to Milton in 1921 and we have been making glass by hand here since then.
Want you to know Blenko Glass intends to be here for years to come. But at present that is an uphill battle and there are many obstacles. Some we can address, some we have addressed and some we need help with. Your help!?
We believe the story of handmade American glass is a significant part of our state and nation's history. We see that this is an industry and process that is about to vanish from the landscape. To put all of our efforts into preserving the last of the once numerous handmade glass tableware and giftware factories is the goal of this campaign. School children, travelers and tourists, bus loads of senior citizens and families stop at Blenko by the hundreds and thousands to see, to watch Blenko's skilled handmade glass artists work. You may have taken one of our tours. If not, you need to come do so. We want to be CERTAIN that is an option for you- and for future generations. Not a big goal is it?
To HELP make this happen we are launching a "Friends of Blenko" fundraising campaign. Our goal is to erect a large billboard on interstate-64 that directs travelers the short distance off the highway and to our factory and, as importantly, to our on-site gift shop/ visitors center.
The money raised by this campaign is to erect that billboard, which is illustrated in this posting. The sole purpose of this campaign is to pay for the billboard- which will increase visitors for our tours and sales, all of which helps insure our ability to continue to operate.
We are not a charity and this is not a charitable appeal. But we know many of you love our glass, many are lovers of handmade American glass generally, and many see our role as an iconic American industry. That is our appeal to you.
To reward your support of this campaign we offer you a gift of our glass at several levels for your contributions. In short, you are paying a premium price for SPECIAL made glass to help us achieve a goal we believe is critical and that we cannot do without some form of outside help.
The billboard goes up in mid-November, 2016.We have signed a contract for one year. We need $11,000 to cover the rental of the billboard and creation/ installation of it. Just in case we exceed our goal (who knows!) all additional funds will be used to extend the billboard contract. It is our belief that the billboard will generate sufficient interest to allow it's continuation from the proceeds of the increased traffic. Optimism abounds at Blenko!
We will close this campaign (and your ability to purchase our special incentives)on December 20, 2016.
Yes, it is a lofty goal. But Blenko has both hope and friends - did we mention our optimism?
THANKFUL- whatever the outcome of this campaign we VERY much appreciate your interest and concern. We appreciate your support. We appreciate YOU.
Blenko is thankful to have made great glass for well over a century.
Our optimism leads us to believe that, with friends and partners, we may just make it for many more years!
Please contribute to our "Friends of Blenko "sign UP"
for a donation of $850 in support we offer you the exceptionally rare chance to create YOUR design with Blenko artists and our glass. We will do our best to create your sketch of a one-of-a-kind glass object. Note we will make it to the best of our ability and ask you to realize that not all things dreamed of easily translate to glass. BUT we have never before offered to make your design in our glass. It make take some back and forth to conclude what we will attempt but we are willing to work with you. The object that results from your design is exclusively yours and we will make only one piece. This is limited to a maximum of five (5) pieces at this level.
for a donation of $500 we will give you one of our famous large face vases in a special edition of seabreeze with tangerine features. Hand applied eyes,long nose and even ears will make each tall vase a one of a kind.
for a donation of $250 we will make for you a hand blown Christmas tree in our new cased Peacblow line in the rich October Blush color. A vibrant orange/red to yellow/ topaz fade over milk white
for a donation of $135 we will make for our popular 384 mini water bottle in xxx color with the special "Friends of Blenko Sign UP" logo that includes our wonderful little blenko blower from early 1960s.
for the donations of $55 we will make for your a special edition suncatcher/ ornament in tangerine with the "Friends of Blenko Sign UP" logo that cinldues the wonderful little Blenko blower from the early 1960s.
It is assuredly no surprise to anyone that times remain tough in the American handmade glass industry. The fact that almost all of our peers, competitors and fellow glass making companies making handmade consumer wares are gone. The list of now closed factories is long. The list of survivors is very short.
We are BLENKO Glass, of Milton, West Virginia. Our founder, John Blenko, began making glass in America in 1893. Blenko relocated to Milton in 1921 and we have been making glass by hand here since then.
Want you to know Blenko Glass intends to be here for years to come. But at present that is an uphill battle and there are many obstacles. Some we can address, some we have addressed and some we need help with. Your help!?
We believe the story of handmade American glass is a significant part of our state and nation's history. We see that this is an industry and process that is about to vanish from the landscape. To put all of our efforts into preserving the last of the once numerous handmade glass tableware and giftware factories is the goal of this campaign. School children, travelers and tourists, bus loads of senior citizens and families stop at Blenko by the hundreds and thousands to see, to watch Blenko's skilled handmade glass artists work. You may have taken one of our tours. If not, you need to come do so. We want to be CERTAIN that is an option for you- and for future generations. Not a big goal is it?
To HELP make this happen we are launching a "Friends of Blenko" fundraising campaign. Our goal is to erect a large billboard on interstate-64 that directs travelers the short distance off the highway and to our factory and, as importantly, to our on-site gift shop/ visitors center.
The money raised by this campaign is to erect that billboard, which is illustrated in this posting. The sole purpose of this campaign is to pay for the billboard- which will increase visitors for our tours and sales, all of which helps insure our ability to continue to operate.
We are not a charity and this is not a charitable appeal. But we know many of you love our glass, many are lovers of handmade American glass generally, and many see our role as an iconic American industry. That is our appeal to you.
To reward your support of this campaign we offer you a gift of our glass at several levels for your contributions. In short, you are paying a premium price for SPECIAL made glass to help us achieve a goal we believe is critical and that we cannot do without some form of outside help.
The billboard goes up in mid-November, 2016.We have signed a contract for one year. We need $11,000 to cover the rental of the billboard and creation/ installation of it. Just in case we exceed our goal (who knows!) all additional funds will be used to extend the billboard contract. It is our belief that the billboard will generate sufficient interest to allow it's continuation from the proceeds of the increased traffic. Optimism abounds at Blenko!
We will close this campaign (and your ability to purchase our special incentives)on December 20, 2016.
Yes, it is a lofty goal. But Blenko has both hope and friends - did we mention our optimism?
THANKFUL- whatever the outcome of this campaign we VERY much appreciate your interest and concern. We appreciate your support. We appreciate YOU.
Blenko is thankful to have made great glass for well over a century.
Our optimism leads us to believe that, with friends and partners, we may just make it for many more years!
Please contribute to our "Friends of Blenko "sign UP"
for a donation of $850 in support we offer you the exceptionally rare chance to create YOUR design with Blenko artists and our glass. We will do our best to create your sketch of a one-of-a-kind glass object. Note we will make it to the best of our ability and ask you to realize that not all things dreamed of easily translate to glass. BUT we have never before offered to make your design in our glass. It make take some back and forth to conclude what we will attempt but we are willing to work with you. The object that results from your design is exclusively yours and we will make only one piece. This is limited to a maximum of five (5) pieces at this level.
for a donation of $500 we will give you one of our famous large face vases in a special edition of seabreeze with tangerine features. Hand applied eyes,long nose and even ears will make each tall vase a one of a kind.
for a donation of $250 we will make for you a hand blown Christmas tree in our new cased Peacblow line in the rich October Blush color. A vibrant orange/red to yellow/ topaz fade over milk white
for a donation of $135 we will make for our popular 384 mini water bottle in xxx color with the special "Friends of Blenko Sign UP" logo that includes our wonderful little blenko blower from early 1960s.
for the donations of $55 we will make for your a special edition suncatcher/ ornament in tangerine with the "Friends of Blenko Sign UP" logo that cinldues the wonderful little Blenko blower from the early 1960s.
Organizer and beneficiary
Dean Six
Organizer
Milton, WV
Dean Six
Beneficiary