Dear Friend of the Museum,

I've just completed an exhilarating exciting year as president of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society.  Our program and events at the Mandarin Museum, Walter Jones Historical Park, and 1911 Mandarin Store and Post Office have drawn thousands of visitors, young and old, students and senior citizens, Mandarin residents and international tourists. We couldn't do it without you, our members, volunteers, and other supporters.

Like other nonprofit organizations today, the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is facing financial difficulties.  We deeply appreciate the support we receive from memberships, contributions and grants. These funds enable us to fulfill our mission of providing a great place to engage with the diverse ecology, history and community of the lower St. Johns River basin. 

However, traditional funding sources, including government programs, grants, and corporate giving, continue to drop.  I ask you to consider a year-end charitable gift to the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society. With your gift, you are making a statement about the importance of keeping Mandarin history alive for our community, your children, and for future generations.

The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and your gift to the museum is tax deductable.  It will help fund our educational programs, preserve our collection, develop new exhibits, and keep the museum operating. 

This past summer, I participated in our brand new River Day Camp and saw how our programs inspire children. Twenty third and fourth grade students attended the one-week session. Thanks to a private grant, ten at-risk children nominated by a social service organization were able to participate. Some of these children had never seen the river before. They learned about history, tried their hand at archeology, made river inspired art, and studied what makes a healthy water system. They fished, went for a boat ride and some even saw a manatee for the first time.  It is programs like River Camp that directly impact the community we live in.

I would also like to report some of our other accomplishments and activities during 2010:

•  We welcomed 20,000 visitors to the Mandarin Museum, the Mandarin Store & Post Office Museum, and the Walter Jones Historical Park.
   
• We provided school tours and outreach programs that taught more than 1,800 children about the history of Mandarin and the St. Johns River. We also provided educational tours and programs for special needs groups, including the blind, mentally challenged, and elderly.
   
•  We hosted our annual events that draw thousands of visitors from the city and region to the park, including: River Celebration Day; Mandarin Easter Egg Hunt; Stowe, Steamboat & Stories; and A Winter Celebration in Mandarin.
   
• We received donations of approximately 150 historical items to our museum collection to extend research and education about our area.

This year, our dedicated volunteers contributed nearly 800 hours of service.  Their hard work keeps the museum going and makes our great events possible. 

I also want to express our appreciation to our executive director, Andrew Morrow. He administers the work of the museum on a daily basis. Through his drive and talents, we have been able to develop new programs, such as River Camp. 

Please consider a donation this year. Your contribution would greatly assist us to continue all of our activities. Help us to preserve the history, culture, and ecology of the St. Johns River for future generations to enjoy.  

I, along with the Board of Directors and our Executive Director, want to wish you a Happy Holiday Season. We look forward to seeing you in 2011.

Sincerely,

Fred Hulett

President

Mandarin Museum & Historical Society

Please Send Your Pledge Form

*For more information, please contact the museum at 904-268-0784 or by email at mandarinmuseum@bellsouth.net. 

Credit card donations are accepted over the phone.

Checks may be mailed to:

The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society

PO Box 23601

Jacksonville, FL  32241