Success is in sight!

Today's estimate puts us at nearly $60,000 in donations, with more than 20 parties or pledges still on the books!

Recent parties have been hosted by Kevin & Sari O'Connor, Joan Marso, and Michael & Margery Whiteman, and upcoming parties include events co-hosted by Anne Older and Matt Bender, Heather Nowicki and Mary Stoll, and Matt Baumgartner's annual Halloween Party.

It is not too late for you to join Committee 150, and to celebrate this campaign's enormous success at our gala wrap-up party in January.

Please call 518-462-1900, or send an e-mail to committee150@verizon.net. Plan a party or pledge $1,000 and we'll add your name to the list of local citizens who are raising money, raising awareness, and imagining the possibilities for Albany's former St. Joseph's Church.

Big photo spread in Times Union today ...

Work continues on St. Joseph's
Historic Albany holds final fundraising open house of season for old church

Staff reports
First published: Wednesday, September 13, 2006

ALBANY -- On Sunday, the Historic Albany Foundation hosted the final open house of the season at the former St. Joseph's Church.

The church, located at Ten Broeck and Second Streets, is undergoing an interior stabilization project. During the open house visitors were treated to an exhibit about the history of the building and parish and learned about plans for the building's future.

A group called Committee 150 has been holding fundraisers and parties with a goal of raising about $1,000 each time for the Historic Albany Foundation, which is overseeing work at St. Joseph's Church. Its overall goal is to raise $150,000 for renovation work.

In 2003, the city gave the foundation ownership of the 141-year-old neo-Gothic church, which had been closed nearly a decade earlier by the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese. Its roof was in danger of collapse because leaks had rotted a key supporting pillar.

Colleen Ryan, co-founder of Committee 150, said the citizens campaign was organized to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the former St. Joseph's Church, and to raise $150,000 to continue stabilization work on the once-endangered building.

The campaign began in May and is slated to end in the fall.

So far through parties and donations, Committee 150 has raised nearly $50,000. A challenge grant from prominent investment counselor Candace King Weir, owner of C.L. King & Associates Inc., which matches each $2 raised with $1 additional, brings the total to date to nearly $75,000 -- one-half of their goal, organizers said.

For information about the stabilization project at St. Joseph's, contact Erin Tobin Bearden at Historic Albany Foundation at http://www.historic-albany.org or call 465-0876 Ext. 12.

Also, to learn more about Committee 150, or to sign up to plan and host a party, see http://www.committee150. blogspot.com or call 462-1900.

Family Fest raises funds $10 at a time ...

Click here for pictures!

What a beautiful day for a fun family festival in the park!

Chris & Courtney and Matt & Shannon hosted a wonderful and successful party for Committee 150. With Mr. Bouncety-Bounce, a City of Albany Firetruck, face painting, and hot dogs and hamburgers galore, a good time was had by all!

The best treat of the afternoon was Domino the Great, a magician who had the younger set "under his spell" for the better part of an hour. It was amazing!

Domino donated his talents to help raise money for the stabilization of the former St. Joseph's Church, but you can hire him to add some magic to your little one's next party. He specializes in entertainment for Pre-School and Kindergarten kids, and he was wonderful! You can reach him at www.dominothegreat.com .

Thanks to all who came to the party!

Halfway There!

Thanks to a great summer of parties, we are halfway to our goal of raising $150,000 for the stabilization of the former St. Joseph's Church!

Today, we hit the $50,000 mark, and when coupled with the generous match from Candace King Weir, we'll have $75,000 for Phase II !

It's not too late to join Committee 150! You can schedule your party over the next few months ... Please call 462-1900 or send an email to committee150@verizon.net.

Don't forget -- the last Open House of the season is this Sunday at St. Joseph's from 1 - 3 p.m.