ADAMS, Mass. — The Suffrage Centennial Celebration Committee's fundraising campaign is nearing the $100,000 mark, bringing it closer to the amount needed to fund a Susan B. Anthony statue.

 

The committee member Erin Mucci in her financial update Thursday said the group has raised $82,678.39 to date.

 

"So, we are less than $18,000 away from the magic $100,000 number. That would kick in the Adams Community Bank contribution that would get us to $125,000," Mucci said. "That would basically pay for the statue."

 

Nearly two years ago, the committee formed to organize a yearlong celebration in 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of passing the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote and the 200th birthday of native daughter Anthony.

 

The group's goal is to raise $300,000 for the entire event — $130,000 of this will go toward a bronze statue of Susan B. Anthony to be placed on the town common. Adams Community Bank has pledged to kick in another $25,000 once the $100,000 amount is hit.

 

Sculptor Brian Hanlon was hired to create the life-size bronze of Anthony and a smaller figure of her as a child.

 

A model statue of the adult Anthony has been completed. Committee member Carleen Butler said they still need a model for the younger Susan. She said forms have been placed in Adams, Cheshire, and Savoy in order to solicit a young girl between 6 and 7 years of age to volunteer to be Hanlon's model.

 

Homeschooled children from Adams, Cheshire, and Savoy are also eligible. 

 

The forms are due Monday, today, and the committee will pick three finalists. Hanlon will choose the model.

 

In other business, the board discussed scaling down the proposed parade that would be held in 2020 before the unveiling of the statue.  

 

"We had discussed a big parade with the college bands, balloons, and all of that and it is expensive," Mucci said. "In my opinion, a parade like that would not be a huge draw."

 

Mucci said a larger parade would likely cost between $50,000 and $80,000 but for $30,000 they can hold a smaller parade with local bands, floats, and other elements that would properly theme the parade.

 

She said they could also hold a street fair and this $30,000 could be used for marketing and hiring bands, re-enactors, and possibly a horse and buggy.

 

The Berkshire Scenic Railway could also do a suffrage-themed train ride, she said. 

 

The rest of the commission thought a smaller parade would suffice.

 

"I think this is fine it's a matter of money. I think back in Susan's time there may have been similar parades like this," Committee member Joseph Nowak said. "I am good with this."

 

Mucci said she did tentatively program $10,000 in the $30,000 for a prominent woman speaker for the event and although the pipe dream was to invite Hillary Clinton, the first woman to run for the presidency as a major party nominee, the commission agreed she may be out of their price range.

 

"Wasn't it that Hillary doesn't get out of bed for less than $10,000," committee member James Loughman said. "It will probably be more than $10,000 so she may be out of our budget."

 

Mucci said she and Nowak also recently met with MountainOne Bank to discuss a possible donation, however, the bank preferred to sponsor an event closer to 2020.

 

"They said they would be interested in giving money for an event they like to sponsor events so that is something that we would need to put in a separate proposal," Mucci said. "So I think we all need to keep our thinking caps on."

 

She said it would be optimal if the event was some kind of fundraiser.

 

She added they also met with Greylock Federal Credit Union whose officers suggested it they may be willing to sponsor an event in Pittsfield.

 

"They are interested in sponsoring something, we were thinking this March or April, in the Pittsfield area. Maybe a gala event that would be a fundraiser," She said. "This will also allow us to break out and extend our reach."

 

The group also plans to hold a tea party fundraiser at the Red Carpet on Sunday, Oct. 21, at 2:30. Tickets cost $25 and Carol Crossed, president of the board of directors of the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum will speak.