May 11, 2007 Via Hand Delivery

Ted Strickland
Governor
The Hon. Tyrone Yates
Ohio House of Representatives
MEMBERS
77 S. High Street, 11th Floor
Ronald A. Pizzuti Columbus, OH 43215
Chairperson

Barbara S. Robinson Re: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Vice Chairperson
Dear Representative Yates:
George R. Oberer, Sr.
Secretary-Treasurer
In our efforts to keep you informed of current activities with regard to capital projects in your
Adam K. Brandt
district, I would like to provide you with an update on the National Underground Railroad
Otto M. Budig, Jr. Freedom Center.
Julie T. Kunkel
Through the Cultural Facilities Commission, the Freedom Center has been reimbursed nearly
Harry J. Lehman $12.65 million in state capital appropriations. As you know, the Freedom Center project was
allocated an additional capital appropriation of $2 million in Am. Sub. H.B. 699.
EX-OFFICIO
MEMBERS Prior approvals by the Commission were based upon the understanding that the Freedom
Center would set aside funds from its endowment/investment account that would stand in the
David Goodman
Ohio Senate place of its capital fundraising shortfall, and that within a short period of time the Freedom
Center would complete its fundraising campaign with a fully-subscribed set of written funding
Shawn N. Webster commitments that would equal the total project costs. It is now over two years later, no net
Ohio House
progress has been made toward completing the capital campaign, and we have not been able
Julie S. Henahan to obtain sufficient information from the Freedom Center to ascertain that the project remains
Ohio Arts Council
fully-funded. Total project costs to build the Freedom Center were nearly $117.7 million, and
the organization’s total received and confirmed funding sources are approximately $110 million,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR including state appropriations, resulting in an apparent funding gap of $7.75 million.
Kathleen M. Fox, FASLA
The Commission applauds the Freedom Center’s successful 2006 “Bridge to the Future”
fundraising campaign to subsidize the Center’s operating budget and reduce operating debt.
The campaign raised over $8 million for the organization, and our Commission realizes these
are much-needed funds to support the Center’s daily operations. However, we are concerned
that no further fundraising progress has been made with regard to their capital project.

Before the Commission can approve the release of the recent $2 million state capital
appropriation, we are requesting that Freedom Center officials complete the capital fundraising,
as they committed to do in 2004.

Our staff and Commission members are committed to working with representatives of the
Freedom Center, and we will continue to keep you informed about the project’s progress.
Should you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
I can be reached at (614) 995-7552 or jfagan@culture.ohio.gov.

Sincerely,

Jessica Fagan
Communications Manager

Enclosure