To learn about the opportunities to participate in the Campaign, please download the Shine the Light Campaign Available Sponsorships as of 10-16-2024 to learn more. To make a donation via check, please download our Donation Form Shine the Light Campaign 10-15-2024 or to make a donation via credit card, please click on the button below to visit our campaign shop.
HELP US KEEP THE LIGHT SHINING!
Donate to the 2024 Lighthouse Interior Campaign and Have Your Gift Matched Dollar for Dollar!
The full restoration of the Port Austin Light House made extraordinary progress the past two years. Our MDOT Grant Exterior Project was completed last summer and its associated matching grant fully funded. The work included exterior masonry repair, installation of all new windows, repair of the west facing steam room door including a new lintel, installation of fog horn dormer per original design, concrete base patching, repair of stairs, chimney stack repair and the watch room door fabrication & installation. Our team from ICC Commonwealth worked 60 hours per week from June though September all while living on the light.
In June of 2023, the PARLA Board approved a second contract with ICC Commonwealth that covers all the interior work not contained scope of the MDOT grant. The work includes: installation of interior trim, reinstallation of existing doors, painting interior walls & trim, repair of the east crane, interior staircase repairs, interior wall restoration, reinstalling the vents in the lantern, rebuilding the Ice Box which will serve as the mechanical room. We also have contracts with Zimmerman Electric to install solar and wind powered electricity, Shetler Plumbing to install all the plumbing, Down Home Welding Co., LLC to make repairs to both cranes and Artworks Florida to build a replica 4th order Fresnel Lens.
The total cost of the entire project is $1.5 million dollars and to date, we have raised $1.4 million via grants and donations. Thus our goal by the end of 2024 is to raise the final $40,000 to complete the full restoration of Port Austin's Castle on the Lake. One of our close lighthouse friends have offered a CHALLENGE to help us make it to the finish. Make a gift TODAY and have each dollar matched DOLLAR for DOLLAR!
Can you make a gift and help us reach our target? Help us keep the light shining?