Fundraising event tonight at steel museum

October 13, 2011 at 10:06a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN - In an effort to celebrate the area’s steel heritage while ensuring that rich history is preserved for future generations, a local organization is hosting a fundraising event for the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor, more commonly referred to as the The Steel Museum.

“Built on Steel: A Celebration of Our Industrial Heritage” will be at 6 p.m. today at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor, 151 W. Wood St.

The private, invitation-only event is being hosted by the Friends of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor, which supports the operations of the Center by facilitating fund development and promoting community awareness of its programs, activities and exhibits. The Friends organization’s goal is to provide support for its financial security and raise national and international awareness of the Center’s unique role in preserving and interpreting the Mahoning Valley’s contribution to our nation’s industrial heritage.

The steel museum is funded and operated through a partnership between YSU, the Ohio Historical Society and the Friends organization.

Speakers for Thursday’s event include George Kane, director of Historic Sites and Facilities for the Ohio Historical Society; YSU president Cynthia Anderson; and Dr. Donna DeBlasio, Dr. Thomas Leary and Dr. Martha Pallante, members of the Friends organization.

Sandra Cika, chair of the marketing committee for the Friends of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor, designed the invitation and created the theme “Built on Steel: A Celebration of Our Industrial Heritage.” Cika is principal of INSITE, a full-service graphic design firm specializing in branding and applications of those brands from logos to websites. INSITE has offices in Washington, D.C. and Youngstown.

She said the theme is meant “to celebrate and preserve our unique and important story both locally and nationally.”

The goals of the event include:

*Formally introducing the Friends organization to the community, including who they are and why they exist

* Introducing or re-introducing the Youngstown Steel Museum to the attendees

* Promoting the Youngstown Steel Museum as a destination for local residents and non-residents alike, as part of a regular stop on a tour of must-see other Youngstown sites, such as, the Butler Institute of American Art, Mill Creek Park and the Oh Wow! Children’s Center for Science & Technology, etc...

* To raise the important funds needed to support the museum and its’ goal to expand into a dynamic cultural center now and for years to come.

The Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The archives/research library is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of each month. There is also a gift shop in located in the museum lobby, offering themed items of steel such as T-shirts, prints and books as well as general Youngstown and Ohio history merchandise.

The museum also hosts a variety of lectures, book signings, films, tours, rotating exhibits and other cultural events.