Fund raising for our Hall Cave Preserve slowed a bit since our initial efforts after acquiring the cave in October of 1998. Donations kept trickling in, but not at the enthusiastic pace at the outset of the acquisition. Near the end of the summer, MAKC member Bruce Dunlavy steered a grant application our way from SHARE, Sandy Hollow Arts and Recreation for the Environment, a group which organizes an annual music festival and then donates some of the proceeds to environmental education and conservation-oriented groups. In early November of 2000 Bruce called to let us know we had successfully petitioned for a $250 challenge grant, which meant we had to match the SHARE grant with donations in order to receive it. That was great because we still had 48 caves spots to fill ($1200 to raise.) We had financed our purchase with two $4,000 zero-percent interest loans from two of our board members. They were very patient about getting paid back, but we needed to eventually do that. By January 10, 2001, we had received seven of the necessary ten surface spot pledges to match the grant. Then treasurer Tom Metzgar was pleasantly surprised one Friday morning when he swung by the P.O. Box on his way to work. California caver Don Dunn enclosed a letter and a $500 donation for the Hall Cave Preserve, not only allowing us to meet the challenge, but nearly paying off the preserve. By this time we were ready to do a final fund raising push -- by the time Don made his donation there were only 7 spots left. A quick e-mail to our many supporters asked them to forward a solicitation request to friends who might be interested in helping out. Paul Riggs of Dickinson College forwarded this to his friend Tucker Newberry in Virginia, who sponsored two spots. Within 24 hours we had donations from Chuck Snyder, John Pearson, and finally, from Paula Grgich and Dennis Melko to fill all of the sponsorships and conclude our fund raising efforts for our first cave preserve. Special thanks go to each and every donor. Current members and supporters were invited to a thank-you party to be held in central Pennsylvania.

Click here for a full list of sponsors.

On May 30, 2002, just two weeks before the final payment was due on Billy Clay Pit, the MAKC got a phone call from Dick Blenz, the Indiana caver who has supported many cave conservation projects from many conservancies and the NSS. Dick bought a whole lot at the Hall Cave Preserve to get us going, and offered to pay the final amount we needed to pay off Billy Clay Pit.

We also received word that we had received a $1,000 grant from Cave Conservancy of the Virginias, and a grant in the amount of $500 was received from Explorers Club of Pittsburgh. Niagara Frontier Grotto got the final surface spot, and Dick got all of the remaining cave spots. Dick, your support, and the support of all of our donors, is deeply appreciated. Many of you donated more than once, and our sustaining members contributed monthly toward paying off this preserve, although they are only listed once here.

Walt Hamm, who initiated this project, donated more than half a dozen times, in addition to writing several successful grant applications. Thank you all, again!

Here is the list, in order of donation: (if a member appears more than once it was because there were mutliple donations made)

Click here for a full list of sponsors.