The president of the nonprofit that has sponsored the annual Juneteenth celebration in Charlotte says fund-raising was slowed this year by illness in his family and as a result the nonprofit has not raised the money to put on the June 13-16 festival at Independence Park.

What brought Pape Ndiaye to the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum was a plea for help with a $2,500 Park and Rec fee for use of Independence Park. After discussion with Forum participants, he was directed to seek a waiver of the fee from county staffers. The fee was waived two years ago, but with more fund-raising success last year the nonprofit paid the fee in 2012, Ndiaye said.

As Ndiaye laid out the situation Tuesday morning, it became clear that other key ingredients for the festival have not been secured because of the fund-raising shortfall. Ndiaye mentioned that he had not yet secured a stage, and other needs cropped up as a group of people started exchanging e-mails Tuesday about what needed to be done.

On this page will be links to other material about the Juneteenth celebration and community efforts to support Ndiaye’s project.

But first, below is a video of Ndiaye’s initial comments this morning. He was introduced by Charlotte architect Anthony Hunt.

1. Pape Ndiaye sent out a letter Tuesday, June 4 to members of the community seeking support. The text does not include details on what must yet be acquired to put on the festival. Attached to original copies of the letter was a Festival budget; it will be posted here if it becomes available.

2. The Festival’s Facebook page is here. Its website is here.

3. A reply to the Ndiaye letter appears to suggest that the Festival budget is in the range of $25,000.

 

June 5, 2013

Juneteenth Festival 2013 Budget

1. Park & Recreation Department $2,500

2. Porta-Johns $1,300

3. Sound System $2,400

4. Stage $3,500

5. Charlotte Police Officers $2,600

6. Light towers $2,800

7. Linens $200.00

8. Hotel rooms $1,400

9. Transportation $900.00

10. Entertainers $3,000

11. Insurance & Permits $1,200

12. Advertisement $3,000

Total- $24,800

 

In his comments Tuesday, Ndiaye did not say how much of the $24,800 had been raised.