Lori Harrison
Madisonville Messenger

First United Bank will continue to provide funding for the Coffeehouse Series at Glema Mahr Center for the Arts through 2012.

With the bank's recent pledge of $54,000, its total contribution to Madisonville Community College's ongoing Fulfilling the Promise gifts campaign has reached $100,000.

The pledge takes the campaign total to $7 million in multi-year pledges and cash gifts.

First United Bank extended its pledge because "basically, it's just too important not to," said President and CEO Steve Cox. "Education, cultural events and the arts are vital to any healthy community."

Cox also serves as general chairman of the MCC fundraising campaign.

Glema Center Executive Director Brad Downall started the Coffeehouse Series in 2000, and it was still in its beginning stages when First United Bank became the sponsor two years later. Its name had previously been attached to one of the Center Stage performances each year.

"The reason we wanted to continue with the series ... is that it is a series," said Jayne Barton, vice president of marketing and public relations with First United Bank. "In other words, we have the opportunity to present things to the community four to five times a year with our sponsorship, as opposed to one big event."

In the Coffeehouse Series, the audience sits on stage with the performers.

"It is a much more intimate setting ... and we can be there and visit with the people who are there," Barton said. "We like that one-on-one relationship."

Downall started the series after attending a late-night showcase of Kentucky artists. He had never heard of them, but their talent was impressive.

"At the same time, I thought I've got to get something alternative to attract a younger audience," he said, while offering lower ticket prices.

Now, the center has "stepped it up a notch" in booking Coffeehouse performers. In recent years, artists performing in the series have included Gretchen Peters, Chris Knight, Janis Ian, Al Stewart and the Eddie Pennington Band.

MCC President Dr. Judy Rhoads said in a statement that First United Bank's pledge continues its past support.

"First United was our Benefactor of the Year in 2002, and everyone at the bank is actively involved in supporting our programs," she said. "The entire organization is to be commended. We certainly made the right choice when we recruited Steve to be our campaign chair for Fulfilling the Promise. This campaign continues to be one of (the Kentucky Community and Technical College System's) most successful."

Of the $7 million total, $5.9 million is designated directly to the three campaign objectives: scholarships, arts funding and the quality endowment.

This puts MCC first among KCTCS institutions in terms of money raised toward campaign objectives, said Development Director John Peters.

The Fulfilling the Promise campaign is expected to continue until late 2007. Funds are still being raised for the School Counts! scholarship and work force development program and an endowment to help Crittenden County students with the cost of gas, books and tuition.