Darlington Schoolhouse is changing every day as local construction workers install cedar shingles on the roof, dig wells outside for the geothermal heating/cooling system, and begin plastering the interior walls of the addition out back. Anyone driving by on Rt. 202 and Darlington Avenue in Mahwah can see progress being made on the Trail Conference’s future headquarters. Standing sentinel out front, in the midst of all this activity, is the yellow and red thermometer that has registered the progress of our $3 million capital campaign since it began in 2013. Pledges and gifts so far add up to $2.4 million, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals, foundations, and corporations who care about the Trail Conference and this unique historical building.
I wish we could say that all this construction means our fundraising efforts have come to a close. The fact is that we are still actively raising the funds we need to complete construction. It’s not too late to join with us in this community project or to increase an earlier gift or pledge. Now is the perfect time to arrange a visit to see the transformation of the Schoolhouse firsthand and to learn more about what our new headquarters will offer to the public. While we are fundraising for construction of the building, our sights are set to the future of this historic site, and we are accepting donations towards an endowment fund that will maintain the Schoolhouse for years to come. This fund will allow the Trail Conference to use its resources to continue building and protecting trails and publishing hiking maps and books without worrying about raising additional money to cover the building’s routine maintenance.
