News & Events

Barrier Islands Center Recieves Batten Endowment Challenge

The Curtis Group is pleased to announce that Barrier Islands Center has been named a recipient of a $1 million Batten Endowment Challenge administered under the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.  The extraordinary gift was made possible by Jane Batten, a philanthropist and wife of the late Frank Batten, Sr., former chairman of Landmark Communications.

The gift will aid the campaign the Barrier Islands Center’s board initiated in January 2011 to secure endowment funds for the center’s educational programs, community outreach and operating expenses, as well as capital funds for completion of renovations to the historic property. The goal for the campaign is $2.6 million, of which $1.7 million has already been raised from the board of directors, the Batten gift and a few lead gifts. In addition to the $1 million gift, Batten has also made a $500,000 challenge pledge, and she will match every new endowment gift up to $500,000.