Children of all ages are encouraged to participate in a “Campaign to Save Private COSI.” “Just by asking that one of their holiday gifts be a $5 donation to COSI, children from the Lake Erie West region can do a lot to help Save COSI,” notes Jerry Jakes, a retired management consultant. “Children could also raise that $5 to donate themselves by looking for jobs around their homes or perhaps promising to shovel a neighbor’s walk during the next snowfall. If each child in the entire area could be responsible for a donation, there would be enough money needed to keep COSI open. Those funds will be collected through the Toledo Community Foundation.
Jakes share the opinion of many, that the downtown science and technology museum is an asset to the region. “This includes Toledo and areas from all around such as Bowling Green, Berkey, Metamora, Maumee, Monroe, Mich. and more,” Jakes reports. “And, families in all of those areas and more can help with this campaign and they all will realize the benefits from “Saving Private COSI!”
Last November, voters turned down an appeal from the COSI board for a .5 mill levy and the COSI board of trustees made the decision to close the museum at the end of the year—unless approximately $1.5 million can be raised. A goal, which Jakes feels certain can be reached, if children and their families throughout the region learn about the campaign and join the effort to “Save Private COSI!”
- Saving COSI, OH