Progress as of January 2025

For more than 130 years, 611 Spring Garden Street has been more than just a building. It has been a symbol of the German Society of Pennsylvania's rich history, hosting countless concerts, language classes, cultural events, and gatherings. This building has been the heart of our community, providing a gathering space for German culture and connections through the generations.

But now, time has taken its toll. The exterior façade, windows, and structural elements of our historic building are in urgent need of repair. We are facing significant renovations that are critical to preserve our home for future generations. The estimated cost of these repairs stands around $2,000,000.

Thankfully, through the generosity of outside grants and commitments, we have already secured almost $1,000,000. We are actively seeking additional funding from government organizations and foundations to cover another $500,000. However, the final $500,000 must come from within--our members. It is up to us to protect and maintain the building that has served as our cultural home since 1888.

TO DONATE NOW, CLICK HERE

If you'd rather make a pledge to donate over a period of time, click here to download a Pledge Form.

Or, click here to fill out the Pledge Form online.

Click here to view a video of drone footage of our building's façade.

THE DETAILS

Our building has been central to our efforts to promote and preserve German culture. It is the headquarters for our concert series, language classes, and cultural and social events like our Konversationsabend, Bierfest, and Christkindlmarkt. It also houses the largest collection of German-language books outside of universities in the United States in our Horner Memorial Library.

But the exterior façade is now in need of critical repairs. This includes brick pointing, replacing leaking windows, and reinforcing structural elements. Though some of these items may sound cosmetic, they are crucial to the building's structural integrity and function.

The first phase of the project will begin in November of 2024 with replacing the library windows, followed by restoring brickwork and repairing decorative elements and their support structures, which will likely begin next spring.

YOUR PART

We are launching a Capital Campaign to raise the necessary $500,000 over the next three years. Please make your choice about how to respond from the links above:

• Donate instantly online, or over time
• Make a pledge
• Print a pledge form and mail it or email it to the office at the address below

OR

• Call the office at the number below to convey your wishes.

No donation is too small, and every contribution is tax deductible. Donations made directly from IRAs or other retirement accounts to the Society are not taxed upon withdrawal. If your employer offers a matching gift program, we encourage you to take advantage of it.

Your support is vital to ensure that our building will continue to serve as a hub for German culture and community for years to come. If you have any questions, members of the Capital Campaign Committee are available to assist you.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to preserving the German Society of Pennsylvania for future generations.

Sincerely,

The Capital Campaign Committee

Ed Cattell, Director; Bill Hardham, Secretary; Liesl Jandrey, Executive Director; Daniel Lippard, Director; Mark McGuigan, President; Tony Michels, VP of Operations; Stephanie Vogel, Director; Ernie Weiler, VP of Advancement and Committee Chair