Bell Tower Community Foundation President Don Van Gilder with Jefferson Matters Tower View Team Chair Deb McGinn along with several TVT members Roger Aegerter, Linda Cochran, Joyce Kurth, Shelly Berger, Jolene Peters.
The Jefferson Matters September 5, 2025 Java’n Juice event afforded an opportunity to present Jefferson Matters Tower View Team with a $10,000 check from the Bell Tower Community Foundation in support of their upcoming Roof Top Art installation on the Centennial Block building. This art will feature a 3-D Vinyl rendering, something new and very innovative to the Roof Top Art projects.
A portion of the Foundation’s responsibility is to enhance the Tower to attract visitors. Bell Tower Community Foundation president Don Van Gilder said that “It seemed to us a perfect marriage with the Tower View Team to partner with them on this project. After all, in order to see the Roof Top Art, you have to come to the top of the Tower. When at the Tower, you see the Roof Top Art.” Reciting, tongue in cheek, to the Tower View Team, Van Gilder quoted the famous TV Character Red Green regarding this partnership, “Remember, I’m pulling for you. We’re all in this together.”
The Bell Tower Community Foundation funded this project with their Enhancement monies, not operating budget dollars, those of which are derived from bequests, donations and monies directed toward enhancement of the Tower. The Foundation is ever mindful of being good Stewards of these monies afforded them. Similar projects funded by these monies have been the purchase of additional bells from the existing 14 to the present 47 making it a full four octave carillon, outside seating, planters, music and colored lighting.
