Volunteers rally to save Naperville cultural center

With the help of a few friends, the Naperville Cultural Center may be able to remain open.

A group of volunteers has stepped forward to help run the downtown center at 55 S. Main St. in the absence of founder Michelle LeBlanc and are starting a fundraising campaign to support it.

The group has raised about $1,500 so far.

"I've just been very pleased," LeBlanc said of the response she's received. "It's hard to quit when you're got people that care about it and come forward and encourage and inspire, so I think it means a lot to a lot of people."

LeBlanc started the nonprofit center in 2005 after realizing how hard it was to find a Japanese teacher for her children. Her own heritage includes a Japanese, Bohemian and Irish background.

The center offers a variety of programs including mosaic making, painting, guitar, piano, numerous foreign language classes and special cultural events such as the German Winter Celebration.

"Naperville needs a cultural center," LeBlanc said. "We all come from somewhere and it's important to know where that is to know who we are."

LeBlanc has been running the facility, doing everything from marketing to coordinating programs, but doesn't take a salary from the $130,000 annual budget.

However, family obligations have beckoned and she will be leaving to take care of her elderly mother.

Board treasurer Michelle Linton and board applicant Lucia Feltner have now stepped forward to co-direct the center and will be assisted by a group of volunteers.

Their first task is a fundraising push to help the center stay afloat.

The center will hold a call-a-thon from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today and Feb. 2 and 3. It also will be in the works from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Feb. 3.

Anyone interested in manning the phones can join the team during donation times at Century 21 Team Naperville, 35 S. Washington St., Suite 300.

Interested donors also can contribute online at store.naperculture.org/spme.html or by phone during donation times at (630) 364-5914. Outside the call-a-thon times, call (630) 696-4177.

"The goal is to find a certain amount of security and stabilization," LeBlanc said, "so we don't have to worry and don't have to come back next month and say we're worried again."