A local foundation is adding to the total amount of private dollars that will go toward past and future Founders Day events.

The Stardust Foundation of Central New York has offered to donate $15,000 for the Auburn celebration. If the city council agrees to accept the funds, it will put the total amount of money promised to the city for the event at $35,000.

According to the city, $11,200 will be used for the first Founders Day, which took place downtown in June, and $3,800 will go to next year's event.

Auburn Mayor Michael Quill said Wednesday that the city appreciates the help from organizations like the Stardust Foundation.

“It's Founders Day for the entire community,” Quill said. “It's very beneficial ... when organizations and foundations come forward in underwriting the cost for an event of this magnitude.”

The parade and civic celebration received an unexpected boost in attention this summer when then-governor of Alaska Sarah Palin agreed to participate at the last minute. While the high-profile guest made for bigger publicity, it also meant bigger costs for overtime and security.

The event drew thousands of people and cost the city about $66,000.

The Stardust grant will be added to a $15,000 donation from the Fred L. Emerson Foundation and a $5,000 state grant committed by Assemblyman Gary Finch. Food, arts and crafts vendors also contributed about $1,000 total.

The city had originally budgeted $25,000 for the event, which included a parade, speeches by officials, food vendors and entertainment all around a closed stretch of Genesee Street. City officials have said the Stardust donation will be used to pay for new items purchased for the event like banners and podiums.

Organizers have said Founders Day will be an annual festival, with each year focusing on a different aspect of Auburn's history. This year's theme was the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood.

One of Auburn's most famous residents, William Seward, helped facilitate the purchase of the Alaskan territory in 1867 while he served as secretary of state.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net

If you go:

What: Auburn City Council

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: Memorial City Hall, 24 South St.

Also on the agenda: Votes on contracts related to school resource officers with Auburn schools, the Downtown Auburn Business Improvement District and companies that dispose of waste in the city landfill.