GREAT JOB to all involved! What a blessing this will be to our community.
When people said "this can't be done" let it stand that if it's in God's will it CAN be done!
A pair of gifts totaling $4 million pushed the Salvation Army Kroc Center’s fundraising drive past its goal today and qualified the project for $67.8 million from the estate of McDonald’s heiress Joan Kroc.
“We can claim victory for our campaign,” said Wyck Knox, a member of the fundraising cabinet for the project, which – including a permanent operating endowment – will represent a $97.8 million investment.
The gifts announced today include $2 million from the Woodruff Foundation and $2 million from a donor whom Mr. Knox characterized as “a special friend of the Salvation Army of Augusta” who has chosen to remain anonymous.
The committee, chaired by banker-philanthropist Boone Knox, launched an aggressive campaign earlier this year to raise $20 million to qualify the project for the larger sum from the Kroc trustees.
With today’s gifts, the campaign total now comes to $22,073,953.
Salvation Army officials and others thanked Mr. Knox today with the announcement that the Kroc Center’s tower – the project’s signature architectural feature - will be named in his honor.
“We knew it would take just the right person to make this a success,” said Salvation Army Capt. Todd Mason. “Boone Knox has supported many campaigns but this is the first one he decided to chair.”
Boone Knox’s leadership, he added, helped make it possible to complete the fundraising campaign six months ahead of schedule, despite a downturn in the economy.
Augusta’s 85,000-square-foot Kroc Center will include an aquatics center, classrooms, a 400-seat theater, a 270-seat banquet hall with a stage up front for a dinner theater, rehearsal areas and many other features.
One of the project’s unique amenities, which is being used as a model for Kroc Centers in other cities, will be a “First Stop Center” in a separate building from the main complex, where as many as 20 organizations will help assess and steer families to programs that can help them.
During a luncheon today, Salvation Army Georgia Divisional Commander Maj. William Mockabee thanked dozens of volunteers, fundraising committee members and staffers who helped make the effort a success.
“We will be worthy of the trust you have placed in us,” he said. “We will guard it with every fiber of our being.”
Organizers have screened six firms that might eventually be involved in building the complex that will occupy 17 acres in the Chafee Park area of Harrisburg. Groundreaking could occur early next year, possibly in February.
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Kroc Center VITAL STATISTICS:
Total investment (including permanent operating endowment): $97.8 million
Location: 17 acres in Harrisburg’s Chafee Park area.
Employment: approximately 102, including full and part time
Project size: about 85,000 square feet in multiple buildings
Aquatics center: 9,000 square feet with external slide tower
“First Stop” center: offices for more than 20 family-service groups.
Arts/Education/Worship Center: 400-seat theater, 270-seat banquet hall.
Green space: about seven acres of Chafee Park along Augusta Canal
FINANCIAL BACKGROUND:
• The Ray & Joan Kroc estate is providing $33.9 million for land acquisition and construction costs and $33.9 million for a permanent operating endowment, for a total gift of $67.8 million.
• To qualify for that gift, Augusta’s project needed to raise $30 million locally, which included a $10 million credit given by the foundation to the local Salvation Army for its existing programs and facilities.
• Two gifts announced today - $2 million from the Woodruff Foundation and $2 million from a donor who requested anonymity – helped the campaign more than meet its goal, clearing the way for a formal groundbreaking soon.
Comments
GREAT JOB to all involved! What a blessing this will be to our community.
When people said "this can't be done" let it stand that if it's in God's will it CAN be done!
great job indeed! this is some real progress for Augusta and the Harrisburg community.
Excellent job. This project has brought many together in Augusta. Hopefully this will be the first of many posititve achievments for our area.
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This shows what can be done when you have the right people leading. Great leadership.
Ok, I haved stayed silent as long as I can. I am one that is not for Kroc. One might say, Why not? Isn't this good for Augusta? I have cared and loved the needy people in downtown and Harrisburg area for over 15 years. Millions of dollars are going for this center when they could have been distributed to so many non-profits that serve everyday and struggle everyday to meet the needs of the poor like Garden City Rescue Mission, Augusta Rescue Mission, Broad Street ministries, Catholic Social Services, Golden Harvest food Bank...should I go on. But no, millions are raised and given to make this plushy center. Now listen closely, This is to my knowledge the only Kroc center in the Southeast. When the word gets out people will come from everywhere to take advantage of its servces. Ah, but where will they stay since this center is not a shelter of any sort? They will go to the missions and how will the Missions handle the overcrowding? There will be no more community money available because it was all given to Kroc...Salvation Army. So can you see my dilema? I am not upset about this nice center, I just wonder if those dollars could have been better distributed!
Hi - This is the Kroc Center Coordinator. I want to answer your concerns about the Kroc Center. I encourage you to contact me and learn more about what the Kroc Center really is. This center has the full support of over 50 non-profits such as the Family Y, the United Way and The Greater Augusta Arts Council. This is because it is a center, not for low income people, but for the community at large. I see you understand that it is not a shelter, but beyond that, it is not for homeless programming - which is specifically stated in the Kroc Trust. There is education programming for all ranges of education need and desire, from GED and basic financial skills to foreign language and senior programming. Finally, the concern about funding is unfounded as well. The money raised with the campaign came from 352 total donors in Augusta, supporting over 50 non-profits. In a city Augusta's population of over 300,000, 352 donors which will provide a benefit to over 50 arts, education, recreation and human services groups for a center funded in perpetuity is a deal that donors saw as a benefit for all of Augusta. Please contact me & I'll be happy to let you know more about the Kroc Center
Mr Dugan, great job by you and your folks. Thank you for stepping up and being accessible. KUDO's to you all.
Hello Mr. Dugan, thank you so much for your invitation and I will be happy to take you up on your offer especially since I work not far from the where the New center will be built. Do I contact you through Salvation Army? While you have certainly helped me I still would love the same effort go into helping the other organzations I mentioned. Do you realize that just 5 million distributed to these other organizations would help them keep running for the next 3 years? What a small chuck that is to the great amount raised for the center. Again, I thank you for helping to educate me and look forward to our meeting/
Great job Derek, Amy & Co! The Kroc Center is going to be an awesome addition to the city, the neighborhood and the canal. Can't wait to see some dirt start moving!
BTW, will the brick campaign continue? I'd still like to get one!
Anyone, please contact me directly on my office phone 706-364-4069 or via email at derek_dugan@uss.salvationarmy.org. Also, I will be conducting a presentation on the Kroc Center tomorrow night at the Harrisburg Neighborhood Association meeting tomorrow night at the Kroc Center Headquarters, located at 1763 Broad Street tomorrow night. I hope to hear from anyone and see you there tomorrow night at 6pm.
I can't make the meeting but will give you a call tomorrow. Good night and may God Bless.
I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks so much for your questions. And, yes - the brick campaign will continue for a few more days and again at the first of the year. We think it is a great opportunity for people to put their name on what will be a landmark for Augusta for decades to come. Visit KrocAugusta.org for the brick forms.
Derek, I want to buy a brick. Don't leave me out!
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