Wednesday, February 7, 2001

New senior center on track

Efforts to build a new 22,000-square-foot Senior Center in Fayetteville are on track and going well.

With the support of many community members, Fayette Senior Services has put together a well-defined and workable plan to break ground for the new Center in 2002.

In the last quarter of 2000, they retained Coxe Curry & Associates to guide the fund raising efforts. The cost for the multi-purpose facility is estimated to be approximately $3.1 million.

Fayette County has provided three acres of land on the site that will also house the new judicial building, an expanded jail and a park. The county has also provided financial assistance.

Last year, the Board of Fayette Senior Services committed to show their support for the project by making a donation. They set an internal goal of $100,000 which they exceeded. The Board had 100-percent participation and raised $110,683.

In the latter part of the 2000 a "Capital Campaign Committee" was formed to work with Coxe Curry in raising funds. Ferrol Sams, Jr. M.D. is the Honorary Chair of the 30-member Committee is Chaired by Ferrol Sams, Jr. M.D. and Kathy Sams, R.N. is serving as the Campaign Chair.

Currently the group is focusing on applying to corporations and foundations for grants and gifts. The Woodruff Foundation received an application in February.

The submission of the application was preceded by a visit in January with Charles McTier, President of the Woodruff Foundation, Inc. by Dr. Ferrol Sams Jr., Honorary Chair, Ted Brown Past President of Fayette Senior Services, and Andy Carden Executive Director of Fayette Senior Services.

In March plans are to expand fundraising efforts into the local community. They are hoping to raise approximately 80 percent from the Fayette County area through one-to-one meetings and fundraisers.

For more information on the on-going fundraising, or to offer assistance through in-kind or monetary donations, contact Andy Carden 770-461-0813.

The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be held Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. On the same date, the Capital Campaign Committee will meet at 4 p.m. An update on the Woodruff Foundation application and guidance relative to seeking community funding support will be provided.

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