The Scudder Family Jumps on Board
Hyannis Youth & Community Center Foundation President Paul Lebel accepts donation check from Murray, David and Phil Scudder
The Hyannis Youth and Community Center Foundation’s fundraising efforts are advancing along with several significant donations by local philanthropists. At a recent breakfast meeting, the Foundation’s President Paul Lebel announced several generous contributions, including a $75,000.00 gift from the Scudder Family of Hy-Line Cruises. “Our family lived just a couple of blocks away from the Kennedy Memorial Rink”, said Philip Scudder, “we were “rink rats”. We spent countless hours in the skating and hockey programs. It’s certainly time for a new ice rink, but more importantly, by expanding the facility to include basketball courts, dance and game rooms and by locating it on the same property in downtown Hyannis, this Center will open opportunities for many, many more of our town’s youth. The Scudder family is very happy to be part of this project.”
The Foundation is also looking forward to year-end donations from Barnstable residents supporting the Youth Center. Plans are underway for a fundraising event in Winter 2004. Donation containers have been distributed to local business for public contributions. “We’re pursuing all avenues for raising funds”, says Lebel, “and we’re encouraged by the response. The reaction has been positive everywhere we go.”
In partnership with the Town of Barnstable, the Hyannis Youth and Community Center Foundation has launched a capital campaign to raise the $14 million needed to build the Center. The Center will be built with a combination of Federal and private foundation grants, individual and corporate philanthropy, and bonds, which will be repaid from revenues. The operating budget of the facility will also be paid for out of revenues. Fundraising to date has generated $10.36 million of the $14 million projected cost. There are no plans for Town funds to be diverted to this project from other critical needs such as schools, roads and public safety.
This state of the art facility will provide much needed recreational and community services to the youth and residents of the Town of Barnstable. Design plans will include a youth center, gymnasium, two full size ice rinks, and all-purpose community meeting rooms. The facility will be constructed where the Kennedy Memorial Skating Rink currently stands, to better serve the large number of families with a high need for youth-related services in the immediate neighborhood. Financial status will not be a barrier to participation at the Center.
Tax deductible donations should be made payable to the Hyannis Youth & Community Center Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 1604, Hyannis, MA 02601. For more information, call (508)775-6769.