08-14-2007 City pledges $1 million to west-side Kroc Center

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halfway mark. When we reach our goal, The Salvation Army Kroc Center will have the resources to serve today's children, their children and their children's children for generations to come." The City of South Bend already has donated a 9.5-acre property that includes the former Alonzo Watson Park, valued at $237,500, as the site for the project. But Luecke said the city's additional contribution recognizes the value the city sees in the project. The city's $1 million gift is being leveraged by another $4 million in funds from outside St. Joseph County—a fivefold yield that results with every gift to the Kroc Campaign. This investment also is strategic for the city because commercial entities are looking at land immediately north of the Kroc Center for potential development opportunities, according to Jeff Gibney, interim director of the city's department of community and economic development. "We cherish the life and promise of each child. This facility will be a great blessing for our community and provide the opportunity for all our children to reach their full potential," Luecke said. "This will be a place where families are strengthened, where creativity flourishes, and where dreams are nurtured." South Bend was among 10 Midwestern cities—the only one in Indiana—chosen to pre- qualify for a share of Joan Kroc's $1.6 billion bequest to the Salvation Army, the largest philanthropic gift ever given to a nonprofit. Of the 10, only seven received grants. The city has made similar contributions to other non-profit capital efforts in the past. The city's $1 million contribution in dollars is only surpassed by the $15.7 million in public funds that provided nearly two-thirds of the $24.3 million renovation costs for the Morris Performing Arts Center and the Palais Royale. But the Kroc Center gift represents only 2 percent of the total project costs, where city contributions to previous projects have ranged from 6 percent to 100 percent of total project costs. They include: ■ $60,000 for the building rehab for LaCasa de Amistad Inc., 100 percent of the project's cost. ■ $83,666 for Habitat for Humanity's $290,000 Restore facility. ■ $100,000 for the estimated $686,315 project by EnterMission to renovate the Monroe Circle Community Center. ■ $107,103 for the Boys and Girls Club. ■ $185,000 for the North Central Indiana Food Bank's $265,000 project. ■ $227,000 for a$900,000 renovation and expansion of St. Margaret's House. ■ $250,000 for South Bend Civic Theater's $4 million renovation of the former Scottish Rite building. ■ $260,000 for an expansion at the Center for the Homeless ■ $350,000 for the $5.5 million effort to construct anew YWCA. "The City's contribution has been critical to the success of these important projects, helping to insure quality services for our residents. Our commitment to the Kroc Center is an important component to raise the final funds for this magnificent facility," Luecke said. "The genius of this package is that not only is the building fully funded, but there also will be an endowment fund to ensure that operations and programs are sustained at the highest level."