As the Centennial Project and Poudre Learning Center project moves forward, there will be updated articles relating to it posted on this page.
| Gates Family Foundation Grant | Ground Breaking |
For immediate release
September 21, 2004
Contacts: Nancy Brigden, Greeley Rotary Co-Chair, Fund Drive 970.352.3829
brigden@Comcast.net
Ray Tschillard, President, Poudre Learning Center Board 970.348.6278
rtschillard@greeleyschools.org
Karen Mather, Program Officer, Gates Family Foundation 303.722.1881
Area Rotary Clubs Obtain Grant To Construct The Poudre Learning Center
Four area Rotary clubs announced today that they have
received a $170,000 Gates Family Foundation grant to support the construction of
a 3,000 square foot classroom at The Poudre Learning Center.
In partnership with The Community Foundation, Rotarians from the
Centennial, Greeley, Red Eye, and Windsor clubs recently launched a fund raising
campaign to build a living laboratory on a 65-acre site at 83rd Avenue and the
Cache la Poudre River west of Greeley.
The Gates Family
Foundation, a private grantmaking fund, was
established in Denver over 50 years ago. The Foundation supports programs that promote the health,
well-being, security and broad education of Coloradans.
The Gates Foundation commitment challenges the community to match the
$170,000 grant to build the community water-based classroom by 2005.
Local Rotary clubs adopted the construction of The Poudre Learning Center as a project to honor Rotary's 100th anniversary of community service. The Learning Center will be an educational laboratory where the past and present of the Cache la Poudre River will be taught to students of all ages. Nancy Brigden, Co-Chair of the Rotary fund drive, says, "The Gates Family gift will allow us to open The Learning Center by next summer and assure that future generations have an opportunity to learn how water and the river enabled us to be in this area." Rotarians will continue their drive to match the Gates grant with local gifts.
September 21, 2004
Rotarians have contributed over one hundred and fifty-one thousand dollars to the construction of The Poudre Learning Center. The generosity of members enables the Centennial Project to obtain the first payment of a challenge grant from The Gates Family Foundation, awarded in June!
An official ground breaking for Phase 1 to include the classroom building and 6 acres of habitat and parking, will occur on Thursday October 7, 2004* at 5 PM at the site- NW corner of 83rd Avenue and County Road 62 ¼. Hats off to all Rotarians who have aided in this project!
The fund raising committee continues its work to raise the balance of funds needed to meet the additional $50,000 challenge grant from The Gates Family Foundation. This second payment will assure completion of the entire project including development of wetlands, construction of outdoor laboratories, improvements to an 18-acre lake, and restoration of native habitat.
*Rain date, October 14, same time