The Presque Isle Community Center Project recently took two giant strides closer to becoming a reality. The first, being the incredibly generous $1.5 million donation from Bruce Sargent and his family.
With that donation, the Community Center Fundraising Committee has now raised 62 percent of the $3.5 million project goal. The second important step was the City Council’s approval for the architects and engineers to begin developing the specifications for bidding documents. Both of these steps set the project up for a bid opening as early as March of next year, with ground breaking beginning soon thereafter.
I, for one, am very excited about all of the wonderful progress being made. However, there is a great deal of work that still needs to be done and substantial funds that must be raised. To reach the lofty goal of raising a total of $3.5 million, every single donated dollar is important. To help you help this project, I wanted to share a number of the different options for donating:
• One Time Gift: Whether $20 or $20,000 each dollar is an investment in our community.
• Multi-Year Pledge: If you can give a gift of $1,000 every year for the next 10 years, you would have helped this project with a $10,000 gift. The project will be financed over as many as twenty years and multi-year pledging provides you an opportunity to make a substantial donation today without breaking the bank tomorrow.
• Planned Estate Giving: Even when one has passed, a positive impact can be made for future generations.
• Non-traditional Giving: Whether stocks, bonds or real estate, the city is flexible in ways that you can give toward this project.
The Presque Isle Rotary Club recognizes the importance of this endeavor, as this year they have selected the Presque Isle Community Center as their annual Special Project. Homeowners and businesses of Presque Isle should have recently received a mailer detailing the project and the upcoming Presque Isle Rotary Auction. If you did not get this and would like one, please contact Judy Dionne at City Hall at 760-2785 or info@presqueisleme.us. During the auction on December 2, 3 & 4, folks will have the opportunity to call in their pledge, or a pledge can be made today with a pledge form or online at www.presqueislerotary.org/SitePage/special-project.
This project is an investment in our youth, in our community and in our future. Tomorrow is no longer an option and making do with what we have is no longer possible. By donating today, you help make this very special project a reality.
To learn more about the Presque Isle Community Center Project, please visit www.picommunitycenter.com/or check us out on Facebook. If you have questions about the project or want to discuss giving options, please contact Judy Dionne or myself at 764-0491.
Chris Beaulieu is director of Presque Isle Recreation & Parks. He can be reached at 764-2545 or via email at cbeaulieu@presqueisleme.us.
