Laurel Community Center nears fundraising goal
LAUREL – The Laurel Community Center capital campaign received a financial boost last week.
Committee members received notification that the Community Center project has been awarded a $150,000 grant from The Sherwood Foundation. The grant was awarded to Nebraska Community Foundation for the Laurel Area Community Foundation Fund. The Fund has partnered closely with the City of Laurel and the Community Center Committee to transform the Community Center project from a dream to reality.
The Sherwood Foundation, based in Omaha, invests in organizations and initiatives dedicated to making a strategic impact in the communities they serve. Core areas of the Foundation’s work include child welfare, immigrant inclusion, housing, advocacy and civic engagement, leadership and community infrastructure.
“We are extremely grateful to The Sherwood Foundation for their support of the Laurel Community Center project,” said committee co-chair, Keith Knudsen. “The Foundation’s generosity will help improve Laurel’s infrastructure, amenities and services, benefiting citizens for many years to come.”
Laurel Community Center committee member Melissa Graham expressed her excitement about the grant award.
“The Sherwood Foundation’s support of this project not only inspires, but challenges Laurel citizens to work together for the betterment of our community.”
“Our generous community has stepped up in big ways, with time, talent and treasure to help us reach the goal of a new Community Center,” said Karen Knudsen, grant writer and co-chair of the Laurel Community Center committee. “It’s been our committee’s objective to be fiscally responsible throughout this entire project. The Sherwood Foundation’s grant award is an important piece in helping us achieve that goal.”
Lanita Recob, Community Center committee co-chair added, “The Sherwood grant serves as a vote of confidence for our project and community. It’s been a great motivator for our Community Center committee members as we move forward in our fundraising efforts. We remain optimistic that we will meet our ambitious goal.”
To date, $3,847,091, more than 95 percent of the $4,044,250 needed to complete the project, has been raised in pledges, donations and grants.
A balance of $197,159 remains to be raised for the new Laurel Community Center. Community members, businesses and organizations are invited to be a part of the Center’s success story.
Contributions to the Laurel Community Center project may be made online at: nebcommfound.org/give/laurel-area-community-foundation-fund
(Be sure to select “Community Center Account” when making a contribution.)
Pledge and donation forms are available at Security Bank or Citizen’s State Bank in Laurel.
For more information about the Laurel Community Center project, please contact Keith Knudsen at (402) 440-7591.
The Laurel Area Community Foundation Fund is dedicated to progress and long-term prosperity. The volunteer Fund Advisory Committee works actively to increase charitable giving and award grants to local worthy causes and projects that are addressing emerging needs and future opportunities in the community. Established in 2005, LACFF is an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation.
Nebraska Community Foundation
(NCF) unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a greater Nebraska.
Headquartered in Lincoln, the NCF serves communities, donors and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving more than 270 communities.
