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Committee Finds Inspiration for the Project |
From a September 14 article in the Des Moines Register, the Wellman Area Foundation and Parkside Activities Center Steering Committee members found the motivation they needed. Using Humeston, a town of 543 people in southern Iowa as inspiration, the Wellman Area Foundation is planning its final surge to the goal of breaking ground for the new Daycare and Parkside Activities Center in 2008. According to the John Carlson article, residents in Humeston secured large amounts of grant money and were challenged by Vision Iowa to secure local donations. After they raised $700,000 in cash and pledges from local residents, Vision Iowa stepped in and finished their library construction project. “The similarities are incredible,” said Allen Leichty, Wellman Area Foundation member and Co-Chair of the Parkside Activities Center Steering Committee, “This town should serve as an inspiration to us all.” Seeing that a town of 543 in one of the poorest counties in Iowa could raise over $700,000 from local donations brought some consciousness to those involved in the Wellman project. Several Wellman community members have invested a great deal of time and energy to secure large grants, and the City of Wellman has made a tremendous commitment to the project. The project has now reached the point of securing local donations. “We need to now realize that it can be as easy to find 100 little donations as it was to get some of those big ones,” said local resident, businessman and Foundation member Bob Freeman. Vision Iowa agrees and has challenged those involved with the project to raise the amount of local donations by the end of the year. It is Freeman’s belief in the community that has motivated him to work together with Kim Stout in leading and organizing the Wellman Area Foundation phonathon. Both community members believe the results of this event will show Vision Iowa that Wellman residents are eager to see the day-care and activity center project through to the end. “In our business, I see so many good people each day; people who love this community and are excited about the project,” said Freeman. The phonathon is scheduled for October 4, 5 and 6. On Thursday and Friday, callers will be contacting residents, friends and local school alumni from 4:00 to 8:00 PM; on Saturday, those calls will take place between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. “The goal is to reach everyone in those three days,” said Freeman. “We have decided this goal makes more sense than a dollar amount goal for many reasons,” he added. Several residents have already offered support in manning phones and becoming educated on the project. In the event any of those volunteers is posed a question for which he or she does not know the answer, Parkside Activities Center Steering Committee members will be on hand to help. Foundation members stress that Vision Iowa is not merely seeking donations but pledges as well. “If a resident makes a commitment to give $20 a month for three years, other funding sources will see that as $720, period,” said Freeman’s spouse and business partner, Pat Freeman. “If someone does not want to give until the project starts, that is perfectly acceptable; the major funding sources will get us started if we can show them the amount of money that has been committed and will be coming in over that period of time.” The town of Humeston is definitely serving as an inspiration to those involved in the Parkside Activities Center project. To see a town with fewer people than Wellman has households raise over $700,000 in response to a Vision Iowa challenge has made them realize how close they are to the end of a long journey for this community. Several are quick to add, however, that with the exciting improvements taking place downtown, this could actually be seen as a great beginning rather than an end. Anyone interested in assisting with the phonathon is encouraged to contact Bob Freeman or Kim Stout, event coordinators. They welcome your involvement.
For further information on this article, feel free to contact Allen Leichty, Tom Buckwalter, Susan McClellan, Kim Stout, Marty Van Roekel, Kris Kaalberg, Bob Freeman or Pat Freeman.
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