I received word from our contractor today that work will recommence next week on the extensive renovation and expansion of Suisun City's former YMCA turning it into the new Salvation Army Kroc Center.
If you are not aware of what led us to this point allow me to give a brief history on this project. The Salvation Army purchased the property at 586 East Wigeon Way in 2009 from the city of Suisun City. Our organization originally planned to complete a minor remodel in comparison to what is now taking place. Plans were set in motion and things were moving forward.
Then a year ago, almost to the day, work was halted as word was received of some additional funds that could potentially be applied to the project. Our design team began to dream and the vision for a multi-purpose, multi-faceted, state of the art facility began to take shape. In January 2011, The Salvation Army made an announcement that stunned me and everyone in this community.
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The new center which had been branded "The Corps" (pronounced "core") had been designated as the seventh and final "Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center" or as we affectionately refer to it, the Kroc Center. With this designation came a gift of $22 million to build the facility and a $22 million endowment to help offset the costs of operation.
You may be wondering who in the world are Ray and Joan Kroc? To cut another very long story short, Ray Kroc was responsible for turning a McDonalds Hamburger stand into a worldwide franchise. Ray Kroc passed away in the early 80's. Ray’s wife Joan, of whom I have been told many endearing stories, came to love and respect The Salvation Army. She trusted The Salvation Army and believed in our ability to evoke change in people’s lives through a variety of successful programmatic approaches.
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When Joan Kroc then passed away in 2003 she had made provision in her estate planning to enable The Salvation Army to develop brand new centers across the country that would house programs in aquatics, fitness, sports and the arts. In less than a year, Suisun City will become one of select group of cities across the county where a Kroc Center can be found. Currently under construction in the western United States are centers on the Island of Oahu and in Phoenix Arizona. Both are due to open in January 2012 with ours joining the Kroc Center ranks in spring 2012.
To say we are proud to be building such a magnificent center would be the understatement of the century! This is going to be a remarkable facility with a finish quality I’m not sure even I can yet comprehend. What I do know is this, Suisun City and the entire region will soon have a community center people will want to be a part of.
If not for the great pools, large fitness area, rock climbing wall and theater but for the chance to be a part of something far greater than we could ever imagine; a life changing place of personal wellness and programmatic excellence. Work is underway and as of June 1st it will be all systems go!
For more information via video blogs visit the Kroc Center website at www.susiunkroc.org of follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/suisunsalarmy. For employment information click the employment tab on our website or stop by our new Welcome Center by Chase Bank on Sunset Avenue in Suisun City.
