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Success
Stories > Community
A story about building a
new home for Kinship Center
From its creation in 1984 Kinship
Center grew rapidly in order to address the
increasing demands of California's child welfare
system.
After moving a number of times
during the first twelve years, the management
team and Board of Directors set out to find
a permanent home for Kinship Center. In 1996
a growth study was conducted that revealed that
Kinship Center would continue to grow statewide
and would need a larger and more permanent headquarters
facility in order to support new programs.
Based on the vision of those
leaders, the Kinship Center Team began the task
of selling their dream to the communities that
support the organization. Thanks to a major
donation by the Monterey Peninsula Golf Foundation
in 1998, a storybook called The ABC's of Kinship
Center was created to increase community awareness
of Kinship Center, and in 1999, the silent phase
of a Capital Campaign was started to fund the
project.
A 2.25 acre building site was
identified on River Road near Salinas, California
and secured at a significantly reduced price
thanks to a generous donation by the seller.
The lot is set in a beautiful canyon and is
a great location for the new statewide headquarters.
Community and staff input dictated that the
facility be a warm, friendly, and inviting place
for children and families.
Thanks to the work of local
firm, The Paul Davis Partnership, and the landscape
architectural firm, Richard Murray Associates,
the design for the 11,500 square foot building
was finalized in early 1999. The estimated cost
for the project was $5.5 M. In August 2000,
the public phase of the Capital Campaign began
with a number of major gifts from individuals
and corporations located on The Monterey Peninsula
and Salinas, CA.
Ronald
McDonald House Charities presented the lead
gift for the project in 2000. Shortly thereafter
a ground-breaking ceremony was held and construction
began on the building in early 2001. Thanks
to overwhelming support from individuals, organizations,
and foundations. The building is expected to
open in March 2003.
This effort is a wonderful
demonstration of a community working together
to support children, and the entire Kinship
Team is grateful for their new home.
"We're grateful for the
strength and commitment Kinship Center has demonstrated
in providing families for the growing number
of foster children in Monterey County
and throughout California. This wonderful new
center is vital in meeting
the continuing needs of God's children."
Basil Mills
President
Mills,
Inc.
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