Plymouth Intergenerational Center
NOW IT’S TIME TO
make the dream of a Plymouth Intergenerational Center a reality.
That means it’s time for the community to step up and provide the last final push to make this one-of-a-kind facility another asset for the city and the area.
After many starts and stops, and some last-hour action — almost literally — by the City Council, the Plymouth Intergenerational Coalition this month received a $760,000 community development block grant from the federal government as part of the economic stimulus package.
Combined with the money they have raised already over the past decade or so, it leaves the coalition $1.7 million short of what they need to build the $4.2 million center, which will provide services for and interaction between toddlers and senior citizens, and everyone of all ages in between.
To clear that final financial hurdle, the coalition is launching its capital fund-raising campaign, under the chairmanship of Larry Gentine and Mike Harvey. The coalition had plans for the campaign laid a year ago and was ready to launch the effort when the softening economy forced them the put it on hold.
Now, the federal stimulus money has jump-started the capital campaign and put the coalition within sight of the finish line of what has turned into a marathon effort — but an effort that will be well worthwhile.
The center, to be located on a 7-acre site at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Douglas Drive, will house the Family Resource Centers of Sheboygan County, the Head Start program for Plymouth, the Plymouth Senior Center, Growing Generations Child Care and Parents Plus. In addition to providing top class facilities for all those agencies, it will also provide a community gathering place and activities center that will benefit all of us.
That’s beyond the benefit Plymouth and the area will get from the interaction of children and senior citizens on a regular basis. Both young and old will learn and grow from the experiences, and strengthen the community with that learning and growth.
The Plymouth Intergenerational Center promises to be a real plus for the community and will put Plymouth at the forefront of such intergenerational efforts, just as the city was at the forefront more than four decades in answering the needs of the growing elderly population with one of the nation’s first dedicated senior centers.
It’s time for all of us to step up and help the Plymouth Intergenerational Center reach the finish line, so we all can win.
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