We made significant progress in 2015 toward our long-held dream of creating a gathering space designed to meet not only our internal needs, but more importantly to support sharing our mission with the wider community. With the Welcome Center, we will create a place of belonging: a space where we can invite more families to share in our vision of building a more human society through mutual relationships between people with and without intellectual disabilities. The Welcome Center will host:
- Expanded Day Support program
- Community nights
- Social events
- Learning opportunities
- Open Houses
- Celebrations
- Immersion Groups
- Meetings and trainings
- Administrative functions
The building design is nearly finalized, and we are fine-tuning the cost projections. The Welcome Center will be located on Vickery Avenue East, adjacent to Ananda House. We plan to break ground in spring of 2017, L’Arche Tahoma Hope’s 40th anniversary year. The building should be complete by the end of that year.
As we pass the one year mark of our five-year capital campaign to fund the design and construction of the building, we want to express our deep appreciation for the vision and leadership of our first campaign donors. For the first time in our 39-year history, L’Arche Tahoma Hope is inviting significant philanthropic investment, and the response has been both humbling and extraordinary. Under the leadership of our honorary co-chairs, Mike and Mary Jo Tucci, and our Campaign Steering Committee Chair, Tom Pagano, 40 donors have pledged over $1.1 million so far! Our campaign target is now set at $3.5 million, which includes building design, site development, permits, construction, utility hookups, equipment and furniture, campaign costs, and initial operating expenses.
The Board has approved giving levels for naming spaces in the new building. If you are interested in learning more about the capital campaign, our progress on the building, or information about the giving levels recently approved by the Board for naming spaces in the new building, please contact David Rothrock, Development and Capital Campaign Director, by telephone at 253-535-3178 or by email at [email protected].
