The first definition of “community” in Webster’s dictionary is
“a unified body of individuals” and the second is “people with
common interests living in a particular area.” CAMP Rehoboth’s
Community Center Project, with our mission to expand into a full-service
community center to be the Heart of the Community and a focal point for
connecting people, activities, and resources, embodies that definition.
In this fast-paced and ever-changing world, we all need a place to go
where we can be involved.
Even the Dalai Lama has said, “In today’s highly interdependent
world, individuals and nations can no longer resolve many of their
problems by themselves. We need one another. We must therefore develop a
sense of universal responsibility…it is our collective and individual
responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its
weaker members, and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we
all live.”
Through the Community Center Project’s
Founder’s Circle Campaign, we are diligently working to raise the
funds to create that “community” in every sense of the word. Our
five-year goal, beginning in June 2001, was to raise $1 million through
individual donations and pledges. To date, we have received pledges in
excess of $293,000. This is phenomenal given the short period of time
that the campaign has been in existence. In her keynote speech on
community at our June Founder’s Circle event, the Black and White
Beach Ball, Delaware’s Governor Ruth Ann Minner lauded our
community’s support and our fundraising efforts for this very
meaningful project. We should be proud of our accomplishment to date,
but we have a lot more to do to reach our $1 million goal. For those of
you who support our goal but haven’t yet given a donation or pledge,
please consider doing so today. Remember, CAMP Rehoboth is a 501(c)(3)
organization and contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of
the law. Those who have given donations or pledges may want to consider
if you can do more for the project either by an additional donation or
pledge increase, or by asking friends and family to join in and make a
donation or membership pledge. From the beginning until we reach our
goal, we will all be proud to be a part of this community-building
effort and know that we, in some small but significant way, made a
difference in our world.
As the new Founder’s Circle Director, I
am pleased to be part of such an exciting group of people with such a
wonderful vision. As a long-time volunteer with non-profit organizations
and with my experience as a corporate executive, I will move forward on
raising funds from corporations and charitable foundations to supplement
individual donations and pledges.
Forming alliances with those
organizations raises additional funds, demonstrates their commitment to,
and promotes the viability of the Community Center Project. If any of
you are aware of a corporation or charitable foundation that we may want
to approach, please contact me at the CAMP office. I look forward to
working with each of you as we build a Community Center that is
progressive and vibrant.
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