The vision of those who founded the Walker Area Community Center (WACC) was grounded with dedication and determination. Together with a lot of local support, a truly wonderful center has been built that nurtures our community and its residents, particularly our youth. With over 60,000 visitor occasions per year, half of which are children, operations of the Community Center is funded by membership and event fees.
The WACC is beginning a capital campaign to continue the growth and maturity of the community center. This campaign’s objective is to structure and accomplish debt reduction. The initial capital contributions of over 2 million dollars were fantastic and were the basis for allowing the WACC to succeed in initiating that vision.
 Now it is time to continue that progress. The WACC needs broad-based support from the whole community. As the campaign plan will show, all the WACC is asking for is a little support from many community members.
Whether you directly use the community center, or a family member, relative or friend uses it, you’ve likely seen the impact it has made on the community. The WACC is now the home of the Walker Rotary Club, Boys and Girls Club, Just For Kix, and Tae Kwon Do. A seasonal ice rink is shared with Leech Lake Youth Hockey, Walker Curling Club, Leech Lake Figure Skating Club and regular open skating. The rink also hosts the City on the Bay Hockey Tournaments, bringing hundreds of families to Walker during the winter months.
The WACC also houses a fitness center and gymnasium with over 200 members and regular fitness classes such as aerobics and yoga as well as youth basketball and volleyball. Many community events such as the Lions Home & Garden Show, benefits, family reunions, weddings, birthday parties, meetings and conferences are held in the arena, Rotary Room and the cozy Ringle Library.
And if the WACC has not made that connection yet to you, then consider the youth of our community. Think about those 30,000 youth visits going back out on the streets, in cars, or into empty homes. The community center is serving the community, and it needs your support.
The goal of this capital campaign, named “One Thousand 100s”, is to obtain 1000 pledges of $100 per year for 5 years. You can choose how many shares you would like to pledge. One share would be $100 per year for 5 years; two shares would be $200 per year for 5 years and so on. Community Center naming rights are available for a contribution of $1,000,000 or more.
You could also choose to be a Team Leader and build a team of up to ten people who will ask others to pledge “shares” in the success of the WACC.
Won’t you consider pledging and “share” in the success of the Community Center for at least five more years? Contributions in any amount for any number of years are welcomed! Help us continue “building community” at the Walker Area Community Center. For more information, click any of the links above or call 218-547-1853 ext. 4. |
