HISTORY   The building that houses Atwood Community Center was built in 1917 for single men working in area factories. In 1925 the building became the home of the East Side Business Men's Association and East Side Women's Club. In 1945, ESBM donated the building to the United Way--then called the United Community Chest--to be used for a youth center serving working class children. The building has housed community programming ever since.  more

GOODMAN BROTHERS GIVE $2 MILLION GIFT AND BOOST OUR ONE FAMILY CAMPAIGN  We’ve read about the incredible philanthropy of these two generous brothers for many years. No doubt, you have, too. At the Atwood Community Center, we never imagined we would be so lucky to be the beneficiary of such a gift from the the Goodmans — a gift of $2,000,000 and the honor of naming our organization in their good name. We're thrilled!

WE'RE CHANGING OUR NAME TO THE GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
Long before the fundraising for our One Family Campaign started, we were advised to change our name to reflect how the Atwood Community Center is changing with the move to our beautiful new home — we won’t be on Atwood Avenue, and more of our services will extend well beyond our current service area. We knew that changing our name would be a BIG decision for the Center and the Atwood Community, and we didn’t jump at the chance to do it. But we decided to stay open to possibilities, realizing that any new name had to reflect the reputation for quality, integrity, and community-building that the Center has worked hard to build for 53 years.
 more

FUNDING  The Atwood Community Center's funding is as diverse as the participants in the programs. The Center's annual operating budget has grown by more than 700% in the last decade to the 2006 budget of $1.4 million.  more

MISSION, GOALS, SERVICE AREA   In fulfilling its mission, the Center facilitates a community atmosphere, identifies and responds to community needs, cooperates with individuals and other agencies to provide that help, promotes recreational and cultural events, and creates and coordinates meeting space, programs and information and services that reflect the community's ethnic and economic diversity.  more

GOVERNING BOARD   As representatives of the community, the Atwood Board of Directors determines the mission and goals of the Atwood Community Center based on a year-long evaluation and long-range planning process. The Board meets every Fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Atwood Youth Building. All meetings are open to the public. Agendas and minutes are posted at the Center.  more

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE          March 14, 2007

Dear Friend and Neighbor,

The Name Change Although nobody voiced any particular concerns or disappointments and we received a lot of congratulations at the March 13 forum, I did want to clarify an important point that I think has not been clear up to this point. The Goodman brothers did not ask for the Center to be named after them. The request came from the Center. When the Center representative approached them, they were invited to make the donation and that the Center name would change. The Goodmans were humbled and honored.  more

Page last updated: