ONE FAMILY OPPORTUNITY BUILDING

Phew. It seems like we've been talking about it forever, but we now are part owners of the Kupfer Ironworks building at 149 Waubesa Street. The Atwood Community Center, in partnership with the good folks at the Schenk-Atwood Revitalization Association (SARA) created ‘the Kupfer Center LLC' which officially purchased this property on our behalf on December 30, 2005. What a great community partnership — it truly demonstrates wide support from our local business district. We're thrilled!
It's meant years of meetings to estimate space needs, clarify the vision, negotiate the purchase, assess the environmental studies, and review feasibility studies. But without a doubt, every minute has been worth it because of the possibilities this historic site holds for the Center and our whole community. When our new doors open in late 2008, we will have a facility that will be thoughtfully designed to strengthen the lives of people in our community in very real ways.

Why a new building?
Someone recently asked one of our Center staff, “Why does a community center need a nice, new building?” Well, we serve many people who don’t have much money. And one of the hardest things about being poor is how it challenges the spirit. Welcoming kids and adults alike to a beautiful place that says, ‘You’re worth it and we’re here to support you as you become the student, citizen, artist, neighbor or parent you want to be’ will help us all. We are mindful of the fact that the many children we serve are going
to be very influential in our community in the not too distant future. We’d like to prepare all our kids to be strong leaders, to make good decisions, and to help our community become an even more vibrant and enriching place. And we want them to have a good life — what we all want for our own children, our friends, and our families. This new building will also provide quality, wonderful, expanded space for the entire Madison community
to enjoy. We believe the entire neighborhood deserves a world-class facility — or as someone said, “an eastside version of the Overture Center.”

Off to a great start with early and strong support
An angel in our neighborhood gave the Atwood Community Center the $1.3 million dollars that enabled us to purchase the building. We marvel at this generosity of spirit, and of the donor’s ability to share our vision before we even have pretty pictures of what our new building will look like. Isn’t that something?!

What next?
Now that we own the site, our architect, Cliff Goodhart of Eppstein Uhen
Architects, has begun creating plans for the building. The possibilities are exciting — more and better meeting and event space for the community, space for more physical activities for kids, a hallway instead of streets between our programs, off-street parking, and room to grow and improve
each program. We have long lists of things to do before we can open our new, big doors to you — things like “keep the Center running well while raising $5 million dollars.

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.

Recently, we were offered that great possibility, along with a tremendous gift. We decided to accept it. So, the Atwood Community Center is becoming "The Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Community Center," or more simply, "The Goodman Community Center." more

PROGRESS UPDATE:
November 28, 2007
The gym walls are going up! It looks a little like our very own Stonehenge, doesn’t it?

If you haven’t been by 149 Waubesa, the future home of our new Center, there have been lots of activity worth checking out. Did you know that you can learn how the building is progressing by just visiting here?

And did you know you can tour the building and see up close how things are progressing and what your new Center will look like? Just contact Kristin Groth at 241-1574 ext 27 or Kristin@atwoodcc.org. Tours are scheduled the first Saturday of every month.

The Eastside News also gives updates and includes photos of recent events, like the latest photo of the gym (see back page). If you do not receive the ESN and want a copy or have any questions about the project, please just give us a call 241-1574 or email.
2008 is going to be a very exciting year for us here at the Center, we hope you share it with us!

For more pictures, please visit the Project Progress page of the Capital Campaign site.

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