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.
The Center became a full-service center when it affiliated with United Neighborhood Centers in 1954.
The Atwood Community Center became its own independent non-profit organization in 1999.
The Atwood Community Center has conducted four capital projects: 1994 - preschool space; 1996 -
building complexly assessable; 1999 - purchase and renovation of the elementary school building at
2717 Atwood; and 2000 - the food pantry, commercial kitchen, and main community room remodeling.
In 2003, the Atwood Board began a three year space odyssey that resulted in the purchase of the Kupfer Iron Works
property in December 2005. The 34,000 square-foot historic building and two acres of land will be renovated into a model
facility that will house all of the community center’s programs and allow for program expansions. By the end of 2008,
the Center will be this beautiful “new” facility.
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
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.
Here's the breakdown:
- 14% from the Madison Office of Community Services
- 3% from the Madison Community Development Block Grant Office
- 9% from the United Way
- 10% from user fees and room rentals
- 14% from tuition reimbursement for childcare
- 5% from the YWCA
- 4% from the USDA free meal program
- 4% from the Madison Metropolitan School District
- 36% private sources, grants and fund-raising
