It’s hard for many of us to believe, but it’s actually been exactly 10 years since the Center hosted the grand opening for what was called the Center’s “Wellness and Multipurpose” expansion. Following over two years of planning and raising funds for EMCC’s capital campaign, the doors were finally open for business. And what was once just a pipe dream, was now ready to serve 1000’s of additional youth and families on Madison’s N.E. side with dozens of new and expanded programs.
The 13,000 sq. ft. expansion included a full-size gym, a large, multipurpose room with a stage, a commercial-style kitchen, two locker rooms, a fitness room, two meeting rooms, an office, three, outdoor handball courts and a beautiful, neighborhood courtyard. And all this new space was ours for the “blue-light-special” price of under $2,000,000.
Because of addition EMCC serves more than 2000 additional participants each year with wide array of different activities that range from a toddler prom to Alzheimer’s screening and food pantry to break dancing. (See list). The idea of the addition was to reach out further into the community for program participants and to offer wider range of program options that reflect the interests of families living in the Centers service area. We are proud to say that all the effort that staff and volunteers put into the planning and fundraising for the capital campaign has more than fulfilled our expectations.
Thank you to Jim Glueck who was actually our architect for all three of our building additions (1991, 1997 and 2008) and also to Roberts Construction (now NCI – Roberts), who built our initial building in 1981 (following over a decade in two apartments) as well as the three building additions. Both Glueck and Roberts were professional, supportive, cordial and did excellent work in meeting and exceeding our expectations. Thank you also to the 400 donors who made our long-needed expansion a reality.