Members of the Pueblo West Community Teen Cooperative
pose near a sign they will use to keep motorists informed
about donations as they try to raise $90,000 in 90 days
for a down payment on the former West End steakhouse
381 S. Joe Martinez Blvd.
If they meet their goal, they plan to open a teen center
there later this year. The board members and teen volunteers pictured are:
(seated) Kate Meyer (left) and Ann Ladd and
(standing, from left) Natalie Dever-Jankelow, Sandra Kluth, Frances Solorio,
Wyatt Suda, Glenn McGuire and Rebecca Kaspari.
Board lands building contract
Teen center deal needs $90,000 in 90 days
Ninety days and $90,000. Those are the final hurdles remaining before a group of determined volunteers can make good on a promise they made two years ago: to open a teen center in Pueblo West.
There have been many hurdles since then: gaining nonprofit status, hanging on to volunteers, and raising enough money and enthusiasm to keep the project alive. But the largest was the $650,000 price tag of the building that members of the Pueblo West Community Teen Cooperative had their eyes on - and obtaining grant funding for a teen center that doesn't have a home, and bank financing to buy that "home."
All of that changed last week, when the owner of the former West End steakhouse not only agreed to a substantial reduction in price - down to $435,000 - but to a creative financing deal that PWCTC say is a win-win deal for all involved.
The only catch: The organization must raise $90,000 by July 14 to close the deal. An elated Ann Ladd, owner of a counseling center and founder of the movement to open a teen center, said last week that "We will need to raise quite a bit of money to open the doors and we won't have much time to do it, but I have no doubt it's doable. There has been a series of serendipitous happenings all along the way to this point that allowed us to get where we are, and now we're definitely on a roll. This is going to happen."
Rebecca Kaspari, executive director, agreed. "Make no mistake, that building is ours. It belongs to all the families of Pueblo West. Now we are asking for all community residents to show their Pueblo West pride and contribute to something that will belong to this community, its children and its grandchildren for generations to come."
Ladd said members of the Teen Leadership Committee, chaired by Pueblo West High School student Kate Meyer, will play key roles in the fundraising campaign that will include door-to-door solicitations, car washes, bake sales and other events in coming weeks. Meyer is looking to flesh out the committee with a lead representative from all three local middle schools and the high school, as well as energetic volunteers to serve with the lead representatives and help with projects at their own schools. Meyer can be reached at 547-2289. Meyer, along with Theresa Blattler and Wyatt Suda of PWHS and Rachel Dever-Jankelow of Skyview Middle School, already have plenty of experience with PWCTC fundraising and will be leaders of upcoming fundraisers. Board member Glenn McGuire will serve as a liaison member of the teen committee.
The capital campaign already has begun with the placement of collection receptacles at numerous local businesses, including Cheers, D'Light Bakery, Deli Dave's, Ladies Workout Express and DJ's Pizzeria. Other businesses are encouraged to "jump on board," Kaspari said. Ladd urges residents to look for local businesses displaying decals that proclaim "I invested in our teens!" and make donations there. Decals also will be given to all donors of $50 or more. Kaspari said that 10 percent of the donations collected directly by teen-aged fundraisers will be given to Pueblo West High School to use for two other youth-related, ongoing fundraisers - one to build an auditorium and another to finish the school's football stadium and athletic fields. "There is no animosity or conflict of interest between any of the nonprofit groups within our community. We are all focused on the same goal: improving where we live for generations of future residents." Added Ladd: "We are Pueblo West citizens, building Pueblo West together."
The campaign's progress will be tracked with a large, keyhole-shaped sign at the former steakhouse at 381 S. Joe Martinez Blvd. Ladd said that the project's survival thus far "on a shoestring" is testament to the dedication of the cooperative's members, who staged "A Family - a Fair" last fall and plan another one in September, and hosted a casino night fundraiser late last year. Before both events, Ladd said, "we were wondering how we could possibly afford to spend what we needed to spend to raise more money." But, just before the family fair, the Pueblo West Mobile Homeowners Association disbanded and donated its $1,000 treasury to PWCTC. Businessman Wendell Kent helped with the casino night, pledging to match the donations of the first 13 gamblers. That resulted in a $1,300 gift from Kent, plus $1,300 from the donors he matched. Just last month, the El Pomar Foundation gave PWCTC a $1,000 "outstanding service" award, as well as a $1,500 donation bequeathed by a retiring El Pomar board member.
"Every time we've been broke, and at the times when we wondered whether the community really wants this teen center to happen, individuals and this community have come through for us and for this project. We need that support again, but in a really big way," Ladd said.
The PWCTC advisory board meets at 4:30 on the first Tuesday of each month, also at The Connecting Place. Newcomers and volunteers are welcome.
Anyone who would like to donate to the $90,000 campaign is welcome to mail a check to PWCTC at P.O. Box 7890, Pueblo West, 81007.
You can also contact:
Teen center project website: http://www.pueblowestteencenter.com
Kate Meyer, Teen Leadership Committee:
swimmerbaby220@hotmail.com
By Loretta Sword
The Pueblo West View
