Huntingburg Foundation to grant $3.5 million Event Center
The Huntingburg Foundation will host a press conference at noon, Monday, January 30th in the ballroom of the Huntingburg Old Town Hall. Attendees will include representatives of the Foundation, major contributors of the project, Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner, and the beneficiary agency of this grant.
The Foundation will officially retire the $235,000 mortgage liability held on the Huntingburg Event & Community Center (Event Center) and, subsequently, make a grant of Event Center real estate assets to its operating agency, the Huntingburg Event and Community Center, Inc. (HECC Inc). The retiring of the debt was made possible with contributions from Ms. Phyllis Menke and the Menke Charitable Trust Fund.
HECC Inc. is an Indiana nonprofit corporation determined to be tax exempt and organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes, including to acquire, maintain and operate a public community center for the benefit of the residents of the City of Huntingburg, Indiana and surrounding communities.
The Foundation resolved to establish HECC Inc. in July of 2008, one year after the completion of the fundraising and construction of the 24,000 square foot community center, to lease and operate the facility on behalf of the Community Foundation.
The Foundation seeks to grant the 11.597 acres real estate—the improvements situated therein—including the 24,000 square foot community center facility, together with furniture, furnishings, and equipment at a cost in excess of $3,500,000, which was constructed by the Foundation from public and private contributions.
HECC Inc. has successfully operated the Event Center since July of 2008 as an independent nonprofit under the management of Events Manager, Sue Tooley, and the governance of a volunteer board of directors appointed by the Foundation. As of January 1, Katherine Startin has taken on the position as Events Manager.
Matt, congratulations on doing a great job. Lots of meaningful content, and lots of advertising, too, it seems. I'll be checking in again.
Bruce Simmons
The most meaningful content of all – without which nothing else would matter or be possible – is the fact that the HECC has been "successfully operated" from the beginning. It's a fine, functional and lasting addition to the city and community – indeed all of Dubois County judging by the calendar of events and users. Kudos to those who had the bold vision and organization for such a wonderful asset to last for generations, and to those whose care and oversight it passes to.