Building Our Future

The Resource Center chose Valentine’s Day to say “thanks” to those individuals and businesses that contributed to a capital campaign undertaken in association with recent renovations to the facility on Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown.

The $5 million renovation project, which wrapped up last year, saw extensive physical improvements to the former furniture-manufacturing facility, which TRC has owned since 1975. While the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities funded a substantial portion of the project’s costs, additional money was needed to pay for the remainder of the project as well as to purchase new furniture and equipment. So TRC launched a campaign to raise money for the purchase of furniture and equipment such as computers, software, monitors, chairs, worktables, and cafeteria supplies.

Under the leadership of TRC Board member Harry Glatz, who served as the Campaign Chair, and Karen La Sota, Resource Development Coordinator, a low-key but effective campaign was undertaken. Family members of TRC service recipients, regular TRC donors, businesses, community leaders, civic organizations, charitable foundations, and church groups were approached.

The campaign raised $129,096 from a total of 113 donors. The largest gift ($35,000) came from an anonymous donor.

At the February 14 donor recognition reception, Harry thanked attendees for their financial contributions. He noted that he, Karen and Henry Wesley, who is disabled and receives services from TRC, made numerous community presentations to educate the public about the project and drum up support for the campaign. They also brought community members and foundation representatives to TRC to tour the facility and learn more about the services offered.

Harry said the campaign was a lot of work and provided valuable experience for the next fund-raising endeavor. “It puts our toe into the waters of capital campaigns,” he said.

Executive Director Paul Cesana said that the capital campaign enabled TRC to share its story with the community. “Because we believe in what we do, we believe in the value of what we accomplish,” Paul said, “we are able to get other people to be involved in what we do every day.”

Karen expressed gratitude to TRC employees for their contributions to the fund-raising drive. “We thank all of you for remembering us in this campaign,” she said.

The Jones & Gifford Avenue facility houses a Day Program for individuals with severe developmental disabilities; clinical services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, audiology and hearing aid services, and counseling and psychiatric services, all of which also are available to the general public.

A key contributor to the Jones & Gifford campaign was KeyBank, which contributed $7,500 toward the project. The money was used to purchase furniture and equipment for a conference room on the second floor.

Carol Lorenc, left, the President of TRC's Board of Directors, and Executive Director Paul Cesana, right, pose with the people who spearheaded TRC's successful capital campaign for the Jones & Gifford Avenue building — Karen LaSota, Resource Development, Grants and Research Coordinator, and Board Member Harry Glatz.

The front of the renovated facility on Jones & Gifford Avenue. An Open House to formally dedicate the building in honor of former Executive Director Michael Raymond is planned for spring.

Comment

Despite the campaign’s success, TRC still needs to raise about $1.5 million to cover the project’s cost. We’re proud of the way the public has responded to our appeal for help, with donations of money and planned gifts to help support the TRC Day Services Capital Campaign. With your continued help, we will be able to continue to reduce the debt on this project. Thank you in advance for any donation you can make to help this important project in the coming months! Please click here for donations form