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Pritam Singh, Chairman of the Truman Annex Company, got Florida Keys Memorial Hospital’s kidney Dialysis center fund raising drive off to a solid start with a $5,000 donation and hinted further aid in the future.
In a letter Singh sent to FKMH Administration George Avery, dated June 8, Singh pledged $5,000 and said he would, “certainly consider that amount as an initial donation.”
Key West Citizen 06.11.87
Grace Jones Community Center has launched a major capital campaign to raise funds for the design and construction of a modern facility to serve the daycare needs of working families and at-risk children in the Marathon area.
The campaign, which hopes to raise $600,000 was given a boost by an opening pledge of $300,000 from Pritam Singh, a prominent local businessman.
Singh described the gift as an expression of his “family’s high regard and affection for children and the families served by the center. I am looking forward to working together with such a caring community as Marathon to make possible this wonderful new daycare facility.”
Robin Ringemann, Grace Jones’ board President, said his gift is in the form of a challenge grant and must be matched in an equal amount by smaller gifts from other donors.
The Grace Jones organization, which has been serving the Marathon community since 1956, has long outgrown its facility.
The building will continue to be used while the new construction is underway so the children are not displaced. The existing center will eventually be demolished to become a state-of-the-art playground.
Plans call for the new facility to be built on the center’s existing property at 230 41st St.
The goal with the new daycare building is to create a safe, more nurturing environment for up to 60 children ranging from newborn to 10 years of age. This will provide space for additional services such as Head Start, after school programs and the State-mandated Pre-kindergarten program scheduled to begin in August 2005.
Lynn Voit, chairman of capital campaign said: “Not until one actually becomes hands on with these little children can you really see how needy they are for emotional and physical nurturing. We teach our kids to be wary of strangers. These tots grab for any and all attention shown to them in their little corner of safety.
“After 50 years of service to the Marathon community, it’s time that our Grace Jones facility is replaced. We can make this happen with your involvement and support. Winter residents, we need you too,” she said.
The first gala fundraised event to benefit the new Grace Jones Center will be poolside under the stars at Tranquility Bay. The event, which costs $75 per person and is tax deductible, will be from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Food will be by Great Events, Caribbean rhythms by Bede and an auction of fine art are scheduled.
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MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
For more information on the gala event call Voit at 743-7664 or Ringemann at 743-3516.
All donations will go toward funding the construction of the new Grace Jones Community Center.
For more information on Grace Jones Community Center call 743-6064 or write Grace Jones Community Center, P.O. Box 1376, Marathon, FL 33050.
FREE PRESS March 2-8, 2005
Local developer Pritam Singh hosted a Spring Gala Reception at his newest resort development, Tranquility Bay, last Saturday to benefit the children at Grace Jones Center. Singh announced a donation to the Grace Jones Community Center (GJCC) for $300,000 to help them construct a new facility at their current location at 41st Street.
The new daycare facility will provide a nurturing environment for up to 60 children ranging from newborn to 10 years of age and allow for such additional serviced as Head Start, after school programs and the state-mandated Pre-K program scheduled to begin August 2005. At the Gala, Singh provided an overview of the planned building project, benefits to the community, and an update regarding capital campaign goals.
The Marathon Weekly March 13, 2005
By Steve Conklin
Gala kick-off fundraiser set for Saturday
Grace Jones Community Center has launched a major capital campaign to raise funds for the design and construction of a modern facility to serve the daycare needs of working families and at-risk children in the Marathon area.
The campaign, which hopes to raise $600,000 was given a boost by an opening pledge of $300,000 from Pritam Singh, a prominent local businessman.
Singh described the gift as an expression of his “family’s high regard and affection for children and the families served by the center. I am looking forward to working together with such a caring community as Marathon to make possible this wonderful new daycare facility.”
Robin Ringemann, Grace Jones’ board President, said his gift is in the form of a challenge grant and must be matched in an equal amount by smaller gifts from other donors.
The Grace Jones organization, which has been serving the Marathon community since 1956, has long outgrown its facility.
The building will continue to be used while the new construction is underway so the children are not displaced. The existing center will eventually be demolished to become a state-of-the-art playground.
Plans call for the new facility to be built on the center’s existing property at 230 41st St.
The goal with the new daycare building is to create a safe, more nurturing environment for up to 60 children ranging from newborn to 10 years of age. This will provide space for additional services such as Head Start, after school programs and the State-mandated Pre-kindergarten program scheduled to begin in August 2005.
Lynn Voit, chairman of capital campaign said: “Not until one actually becomes hands on with these little children can you really see how needy they are for emotional and physical nurturing. We teach our kids to be wary of strangers. These tots grab for any and all attention shown to them in their little corner of safety.
“After 50 years of service to the Marathon community, it’s time that our Grace Jones facility is replaced. We can make this happen with your involvement and support. Winter residents, we need you too,” she said.
The first gala fundraised event to benefit the new Grace Jones Center will be poolside under the stars at Tranquility Bay. The event, which costs $75 per person and is tax deductible, will be from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Food will be by Great Events, Caribbean rhythms by Bede and an auction of fine art are scheduled.
——————–
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
For more information on the gala event call Voit at 743-7664 or Ringemann at 743-3516.
All donations will go toward funding the construction of the new Grace Jones Community Center.
For more information on Grace Jones Community Center call 743-6064 or write Grace Jones Community Center, P.O. Box 1376, Marathon, FL 33050.
March 2-8, 2005
The Grace Jones Community Center in Marathon has been challenged by the Eckerd Family Foundation to raise $350,000 by the end of February 2009.
If successful, Grace Jones will receive $100,000 from the foundation, thus enabling them to completely pay off construction costs incurred in building their new facility located on 41st Street.
“The mission of Grace Jones is closely aligned with the interests of the Eckerd Family Foundation,” said Bill Eckerd of the Eckerd Family Foundation’s board of directors. “We are very pleased with what you are doing for the community. I hope to present you with a check next year to complete this challenge,” he said. “You’ve already done a fantastic job with the construction of this building and the provision of quality daycare service to a growing number of children. Keep up the good work.”
“On behalf of Grace Jones and its children,” said Ardie Banks, “we accept the Eckerd Challenge. A $100,000 check is a lot of motivation. People in the Keys, however, are generous and caring.”
In 2005, Hurricane Wilma destroyed the original and aging Grace Jones Daycare Center. The center only was able to continue through the donation of temporary housing by the local Baptist Church and the generosity of many people. This includes the Eckerd Family Foundation, Singh Company and the Monroe County School District.
“The new center opened in August 2007 and has expanded its service to 75 children,” said Iris Coe, director at GJCC. Anyone interested in assisting in the Challenge grant may call the Center at 305-743-6064.
The Citizen 03.16.2008
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