With a lead gift of $1 million from local developer and philanthropist Larry Tokarski, development has begun on the new Family Resource and Child Development Center scheduled to open this fall. Together with partners such as the Early Learning Hub, Salem Keizer Public Schools and Willamette Education Service District, Catholic Community Services developed a vision to build the new Family Resource and Child Development Center at the site of the old St. Vincent de Paul building on Portland Road. The Center will help children and their families to flourish by bringing together services and care providers in a single, convenient, accessible location. The new Center is being developed with the help of generous donors and investors. Investors can opt to purchase shares in the building and receive both depreciation and income for life in the form of a percentage of building rents.
“I committed a leadership gift to this project in recognition of Catholic Community Services’ long history of leadership in bringing the community together to meet the needs of children and families facing adversity. This Center will pave the way to a new level of collaborative service partnerships that will change the odds for our community’s most vulnerable children,” said Developer, Investor and Philanthropist Larry Tokarski.
It is often difficult for families of children with special needs to access services due to lack of service integration, transportation to various county locations and scheduling. Lack of knowledge about which services are needed, available and affordable can also be a barrier to improving the health and well being of these families.
“Any time we can support our children from birth to school age with strategic collaborative partners, our students will be school-ready and prepared to thrive in a community that cares deeply about them and their success,” said Christy Perry, Superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
The promise of the Center is to help children with special needs to thrive and flourish, increase their success at school and in the community, strengthen family resilience, reduce disrupted foster care placements, improve collaboration and service integration among health care professionals, social service providers and educators, reduce service duplication and increase accessibility.
In addition to a traditional capital campaign in which donors can make charitable contributions, a limited number of shares are being offered as ownership participation in the Family Resource and Child Development Center facility. The CCS Life Fund allows investors to receive an income for life while sharing their values and blessings to help children with special needs in our community.
To make a donation, click here. For more information about the CCS Life Fund, contact 503-856-7001.