The $30 million fundraising campaign to build and sustain The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center recently received a major boost (and a great endorsement!) in the form of a $1 million challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation.

To date, the campaign has raised just over $25.7 million. Kresge positions its challenge grants so that they are the "last dollars in". This means when our campaign reaches $29 million, we'll meet the Kresge Challenge.

There's an important stipulation, however: We must reach the $29 million benchmark by September 30, 2010; otherwise, Kresge will NOT contribute its $1 million!

Based in Troy, Michigan, the Kresge Foundation was founded in 1924 by Sebastian S. Kresge, whose chain of 5 & 10 stores became Kmart. Though the Foundation has several giving programs, it continues to be known best for its challenge grants. In addition to the dollars and fundraising leverage it provides, a Kresge Challenge Grant is widely regarded as the ultimate "seal of approval" on both charitable projects and the organizations behind them. This is because the Foundation selects its awardees from among thousands of applicants nationally, and only after subjecting each to tremendous scrutiny as it attempts to single out the very best philanthropic investments.

The Foundation cited four key factors for choosing to issue its challenge:

• The Army's efficiency
• The Salvation Army Kroc Center's built-in plan for long-term sustainability
• The fact that we'll be providing access to life-changing resources and opportunities to underserved neighborhoods
• The center's capacity to speed the economic revitalization of the surrounding community

Want to help us meet the Kresge Challenge and take advantage of this incredible funding opportunity? Please call 215.787.2826 or donate online by visiting SalvationArmyKrocCenter.org. As always, thanks for your support!

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