Intergenerational Project Announces Major Contribution

The Logan Intergenerational Family Education (LIFE) Center recently announced a contribution of $200,000 towards its local fundraising drive. Kenneth (Kenny) and Dena Vehige, from Hays, Kansas, finalized their generous contribution this month. The Vehiges, who were both raised in Logan, have been strong supporters of the USD 326 school district for many years with their yearly donation of interest accrued from a sizable CD established locally. They requested that the CD remain in place to continue the yearly donation, but then showed their support for the upcoming LIFE project with their considerable contribution. “We are willing for our contribution to be public because we feel this is important.  We hope this encourages others who love and support Logan to give to this project,” said Kenny Vehige.

The LIFE Center Volunteers hope that this generous donation helps kickstart the group’s local fundraising.  “Our community came through with some initial donations to hire our grant writer and some fundraising professionals,” said Brien Stockman, LIFE Project Volunteer. That first informal round of fundraising succeeded in raising more than $125,000 in gifts and pledges to go towards the project.  He continued, “We now have all of our fundraising materials and platforms in place to officially launch our fundraising drive. This will be an outreach to the roughly 1200 Logan alumni, and our surrounding community. This amazing show of support from the Vehige’s will hopefully be the jump start we need to reach our local fundraising goal of $1.25 million.  We are excited to already be one-fourth of the way toward this goal even before formal fundraising has begun.” The LIFE Center project was awarded a matching grant of $7.5 Million by Dane G. Hansen Foundation last year. The remaining funds are hoped to be raised through local fundraising, grants, and corporate sponsors.  “Every donation shows potential donors and foundations that our community supports this project. That local buy-in and support is what will help us convince the other major foundations to follow through and support this project with the remaining funds we need.”  Stockman said.

The LIFE Center project is a unique conceptual idea that will integrate several community facilities into one structure. The basic elements of this facility would include a new 36-bed nursing home facility based on the smallhouse design concept (much like the “Green House Project”), a new Pre-k through 4th-grade elementary school, a new accommodating gymnasium with associated locker room complex (which would also serve as a community storm shelter), a weight room and wellness facility, a community room and a gathering place which will be open and available to the public. “The purpose of connecting these facilities and placing it all near the ABC Daycare is to create a true intergenerational experience that supports the very youngest to the eldest members of our community and encourages interaction,” said Max Lowry, Logan Community Development Foundation President and LIFE Project volunteer.

To learn more, make a contribution, or see plans please visit the new LIFE Center Website at www.loganlifecenter.com. The volunteers have requested that sizable contributions be made by check to avoid the credit card fees associated with online contributions. You can send checks made out to LCDF-LIFE to LIFE Center Project ℅ LCDF, P.O. Box 203, Logan, KS 67646 or call (785) 689-8333 to schedule a pick-up.