Posted: 3/5/03

Banquet raises first $26,000 for area center

A banquet to kick off fundraising for a new Forest Lake Area Activity Center generated $26,000 through ticket sales, a silent auction and individual contributions. The Feb. 28 event at the Lobster Shop in Forest Lake drew more than 200 people and demonstrated strong community interest in building a new recreational gathering place for the region.

ìThe turnout was fantastic. We were at capacity crowd,î said Jim Meyer, executive chair of the Forest Lake Area Activity Center Leadership Team. ìBut what really got us excited was the diversity of people in attendance. We had people from 9 to 92, literally. We had young couples new to the area and people whoíve lived here all their lives. We had residents from Forest Lake, as well as Scandia, Columbus, Wyoming, Hugo and other surrounding towns. And we had people representing the interests of just about every local sports group.î

The event was spearheaded by a nonprofit organization formed to build a replacement facility for the aging Maroon and Gold ice arena.

ìWhile this project started out as only an ice arena, additional needs for indoor sports in the area quickly made us change focus to a multi-sport, multi-use facility that can accommodate dryland activities like indoor soccer and batting cages,î Meyer said.

The Activity Center will be the first phase of a new Community Center Complex being planned for a 160-acre site the City of Forest Lake owns south of 202nd St. N. and west of US-61.

In addition to individual donations raised at the event, the nonprofit group secured more than $100,000 in corporate advertising in its first two weeks of fundraising.

The Activity Center groupís goal is to complete the effort without tax assistance from the city. ìOur goal is to raise at least half the funds necessaryóabout $3 millionófrom personal and corporate contributions, then finance the remainder amongst the sponsoring organizations,î Meyer said. ìThatís the kind of neighbor-helping-neighbor volunteerism this area has known for the last 100 years. Our event proved that spirit is still alive today in this community.î

To make a donation: There are several donor recognition levels. At the Wall of Honor level, you can have your name or a designated personís name included on the wall for a pledge of $100 to $10,000 over the next four years. At the sponsorship level, you can name an areaósuch as a team room or the entire complex. These sponsorships range from $25,000 to $500,000. Pledge cards are available at Forest Lake Cycle and Skate, 455 N. Lake St.

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