The Community Center is located in the heart of Ivory Park, near schools and markets. Local government officials have granted community leaders access to and control over the buildings to bring all the aspects of the Ivory Park Project into one complex. In return, the understanding is that the community leaders will make the necessary renovations and improvements. The buildings need to be fully refurbished, equipped with a full kitchen, and outfitted with new electricity, plumbing, and bathroom facilities.

The Community Center will be a hub of day care, health and nutrition services, after school activities, and senior services for the township. It will house the Ke A Bona eye clinic, the Suppa du Mamma soup kitchen youth and senior programs, the Sedimosang day care center, a nutritional program for AIDS orphans, and the library.

The Community Center will also promote intergenerational mentoring and other activities such as a micro-business that will feature handcrafted items manufactured by the women of Ivory Park. This will be a place for the community’s social entrepreneurs to work in together in a safe and dignified location.

This project will be self-sustaining in 4 years. Once the first part of the renovation project is completed, local government officials have pledged to assume responsibility for the newly refurbished facility in 3 years.

As you develop your individual fundraising goals, it might be helpful to think about how your contribution will be put to use. Here are just a few of the building costs:

Kitchen- $6,500 will pay for the installation of an industrial grade kitchen that will serve the day care center, soup kitchen, and other community events and outreach efforts.

Flooring and Kitchen Tiling- $5,500 will cover the costs of tiling the kitchen and flooring throughout the community center.

Painting and Waterproofing- $5,000 will paint the inside, seal all cracks in the walls and waterproof the exterior of the three buildings.

Electrical Work- $3,500 will pay for all of the electrical renovation. including the installation of light fixtures, electrical outlets and all wiring, circuit breaker boxes, and labor costs.

Bathrooms- $3,500 will cover the installation of new bathrooms.

Plumbing-$2,500 will cover the costs to run water to the building and plumbing to the kitchen and bathrooms.

Security- $1,750 will allow for the installation of fencing, gates and security system to protect the center from crime and vandalism.

Kitchen Furnishings- $1,500 will furnish the kitchen with pots, pans, plates, silverware, tables, and chairs.

Windows- $250 will replace or repair broken windows.

Link 25-50 schools in an online fundraising campaign
Think of the possibilities that will exist for your school and community once students have learned how to work together to use these powerful new online fundraising strategies. By participating in the Campaign for Ivory Park this fall, you will be building your own online fundraising engine for your school and community.

ACT LOCALLY
Volunteer with your local Habitat for Humanity Chapter to learn more about building stronger communities.

Work with local government and civic leaders on a community project targeting intergenerational programs. Check out Generations United for more information.

REACH GLOBALLY
Join the Campaign for Ivory Park’s online fundraising campaign through eBay Giving Works. Giving Works allows individuals and organizations to donate items for sale or auction on eBay and then to designate a portion of the proceeds to the charity of their choice. The great thing about this fundraising strategy is that it doesn't require your organization to raise dollars so much as it challenges them to collect things and then to organize and coordinate a "virtual garage sale" or online auction.

Another online fundraising approach is to collect donations directly through PayPal's Donate Now program. Imagine how simple it would be to reach our goal if we could mobilize 1000 students to raise $50 each by finding 10 people who would contribute $5.00 or more to help us achieve our building goal in Ivory Park. You could do this by collecting donations yourself or by steering people to the Keep It Campaign’s Donate Now site.

Both Options Are Available Here: Keep It Campaign eBay Giving Works »