Latham meets $250K capital campaign challenge-match goal

One year after we announced an anonymous donor pledged a $250,000 challenge match gift for the capital campaign to fund the Latham Community and Arts Center, donors have met the goal!

“The response from the community, Latham families, our staff, Board, and volunteers has been overwhelming,” Director of Development Heather Kelsey said. “In December of 2018, we were still $70,000 away from completing the match which we hoped to raise by this coming July. We had a robust response to our holiday capital campaign appeal along with new, significant gifts from individual donors that helped us to meet the goal by early February.”

The new Latham Community and Arts Center will transform the former New England Fire and History Museum property on Main Street in Brewster, just a short walk from our main campus. We envision a Center where Latham staff, students, adult residents, and community members can be physically active, learn, explore, and connect. The Center will provide opportunities for expanded fitness, arts, and vocational curriculum, and include a gymnasium, fitness center, art room, recreation space, auditorium and stage, technology room, wood shop, and classroom. The facility will be designed to reflect the character of the community and to enhance the natural beauty of the area, with landscaped grounds featuring ample parking, a safe, close vehicle drop-off area near the main entrance, pedestrian crossings, improved lighting, safe walkways, and areas to gather.

The new Community and Arts Center will have a dramatic and lasting impact on our students, adult residents, and staff; provide a remarkable community resource for the community; and beautify and revitalize the area. Latham School student Daniel shared his enthusiasm about the Center: “All of the kids are so excited to play in the gym, especially in the winter when it is too cold to go outside. We can have parties and dances, and school meetings there with all of us together. It’s going to be so awesome!”

Latham President Anne McManus said, “We are so grateful to everyone who has partnered with us on this campaign. The combined generosity of over 700 Latham family members, staff, friends, community partners, local businesses, and foundations has helped us raise over $1.5 million. With each campaign milestone, we grow closer to realizing the dream of creating the new Latham Community and Arts Center. This campus expansion project is an investment in our future. It means so much to know that the work we do resonates with so many. Thank you!”

For information on Latham Centers’ Expanding our Circle campaign for the new Latham Community and Arts Center, including ways to give and available naming opportunities, please click here. 

Pictured: Heather Kelsey announces Latham’s Capital Campaign challenge match goal has been met; Latham Centers’ artistic renderings of the new Community and Arts Center.