SOAR lands big grant

Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR) has received a $250,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. The grant is dedicated to construction of a new SOAR community activities facility.

The Murdock Trust was created by the will of Jack Murdock, co-founder of Tektronix, who died in a float plane accident on the Columbia River in 1971. The mission of the Trust is "to strengthen the region's educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways."

With the impending need to relocate and its existing broad base of community programs, SOAR fit the Murdock Trust criteria.

SOAR now has over $800,000 in grants and donations, nearing the $950,000 necessary to complete Phase One of the new facility, which will be built on land leased from Sisters School District.

The Murdock grant requires full funding of the construction project before grant funds are issued.

The Ford Family Foundation earlier this year also dedicated $250,000, which will be awarded when SOAR has identified $100,000 in local pledges and donations to the project. Nearly all the dedicated grants require that local funding be realized by the year 2004.

The SOAR Foundation has begun a capital campaign for local funding of the building.

"Every local dollar donated to this building fund translates to a minimum of $5 in matching grant funds," said Mike Gould, member of the SOAR Foundation. "That's a pretty good return on investment."

He notes that SOAR is now serving 1,400 youth in a 1,500 square-foot location. This location will no longer be available after the current middle school property is sold.

Local private and trust donations have already reached $29,000. The Gary and Ronda Sneva family of Sisters donated $10,000 to the building fund. A local family trust, the Family Foundation, has donated $5,000. The SOAR District and Foundation Boards of Directors and manager have given $13,000 in individual contributions.

The SOAR Foundation plans to honor donations of $250 to $500 with inscribed bricks on the exterior of the building. Other donations will be acknowledged with wall plaques inside the new building, according to the level of the pledge. Wall plaques will recognize donations from a minimum of $1,000.

Information regarding the new SOAR Community Activities Facility is available in a formal presentation, privately or publicly. To request scheduling of this program, call SOAR at 549-2091. Architectural plans may be viewed at the SOAR office, and a list of board members and telephone numbers can also be acquired.