Foundation takes lead role in Development of Green Community Learning Center and Charter School in Palm Beach County, Florida
It started with a quick phone call in late September 2009 from one of the Foundation’s Industry Partner Program members, Rand Eckhart of Energy Structures and Systems.
“I just gave Vince your phone number, expect his call today. He is putting together an incredible project and needs your help. The project would be a home run for the community,” said Mr. Eckhart.
The next day Mr. Vince Kendrick was laying out his vision and plan to give back to the community and children that his wife has served for ten years. The Community Learning Outreach Center’s (CLOC) facility will provide educational opportunities through a Charter School and after-school program, house other non-profit organizations, and provide a quality facility for the community. Mr. Kendrick’s wife, Altermease, has been managing the very successful My Choice Afterschool Program since 2002. Due to lack of quality space, the program is only able to serve 100 students and turn away the same amount.
The My Choice Afterschool Program is located in Palm Beach County, the largest coastal county in the State of Florida. Specifically, they serve poor and disadvantaged youth in the West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and Lake Park communities. While the County is known for wealth and prosperity in many parts, the areas they serve includes several neighborhoods that are known in the County and the State for a variety of conditions that impact and threaten the quality of life of the families who reside there.
Mr. Kendrick was recovering from a kidney transplant and decided to retire after a very successful career as the Director of Parks and Recreation with the City of Deerfield Beach, Florida. So, the question had to be asked: “Why take on such a challenging project at this time?”
Mr. Kendrick’s answer was simple:
“I want the kids and the residents of those communities to have an opportunity to succeed. Providing a quality educational experience in a safe, state of the art facility for the kids will also transfer opportunities to the rest of the community.”
The Community Learning Outreach Center is now on the way to becoming a reality. Land has been secured for the facility in Lake Park, Florida and the design process is already underway. Project groundbreaking is for early June with anticipated occupancy in February 2011. The complete complex is being designed to meet the “Gold” certification of the U.S. Green Building Council and will represent only one of 10 Certified Green Schools in the State of Florida. The finished complex will be over 45,000 square feet. The Foundation is providing owner representation services for the project and is currently making available opportunities for private sector green product manufactures to submit their products for consideration in the design process.
To find out more about the Community Learning Outreach Center and the My Choice Academy please visit www.MyChoiceAcademy.com
Manufacturers of green sustainable products or professionals interested in bidding on the project please register your information through this link: Industry Partner Program and your information will be provided to the design team and placed on the Bid list.
“We are very excited about our involvement in the project, Mr. & Mrs. Kendrick’s passion for the community and the kids that this project will serve is what we need more of right now and we are committed to make this happen for them”, added Richard Evans, CEO of the Community Greenhouse Foundation.
About Community Greenhouse Foundation
The Community Greenhouse Foundation The Community Greenhouse Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, registered in the state of Florida. The foundation's mission is to “facilitate a greener America, one community at a time.”
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For more information, contact:
Richard W. Evans
President & CEO
revans@communitygreenhouse.org
©2010 Community Greenhouse Foundation, Inc. |
