Special Olympics Missouri has set a date in April 2016 as the deadline for fundraising for the Training for Life campus.
Earlier this year, Special Olympics Missouri, or SOMO, officials announced the planned Training for Life campus project had been awarded to Jefferson City over a competing bid from Columbia. The proposal, submitted by the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, included 15.5 acres near U.S. 54 and Missouri 179 donated by Land Investments, run by Bud Farmer, Mike Farmer and Frank Twehous.
While the SOMO board of directors had always hoped to finish fundraising on the $12.5 million project by spring 2016, a new incentive has forced a set date to reach the fundraising goal.
Gary Wilbers, capital campaign chair, said SOMO has received a challenge grant from the Maybee Foundation, out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. If the organization is able to complete its fundraising by April 15, 2016, the foundation will award $1 million to SOMO.
"We have a countdown," Wilbers said. "We're feeling the days."
Wilbers said SOMO also has a number of proposals out to other foundations, hopeful that more money could be awarded from nonprofit organizations for the Training for Life campus. Officials also are meeting continually with businesses throughout the state to seek sponsorships and donors.
Wilbers said the organization was able to transfer state tax credits, which are used as an incentive, from Boone County to the current location in Cole County and also has secured Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits for the new location. He said there also have been no issues with those who donated to the project when it was planned for a site in Boone County.
Since the fundraising campaign began in April 2013, SOMO has collected donations totaling more than half of its $12.5 million goal. Wilbers would not provide specifics on how much has been collected so far, but noted they are still seeking donors at every opportunity.
"We're seeing some positive trends," Wilbers said. "We feel like we're progressing toward the goal."
Wilbers said he feels confident the organization will reach its goal by the April 15 deadline and is working to garner support for the facility statewide. Once the fundraising goal is met, a construction timeline for the facility will be set.
"We're still looking for donors," Wilbers said.
Anyone interested in donating to the SOMO Training for Life campus or learning more about the project can visit somo.org/traningforlife.
According to the Special Olympics Missouri website,the Training for Life Campus will feature:
• A 44,000-square-foot center with year-round training opportunities
• A 16,000-square-foot sports facility, featuring basketball and volleyball
• A sports leadership training center hall of heroes
• A health and fitness center with cardiovascular and weight training
• Courts for seasonal play and fields to support 21 sports
• Programs including camps
• A lifetime wellness program to provide on-site dental health, physical examinations, and vision and hearing screenings
• Coach and volunteer training
• Screening and intervention services for children as young as 3 years old
• Will be the first of its kind in the United States
Special Olympics Missouri headquarters, currently on Diamond Ridge in Jefferson City, would move to the campus.