The Salvation Army Will Invest $44 million in Center Endowment to Build Third California Kroc Center in Suisun City

The Salvation Army Will Invest $44 million in Center
Endowment to Build Third California Kroc Center in Suisun City

SUISUN CITY - The Salvation Army Corps Community Center planned for Suisun City will become only the third Kroc Center in California thanks to a $44 million endowment from the organization's corporate headquarters in Long Beach.

Work on the community center remodeling already approved by the City Council and Planning Commission will proceed as planned, with an opening date expected in Fall 2011. However, planning for the chapel/theater future expansion can begin immediately.

Here is The Salvation Army's announcement:

The Salvation Army is pleased to announce its commitment to construct a $22 million Joan Kroc Community Center in Suisun City, CA. The money for the improvements to a facility already purchased in the city was given by the organization’s corporate headquarters in Long Beach, CA through a bequest left to The Salvation Army by Joan Kroc, wife of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s corporation. When Joan Kroc died in 2003, she left The Salvation Army the largest charitable gift in history to the tune of $1.8 billion. Of that money, $450 million was allotted for the Western Territory of the United States. This community center in Suisun City will be the seventh in the Western United States. >> More about Kroc Centers >>

"The city of Suisun admires the leadership of The Salvation Army in pushing such a creative project forward in our community. This is an unprecedented program in our city and we are honored to house such a dynamic community center,” said Suisun City Mayor Pete Sanchez. “The city of Suisun pledges to support and help this profitable adventure in any way we can. The facility being built by The Salvation Army will improve our city in remarkable ways."

In whole, this community center is a $44 million commitment. $22 million is the budget for construction with a matching $22 million for endowment. The $22 million endowment will offset some of the operational costs of the facility.

"The Del Oro Division of The Salvation Army is humbled and excited to be rewarded this grant of such generous proportions. It is our goal to fully execute, with great care and certainty, a state of the art community center mirroring the vision of Joan Kroc,” said Major Douglas F. Riley, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army. “This center will be a great asset to the Solano County community and will work to enrich the lives of men, women and children throughout the area. We are blessed to have been rewarded such a wonderful opportunity."

This $22 million facility will include a lap pool, therapy pool and whirlpool, a high school regulation size basketball court, a full fitness facility, including dance studios and workout rooms. The center will also house a café, rock climbing wall, full commercial kitchen with large reception hall, a traditional Salvation Army chapel for worship and a theater for performing arts. The center will also boast several public outreach programs including after school activities for children with opportunities in the arts, including theater and music instruction, an offering that is very limited in most schools in the area.

"This community center in Suisun City will be a center for recreation, education and the arts," Riley said. "It is our hope that through scholarships funded by donations from the public, that every child, no matter their monetary situation, will have an opportunity to participate in this life enrichment center."

Announcement in pdf

Learn more about The Salvation Army Suisun City Corps Community Center.