After raising $8.1 million,
Hill House Association has launched the public phase of its $12.5 million capital and endowment campaign.
Funds raised will provide $7.5 million in capital to improve Hill House facilities, and $5 million to initiate a programming and scholarship endowment and position the agency to foster neighborhood-based social venture activities.
A signature effort of Hill House’s campaign is a major $3 million renovation of its 80-year-old Kaufmann Center. Plans calls for expanding and upgrading the historic center’s auditorium, which will be named to honor Elsie Hillman—an original Hill House founder. Slated for completion in 2010, the 550-seat state-of-the-art Elsie H. Hillman Auditorium will feature a new conference center, full-service kitchen, and outdoor amphitheater that will showcase top-name national artists, performers and speakers, and host corporate meetings and special events.
“This community is on the cutting-edge of being revitalized—you can see a groundswell of
new investment and a real energy about a future vision. This momentum will have a lasting impact,” says Evan Frazier, with Hill House, who cites the
YMCA,
library and
Kuhn's grocery store as transformative projects. “The campaign will continue until we've achieved our goal. I'd like to think that by this time next year, we'll be celebrating."
Designed by
Renaissance 3 Architects, the project also calls for creating a more welcoming entrance and preserving the building’s historic façade. “Part of our vision is to provide safe, accessible and inviting facilities,” adds Frazier, who expects construction to begin during the first half of 2009. “We’re looking at efficiencies and greening elements so that it’s functional for the community and the region.”
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Jennifer BaronSource: Evan Frazier, president/CEO, Hill House Association
Image courtesy Hill House Association