SCV Senior Center New Building Campaign’s Public Launch Begins – Can you Help?

Late last month, numerous local and regional dignitaries, as well as key members of Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging’s (SCVCOA) board of directors, over a dozen SCV seniors, campaign donors and public supporters gathered at the future location of the new Santa Clarita Senior Center for the public launch of the building’s capital campaign to raise the final $2.3 million.
The event was held on the 2.5-acre newly-developed site located on Golden Valley Road in Santa Clarita. The site will be home to a brand-new 30,000-square-foot two-story Senior Center.
SCVCOA Board Member Dr. Christopher Avelino explained how the new SCV Senior Center will be an essential component of a healthy community. “I have been told by local seniors that our Center saved their lives, that having a place to go makes life worth living,” shared the doctor. “Our current Senior Center serves more than 10,000 local seniors annually, but there are only five bathroom stalls and two classrooms…we have a pressing need to grow.”
Kevin MacDonald, executive director of the SCV Senior Center, agrees. MacDonald shared that surveys, focus groups and meetings were held to confirm the need for the new Center. “We are planning for the next three decades,” said MacDonald. “We’re creating a place where everyone will want to go. We’re not just building a Center – we’re building a future.”
City of Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth concurred, explaining how the Center’s programming and space plans will promote intergenerational connections, “The Center will keep grandparents here; it will be a very real draw and help keep our City together.”
The City of Santa Clarita is a major donor to the New Building Campaign, with a commitment of $3 million; the County of Los Angeles also committed $3 million. The project has been in the works for about half a decade, said Campaign Co-chairs Todd Stevens and Peggy Rasmussen, before revealing that $1.425 million in private funds has been pledged to the Campaign or counted as cash received. “We have $2.3 million to go out of the total cost of $11.4 million; it’s a very doable number,” said Rasmussen.
Donations can be made online at www.NewSeniorCenter.com; mailing a check payable to SCVCOA-Building Fund (Memo: Capital Campaign) to 22900 Market Street, Santa Clarita, CA 91321; calling in a credit card donation to the SCV Senior Center 661-259-9444 or working with Executive Director MacDonald to arrange gifts of stock, securities and more 661-259-9444, extension 123. Building naming opportunities, commemorative plaques and more are available and donations are tax deductible.