The Urbana Parks Foundation (UPF) hosted their annual dinner this past Thursday, March 14th at the Urbana Country Club. Over 80 people attended the 11th annual event. The UPF was established to help meet the growing need for supplemental support by raising funds for Urbana Park District activities. The dinner recognized donors who have helped to make a significant impact on Urbana Parks. Individual donors and corporate and business donor names were noted on placards placed around the dining room and gifted a vase engraved with the UPF logo. Attendees also took home UPF branded camp mugs filled with tea or coffee from local favorite Columbia Street Roastery.
The event kicked off with cocktails and conversation, followed by opening remarks by UPF President Fred Delcomyn. After a lovely dinner and dessert prepared by the Urbana Country Club, UPF Vice President Steve Rugg joined Delcomyn to present information about the Foundation’s Campaign for the Next Century.
The campaign seeks to build on more than a century of generosity from individuals, businesses, and civic organizations by supporting a variety of Urbana Park District (UPD) parks, programs, and activities. The Campaign for the Next Century targets three specific areas of emphasis which include the following:
- Broadening the financial base of support for UPD through the creation of the Urbana Parks Endowment. The endowment will generate a steady and reliable stream of income for UPD for years to come.
- Revitalizing Crystal Lake Park. Critical improvements have already begun but work remains in an $8 million dollar multi-year complete park makeover.
- Expanding funding for Youth Scholarships, so that all young people can benefit from UPD programs and facilities regardless of family income. Scholarships will help families with financial needs cover fees for summer camps, swim lessons, dance classes, and other enriching activities.
UPF chose these three targeted areas of support as they align with UPF’s mission to strengthen the local park system and enhance the health and vibrancy of the community. Delcomyn and Rugg showed a video to help illustrate each of the campaign pillars. You can view the videos on the campaigns webpage here.
Delcomyn announced that the campaign has reached $1.4 million of the $2 million goal. The campaign is being tracked on a “treemometer” which is updated regularly on the campaign webpage. To learn more about the campaign, and to make a donation, please click here.
You can access photos from the 2019 annual dinner on the UPF Facebook Page here.
The next UPF event is Barn Bash featuring the Boat Drunks, a popular band known for their “tangy tropical rock and roll” music. The event, which benefits UPF, will take place on Friday, May 17th at Hudson Farm in Urbana. In addition to a great musical act, the event will feature a cash bar and foods trucks to include Dragon Fire Pizza, Maize, and C&C Kitchen. To learn more about the event, and to purchase tickets, please click here.