Pool Committee abandons fund-raising campaign
Money raised for repairing facility given to Boys & Girls Club, Evergreen Elementary School PTA
From our weekly issue dated June 11, 2008
The city of Cave Junction has yet to decide what to do with the decrepit community swimming pool. (Illinois Valley News photo)
In a surprise announcement on Monday morning, June 9, it was revealed that the Cave Junction Pool Committee is dissolving, and disbursing its funds to two Illinois Valley youth organizations.
The announcement was made by Shawn Carmody, representing the Pool Committee, during an assembly at Evergreen Elementary School. It means that efforts to repair the ailing swimming pool are being abandoned.
Carmody said that $18,088.80 raised for repairing the CJ Pool will be donated to the Illinois Valley Section of the Boys & Girls Club, and the Evergreen Elementary School PTA.
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In the surprise move, a check for $3,617.76 was presented to Scott Thornhill, director of the Boys & Girls Club program in the valley.
Scott Thornhill of the Boys & Girls Club accepts a check from Shawn Carmody. (Photo by Linda Corey-Woodward)
And a check for $14,471.04 was given to the Evergreen PTA, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, for a new playground. Principal David Valenzuela expressed joy and gratitude, commenting that the money will be combined with a recent grant of nearly $20,000 for completion of the school’s playground renovations and improvements.
The Pool Committee also will forward a $500 grant from the Juan Young Trust to the I.V. Boys & Girls Club. And donations to the committee in memory of Savannah Bassett will be given to the club to benefit the valley program with the approval of her mother, Deelia Warner, and the donors.
Carmody and Mary Reynolds reported that the Aflac health insurance “endowment” program of the I.V. Chamber of Commerce also will be added to the valley’s Boys & Girls Club funds.
Commissions received from the program will be turned over along with future commissions. The program was instituted by Reynolds, a representative of Aflac, who operates Jefferson State Financial Group.
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The influx of these unexpected donations to the valley’s Boys & Girls Club program comes in the nick of time, said Thornhill. The money will enable continuation of programs at Evergreen Elementary through this year, including after-school activities and afternoon meals.
Carmody remarked, “It was a sad, yet happy, day for me and the other members of the Pool Committee, as we all gave a valiant attempt at getting the pool fixed and were unable to do that for this community.”
She added that because the committee could not raise enough money to repair the pool, they decided to “pay it forward” to the community.
The pool, formerly owned by Josephine County, was given to the city of Cave Junction by the county a few years ago. In need of many repairs that will cost an estimated $170,00 to $230,000; it was closed last year.
