In 1923, a challenge was sent to the people of Moorestown that if they raised enough money to operate a community center for the town, an anonymous donor, later revealed to be Eldridge Johnson, would donate $250,000 to build the center. The residents came together and raised just more than $106,000 to operate the center, now known as the Moorestown Community House.
Since its conception, the Community House has continued to serve the original purpose it was built upon, as its mission to serve the community has not changed. The original operating budget, which has since been called the permanent maintenance fund, grew until recently when, due to the changing trends in society, and the recession in 2007, it dwindled. The 1920s building is now also in need of a restoration.
Once again, the Moorestown Community House is asking the people of Moorestown to take another challenge. In its Restoration Campaign, the Moorestown Community House is asking individuals, clubs and businesses to help keep the Community House as a community center for generations to come. To do this, the campaign is asking for $2 million. Those who wish to help can do so in one of three ways: they can make a contribution or a pledge of any monetary size as a business or individual; they can take the Eldridge Johnson 10-in-5 challenge; or they can have an event at the Community House.
“I believe the Community House is a community treasure. We, the Moorestown residents, are the current stewards of the Community House, and we have a responsibility to restore it so our children and grandchildren can enjoy it as we have,” said Randy Abidin, business leaders contact of the Restoration Campaign.
“Now, we need to raise funds to restore building. Our operating revenue will be able to sustain us in the future, we just need the townspeople and the business leaders to come together to donate that money in the same way Eldridge Johnson did and the townspeople did in the 1920s. By donating money and restoring the Community House, hopefully we’ll be able to help more non-profits and more people,” said Brad Kenney, executive director at the Moorestown Community House.
What many people don’t know about the Community House is it is a private, non-profit. That means no township, state or federal funding goes into the Community House. It is completely funded by the usage of the venue, which makes up about 80 percent of its income, and from donations, which make up 20 percent.
“Moorestown is extremely unique in that no other town in New Jersey has a place like the Community House, a private, nonprofit,” Kenney said.
Due to the change in trends and society, as well as other venue options being available, the Community House has seen a decline in revenue. To help offset that, the Community House renovated the gymnasium into a ballroom to create an entirely new revenue stream. The ballroom can be used for weddings, birthday parties, wine tastings, galas, meetings and more. It has seen much success since, and for 2013, the Community House was named Best of Weddings by “The Knot.”
“At the same time as it gave us an opportunity for more revenue, it also gave us an opportunity to serve nonprofits even more, which is our mission. So that is a huge positive thing,” Kenney said.
The ballroom change has increased revenue to help create a more balanced budget. However, there is still much to be done. The Community House needs work on its roof, heating and air-conditioning, parking lot and renovation of the rooms for this generation, just to name a few.
The Restoration Campaign is asking for $2 million and is already 33 percent there. It is asking $1 million for the restorations, $675,000 to satisfy the mortgage created from the ballroom and $325,000 to add to the existing permanent maintenance fund, which will restore this fund to its original level with inflation adjusted.
The Moorestown Community House has just started its outreach to businesses with the Business Leader Breakfast/Lunch. Businesses are invited to come to the lunch to learn more about the Restoration Campaign as well as the Community House’s Eldridge Johnson 10-in-5 Challenge. This challenge is asking businesses, or individuals, to pledge $10,000 to be paid over five years. The campaign is looking for 100 pledges, which is only 5 percent of the 1,800 businesses in Moorestown alone. The next one is Tuesday, April 28.
However, not just businesses, anybody can help the Community House in its Restoration Campaign. If they can’t do the 10-in-5 Challenge, they are encouraged to make a contribution of any size as well as something people might not often think about — hosting an event at the Community House. Hosting an event helps raise funds for the Community House as well.
The hope is to finish the last push of this campaign by mid-2016, but Kenney said he would love to be done by the end of 2015.
For more information on the Restoration Campaign, visit www.ourcommunityhouse.com. Through the website, people can also donate. To donate in person, take a tour of the Community House or speak to Kenney. His email is brad@thecommunityhouse.com. Businesses interested in getting involved in the campaign are encouraged to contact Abidin at randy@abidin.com.
