Dateline: October 11, 2007

Foundation grants $100k for activity center 

The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to help build a new activity center in Donley County, according to an announcement Monday.

The money has bolstered efforts by the Friends of Donley County to construct a 17,400 square foot center to not only house the annual junior livestock show but also provide a place for meetings, family reunions, and events of all kinds.

County Extension Agent Leonard Haynes said the Friends appreciate the grant and are working to bring in more money to fund the center, which is estimated to cost $688,000.

“We’re continuing to seek more grants from private foundations and hope to get as much money as possible that way,” Haynes said. “We also need to get as much local money as we can, and then we’ll apply for a 40-year USDA low-interest loan/grant to make up the difference.”

The multipurpose building will have a small meeting area for 40 to 50 people and a larger area for 400 to 500 people, Haynes said. The biggest area will be 9,000 square feet.

The building, which will be located on the old Thunder Junction property one mile north of Clarendon on Hwy. 70, will also include restrooms, a concession area, and office space for the County Extension service.

With the foundation’s grant and the $41,000 the Friends already have on hand, Haynes says the group is moving forward this week to the next stage of the project.

“We’re meeting tonight (Tuesday) to finalize what we want in the building and make any last minute changes,” he said. “Then we’re going to have an architect prepare a drawing.”

Haynes said the group has to have a contractor’s signature within a year or risk losing the Harrington money. They hope to begin construction by July 2008.

The Friends of Donley County is an arm of the Donley County Junior Livestock Association and donations are tax deductible, Haynes said. To contribute to this project or to get more information, call Haynes at 874-2141, Larry Gray at 874-2095, or Lon Adams at 856-5363. By mail, contact Gray at PO Box 661, Clarendon, TX 79226.

In total for its fall cycle, the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation Board approved awards of $1,260,850 to a total of 16 different Panhandle organizations and charities.