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Community Foundation Celebrates 10 Years of Service to Wamego with June 27 Dedication of River Access Ramp, After Hours Event - June 19, 2008
(June 19, 2008) Wamego, KS — On Friday, June 27, the Wamego Community Foundation will celebrate 10 years of charitable service to the Wamego area in conjunction with the dedication of the new river access ramp at Wamego Riverfront Park. The Foundation and the Wamego Chamber of Commerce/Mainstreet will host a joint After Hours gathering at the Bittman Building, 514 Lincoln Avenue, immediately following the ceremony.
“We are encouraging people to assemble at the Bittman Building at 5:15 p.m. on Friday,” said Amy Okeson, Chamber president. “We will walk en masse to the river access ramp because we want everyone to see that it’s not that far from downtown Wamego to the new Riverfront Park, which is located on the west side of the Kansas River Bridge south of Wamego. The ribbon cutting and dedication will take place at 5:30 p.m.
“A great deal of thanks and recognition goes to Dave Karnowski, chair of our design committee,” Okeson continued. “He absolutely was the driving force behind the entire project from start to finish.”
“The project took seven years from conception to completion,” said Bob Cole, executive director of Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC). “It is another wonderful example of how the community came together in support of a project that will benefit our citizens and visitors to Wamego.”
The After Hours event will incorporate a “Taste of Wamego” theme, including appetizers, beverages, and door prizes courtesy of area restaurants and businesses. The event is open to Chamber members, Foundation supporters, and anyone interested in learning more about both organizations; however, in order to ensure there’s plenty of food and beverages available, please RSVP to René Eichem, executive director of the Foundation, at 456-8444 or wcf@wamego.net.
“Nick Novelly has graciously allowed us the use of the Bittman Building for the event, for which we are extremely grateful because we anticipate a large turnout,” noted Doug Springer, Foundation president. “The Foundation and Chamber offices, located at 529 Lincoln Avenue, are open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. if folks ever want to stop by for a quick tour and to meet the staff.”
The Foundation was established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. It created an efficient mechanism through which individuals, families, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and private foundations have been able to create funds and make gifts to benefit the Wamego community. Since its inception, the Foundation has received approximately $1.2 million in gifts and donations and has distributed back more than $500,000 to the community, including the new river access ramp, scholarships, the Wam-Sag-Man recreation trail, and the Friends of the Park, just to name a few.
Timeline of River Landing Project
2001 – The Wamego Chamber of Commerce/Mainstreet hosted a visioning session to define future goals for tourism and recreation in Wamego and the surrounding area. The “River Landing Project” was born.
2002 – The project was adopted into the Chamber’s strategic plan.
2003 – Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation adopted the project into its strategic plan.
2005 – PCEDC included the project in their tourism plan.
2005 – A fund was established with the Wamego Community Foundation to raise money for the project.
2008 – Dedication of river access ramp.
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For more information, please contact:
René Eichem, executive director
Wamego Community Foundation
529 Lincoln Ave. | P.O. Box 25
Wamego, KS 66547
P: 785-456-8444 | F: 785-456-8443
| Wamego Community Foundation • PO Box 25 • Wamego KS 66547 • P: 785-456-8444 • F: 785-456-8443 • E-mail |