United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley gives largest ever grant to rebuild Detroit community center
The burned remains of The Cedars Restaurant in Detroit on Saturday, Sept. 27. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
As Detroit rebuilds, it’s getting a hefty check from United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley to fund a significant portion of a new Community Center to replace its City Hall which was lost in the Beachie Creek and Lionshead Wildfires in September.
United Way is handing a $250,000 check to the Detroit Lake Foundation Friday at 2 p.m. at the former site of Cedars Restaurant at 200 Detroit Ave. The event will be broadcast live on United Way’s Facebook page.
“Our commitment to being a strong community partner in the effort to restore the vitality of the Canyon communities, remains to be one of our top priorities. We are proud to give this support to the Detroit community, in the largest single grant award we’ve ever done.” said Rhonda Wolf, CEO of United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, in a prepared statement.
The new community center will be built at the former site of Detroit High School where a gym is still standing. The Santiam Rebuild Coalition will help develop the new center with plans to include the existing structure at 345 Santiam Ave., according to a news release.
In a news release, United Way said it has given $150,000 to the Santiam Canyon Watershed Council, $25,000 to the Santiam School district and more than $100,000 to support basic needs for wildfire survivors.
Chris Tardiff, president of the Detroit Lake Foundation, said the foundation was grateful for United Way’s investment and for those who contributed to the Santiam Wildfire Recovery fund.
“This gift is part of a transformational effort to rebuild our beloved city that will be loved by generations to come,” Tardiff said in a prepared statement.
-Saphara Harrell
