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This
is the second in an ongoing effort to inform parents and parishioners
of the exciting steps being taken as St. Joseph School and St. Joseph and
Mary, Queen of Peace parishes seek a down payment for purchase of the
Snoqualmie campus on or before December 31, 2004.
This is an incredible opportunity and the Focus On Our Future
Committee wishes to thank those who have already generously stepped forward
to support this effort.
The
Major Gift Effort – How Are We Doing?
Our
parishes and school are blessed by the generosity of its community from St.
Joseph and Mary, Queen of Peace. We held three receptions in June and have
contacted many donors individually for support of this important project.
While
we are off to a great start, there is still much work left to achieving our
goals. Our parishes need your
help to secure the future of our school in the coming years. As members of
our parish and school communities, it is up to all of us to support this
major gift effort for the current children and generations to come.
The Master Site Plan –
Where Are We Now?
As
of this publication, the parish has submitted for Conditional Use Permits
(CUP) with the City of Snoqualmie to renovate and add on to the existing
Snoqualmie School facility. We are hoping to receive our CUP in the early
fall and then submit for building permits before the end of 2004. Building
permits are critical to this project because of the impending changes to
wetland regulations in King County. It is our goal to grandfather our
project under the current wetland regulations and we are working hard with
the City of Snoqualmie to ensure this happens.
The
parish and school have also been working with our architects to finalize the
layout of the new expansion of the Snoqualmie campus. One of the newest
change include small locker rooms added to the end of the gymnasium.
Frequently
Asked Questions
1.
My family did not participate in a Focus On Our Future reception in
June. Will there be other receptions offered in the Fall?
Currently, there are no receptions planned for this Fall.
Early this Fall all school families who have not yet had the
opportunity to make a pledge to this Snoqualmie purchase and expansion
project will be contacted by the Focus On Our Future Committee. The
success of this project depends on 100% of our school families
enthusiastically participating with pledges of support to this project and
the additional support of parishioners from St. Joseph and Mary, Queen of
Peace who believe in the mission of Catholic education. Families may
participate at any time by filling out a pledge sheet available at the
parish offices or school office or by calling Jennifer Ballsmith at (425)
396-4251.
2.
Which is the most important goal: having $300,000 in cash by December 31,
2004 or achieving the larger major gift effort goal of $800,000?
Our parishes need
to achieve both goals to be successful. The first is to have $300,000 in
cash by December 31, 2004, so that we can purchase the Snoqualmie Campus.
The Whitaker family has been very generous in offering to carry the loan
balance ($1.2M) for five years thus giving us the ability to fundraise now
to renovate the campus to meet the needs of the school and parishes instead
of for a larger down payment on the facility as would have been required by
the Archdiocese. Achieving the second overall goal of $800,000 means that we
can start the renovation process. Our growing school and parish communities
will outgrow the existing facility by 2006. The addition of classroom space,
meeting space and improved gymnasium facilities will allow us to meet the
needs of our community for years to come.
3.
What happens if we do not have $300,000 by December 31, 2004?
Unfortunately, without $300,000 in cash by December 31, 2004, St. Joseph
will not be able to take advantage of the favorable financing and purchasing
terms offered to us by the Whitaker family. While St. Joseph would still
have the ability to purchase the property in 2005, we would then have to
secure a loan via the Archdiocese in which case they require 60% of the
purchase price down. For the Snoqualmie Campus, that means that on a
purchase price of $1.5M, the Focus On Our Future Committee would need
to raise $900,000 today just for the down payment to purchase the property. The fundraising
for renovation phase would then be in addition to the initial $900,000.
Please
prayerfully consider your involvement now in this project and our major
gift effort. It is through God that we have been given so much. It is our
hope, that upon reflection, your generosity will mirror God’s goodness
to us all.
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