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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 20, 2005 The back portion of a former Medford bowling alley will one day be the site of basketball courts and a kitchen for Kids Unlimited, which provides recreation and social services for area youth. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Donations give Kids Unlimited a boost Funds will help construct a kitchen, basketball court and other amenities in Medford building By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A local children’s organization could soon have a new basketball court and full-service kitchen thanks to recent donations totaling $300,000. Sherm and Wanda Olsrud, owners of four supermarkets in Southern Oregon including Food for Less, led the way with a contribution of $250,000 to Kids Unlimited. In addition, Lithia Motors Corporation has agreed to give $25,000, plus $5,000 a year for the next five years that can be used for operating expenses. "We’re really hoping to use it as a momentum builder," said Tom Cole, executive director of the organization. The Kids Unlimited project would literally raise the roof on the back portion of its building at 821 North Riverside Ave. The site was formerly a bowling alley. Advertisement Cole said it would cost roughly $1 million to convert part of the facility into basketball courts and kitchen area that would offer daily meals to local children. That would bring the total cost of converting the building to about $2 million. Kids Unlimited serves about 1,000 children each week both at the facility and in after-school programs. Cole said he would have a better idea of the cost when he receives a bid for the project in the coming weeks. "We’re hoping we can get started with the permit process as early as October," he said. A year of work has already gone into converting the front half of the 32,000 square foot building into a dance floor, computer area, dance studio, offices and bathrooms. In-kind contributions of more than $600,000 have made up the bulk of the $1 million for that portion of the remodeling effort. With the recent donations, grants and other contributions, Cole said, the organization has about $320,000 in hand. He hopes to raise $500,000 in cash and to match that in in-kind contributions to finish the back half of the building. Cole said he still has stacks of plywood and other materials that can be used in converting the building and he hopes to receive more in-kind contributions. Besides the basketball courts and kitchen, the building will feature a homeless-and-runaway service center, laundry facility and counseling rooms for housing and employment services. "It will offer something under one roof that Medford has never had," said Cole. The facility is rented out so it can be used for everything from Tai Chi classes for seniors to wedding receptions, he said. The money raised helps offset operating costs. Wanda Olsrud said she and her husband toured the Kids Unlimited facility and realized how much the organization is helping children in Jackson County. "They just do such a good job with kids," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Donations give Kids Unlimited a boost ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Salvia Divinorum Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s