Beacon opens ‘center’ of new building
By ED FRANKS
While furniture was being delivered to the Beacon of HOPE Tuesday morning, director Betsy Haesemeyer announced the “grand opening” of the middle section of the building.
“I am very happy to announce the new ‘Center of Excellence,’ in the middle of our new building, is finally open,” Haesemeyer said. “Today we are having furniture delivered and hopefully next Tuesday we will hold our first GED class here.”
The Beacon of HOPE took possession of the building in November 2014 and relocated there in January 2015.
“Although we didn’t have enough money to do all of the renovations to complete the building last year, our initial goal was to get the thrift store open and then complete the office space on the opposite end of the building in April 2015,” Haesemeyer said. “That left about one third, the middle third, of the building unfinished. We then needed to raise the money to finish the center third.”
In June 2016 an anonymous donor stepped forward and offered the Beacon a total of $30,000 in matching funds.
“The agreement was that the donor remained anonymous and that the donations would be made in $10,000 increments,” Haesemeyer said.”This is the second Pine Island resident to offer a matching funds donation.”
As part of the agreement, the donor also recognized “in-kind” donations.
“Because the Beacon has a number of people who donate their time and labor, we were able to add that to the cash donations for matching funds,” Haesemeyer said. “This not only allowed us to finish up the space but allowed us to purchase the tables, chairs and some of the high-tech teaching aids that can really make a difference to our students.”
Once completed, the Center of Excellence will include Chrome Books, computers and Smart Boards.
“These Smart Boards are interactive and use touch detection for user input. It’s very high-tech and a valuable tool for instructors,” Haesemeyer said.
“In the coming weeks we will have our parenting classes here as well as our quit smoking classes and chronic pain classes ,” Haesemeyer said. “We are also offering these rooms to any community organization that needs the space. We can fit 20 25 people in the main room.”
The Beacon of HOPE is at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle in St. James City. For more information, call 239-283-5123 or visit beaconofhopepineisland.com/