Senior Center Makes Fundraising Goal!

The L.E. Phillips Senior Center is celebrating after reaching its fundraising goal of $1.1 million toward a new senior fitness center addition.

“We are so excited to announce we have met the “Fit for the Future” fundraising goal to expand the Senior Center. So many people and organizations pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to our cause, and we are appreciative beyond words. Our mission is to challenge the mind, body, and spirit, and this new building will absolutely do that,” said Board President Jim Deignan.

The L.E. Phillips Senior Center raised the money through a campaign that started in the fall of 2019. The L.E. Phillips Family Foundation has offered to match $1.1 million dollars if the Senior Center could raise that amount or more by February 14, 2020. Two large, last-minute donations made the difference in the last 48 hours of the first phase of the campaign. Donations from the Presto Foundation and Grewe Family Fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation came in the nick of time.

The L.E. Phillips Senior Center launched the campaign in October 2019 to design and build the 14,000 sq. ft. addition. The new addition will be attached to the existing center and will provide for a huge new space for an upgraded fitness center and meeting space. As a result of the expansion, the existing lower level of the center will be renovated into community rooms.

“We are so excited about this expansion. For years our members have been asking for more space and more opportunities for fitness and socialization. This will allow us to help more people at a time when we’re seeing more seniors than ever before,” L.E. Phillips Senior Center Executive Director Mary Pica-Anderson said.

For more information about the project and to continue donating as the campaign continues to raise the total amount needed, visit the Fit for the Future Fund page of this website.