08 Nov
by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – An internal slogan often has been repeated at Promise Community Health Center: “Just walk through the front door.”
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – An internal slogan often has been repeated at Promise Community Health Center: “Just walk through the front door.”
The yellow, steel exterior of its downtown Sioux Center building might not be inviting, but people always are amazed by the warm and welcoming facilities and comprehensive range of top-notch services offered to patients inside.
Now, Promise yearns for a building that patients can take pride in as they walk in – with an exterior that matches what they experience inside.
To accomplish that goal, Promise has launched a $250,000 capital campaign for an exterior renovation project. Fifty percent of the funds have been committed. Promise now needs the help of the community to donate the remaining funds – or $125,000 – to make this project a reality.
“This campaign will allow Promise to improve the structural integrity of the building and improve the integrity and aesthetics of the deteriorating yellow, steel exterior,” said Amy Kleinhesselink, chief financial officer for Promise, noting that the exterior hasn’t changed much since the building was constructed as bowling alley nearly 40 years ago. “Renovation will present a clearer reflection of the high-quality services we provide – more inviting for patients and more befitting of the progressive community that Sioux Center is.”
Promise has been located in Sioux Center’s former bowling alley building at 338 1st Ave. NW since opening in July 2008. Since then, it has continued to expand in services and facilities to best serve the needs of patients. A new dental wing opened in January 2011. The most recent expansion, a 3,000-square-foot project, relieved cramped conditions and increased Promise’s space by about 60 percent with a new prenatal wing, community education room, therapy room, a break room and various offices in 2015. The front reception area also saw extensive reconfiguring and remodeling to make it more patient-friendly.
In December 2015, Promise officially purchased the building that it had leased throughout its history. With the purchase, Promise now desires to enhance the integrity and aesthetics of the building to preserve it for future generations.
Here are the highlights of the project:
- All four sides of the building will be renovated, including the north wall where Los Palmas Mexican Grocery Store is located. The bottom third of the exterior walls will be brick, and the top two-thirds will have an EIFS finish.
- Promise’s awnings on the west and east sides will be replaced with a modern lighted feature. Los Palmas’ awning will be repaired and cleaned.
- A new front doorway and new floor-to-ceiling windows will be installed on the west side to bring in additional daylight to Promise’s reception area.
- Artificial tree architecture, illuminated by lights, will grace the west, south and east sides of the building to create a modern and inviting look.
- Sidewalks will be reconstructed to enhance safety.
Kleinhesselink said the project will allow Promise’s staff of highly committed and competent professionals to continue to advance Promise’s mission of reaching out to underserved people in the community well into the future.
“Promise exists to help people – people who are underinsured, don’t have insurance, don’t have financial means, or have other barriers such as language and transportation. We provide for them high-quality health care that they may not get otherwise,” she said. “With the community’s support, we can ensure Promise remains sustainable to continue to make an impact on the lives of countless people in the region.”
Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center is the only Federally Qualified Health Center serving the far northwest corner of Iowa. Promise provides medical, prenatal, dental, vision and behavioral health services. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org and watch this video. To read more Promise news, visit promisechcnews.blogspot.com.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Promise Community Health Center needs donations of all levels – both large and small – to make its exterior renovation project a reality.
Promise will recognize donors who support the capital campaign at varying giving levels.
For donors who give $10,000 or more, their names – or that of a memorial – will be etched on nameplates on illuminated exterior trees.
A Wall of Honor, created in the form of a tree, will recognize donors in Promise’s front reception area. Stones at the bottom of the tree will be engraved with donor names to represent these giving levels: $7,500-$9,999 and $5,000-$7,499. The tree will have colored leaves, etched with donor names, to signify these giving levels: gold – $2,500-$4,999; silver – $1,000-$2,499; and bronze – $500-$999.
Donations to Promise qualify as tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
Please send donations to:
Promise Community Health Center
Promise Community Health Center
Attn: Capital Campaign 2016
338 1st Ave. NW
Sioux Center, IA 51250
TO LEARN MORE:
For more information, read Promise Community Health Center’s Capital Campaign 2016-17 brochure. You can find a capital campaign donor card here.