The Great Valley Community Organization helps build a strong, vibrant and connected community by providing facilities, activities and programs enriching the lives of all local residents. |
|
September 2021 GVCO Newsletter |
|
GVCO Complex: field space, stoned parking lot and completed building pad to the left. |
|
Hopefully you have all been following along with the fabulous progress we are making over on Bacton Hill Rd. with our new GVCO Community Center complex. After years of "fits and starts" due to things like public vs onsite sewer approvals, county regulatory hurdles, the pandemic and most recently supply chain issues, the project is finally off the ground and moving forward! GVCO will continue to update the community on the progress through Project Update Constant Contact messaging which are also archived on our website for all to see.
Eight years ago, we embarked on this undertaking through a feasibility study, engaging the GVSD and ultimately purchasing a 7+ acre lot from GVSD. Our goal was to try and duplicate what is a mainstay in most of the established communities in our area. A Community Center for the entire Great Valley Community to use and enjoy. Our neighbors in West Chester and Phoenixville have had thriving community centers for decades. Places like Havertown and Aston have created wonderful space for their communities to utilize in many different ways, servicing young and old in their respective communities. GVCO has always asked the question, "Why not us?"
Five years ago we called on the community to contribute to make this dream for our community happen. Through our GVBC capital campaign, over 320 families have donated to the campaign.
What you see in the picture above has been paid for with the cash GVCO has raised over the years:
We purchased the ground for roughly $1 million and it has appreciated by more than 20%;
All of the exhaustive and time consuming governmental and regulatory approvals are completed and paid for;
All of the initial phase of site work and the majority of the architectural plan are done without incurring any debt.
All completed because of the generosity of those listed on our Donor List.
|
|
|
We will be restarting our GVBC capital campaign after putting it on hold in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic. To complete the entire multi-million dollar project, we need to continue to fund raise. We have engaged Meridian Bank and will be using them to help finance the project.
For those who have yet to give we are asking that you consider a contribution. Whether it is $100, $1000 or $10,000, everything helps. One very effective way to give is through a matching gift from your workplace. Most employers have a matching gift program.
As we reach our fiscal year end (9/30), we will message a complete outline of where the monies we raised have been allocated. In addition we will share with you the total cost of the initial phase of the project. We have enlisted the expertise of numerous local partners who have an inordinate amount of experience in a commercial project like our community center project. We are in great, knowledgeable hands.
Keith Walsh
GVCO Executive Director
|
|
The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
-Mitch Albom
|
|
GVCO Community Programming |
|
Charlestown Day 2021
September 25th
42 GVCO volunteers supported Charlestown Day!
|
|
|
In October, we will be hosting our 3rd annual donation drive to benefit Cradles2Crayons. And in November, we will be helping the Home of the Sparrow with their Winter White Out event.
|
|
Students in grades 7-12 are welcome to join Caring Hands in making a difference.
|
|
Winter Basketball
Players must be Great Valley School District residents.
Players of all abilities are welcome.
Early bird pricing ends 10/1!
|
Grades 1-8:
Each team will have 1 practice and 1 game each week
Teams are single gender
Games and practices will be held at courts within the GVSD boundaries
Skills assessments begin in mid-October
Practices and games begin the second week in November
Season ends in late February
Boys Grades 9-12:
Games will be held at courts within the GVSD boundaries
Teams will not have practices
Season begins Nov., 29 and run until the 1st week in March
No games from Dec. 23 - Jan. 2
Playoffs are single elimination
|
|
Fall Flag Football:
Season lasts 9/24 - 1st week of Nov.
1 hour practice on a weeknight
1 hour game on Saturday mornings
|
|
|
We keep the team rosters small and play 5 v 5 so all the kids get a chance to participate. Each player will have a chance to be QB and have the opportunity to be the running back who runs for a touchdown at every game!
|
|
Tackle Football
Another couple of big wins for our youth tackle program as the 3rd grade team shut out Phoenixville 27-0, while the 5th grade team beat a tough Spring Ford team 27-12. This coming weekend the 5th grade team is at Phoenixville and the 3rd grade team travels to Twin Valley.
|
|
Fall Cheer
· Fall Flag Cheer for grades K-1
· Fall Cheer for grades 2-6
Fall Cheer begins August 16th. Athletes will learn cheers and routines to be performed during Fall football games.
Cheer for Grades 2-6 will include Fall competitions and early Winter basketball games.
Flag Cheer (K-1st) will practice on Thursday nights from 6-7pm and GV cheer (2-6) will practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-7:30pm. For more information, please contact cheer@gvco.org.
|
|
Fall Crew - Grades 8-12
Great Valley Crew will be rowing out of the John S. Trinsey Jr. Memorial Boathouse in Bridgeport. There is a Voluntary Parent-led carpool for those that want to participate.
PRACTICES are MONDAY-WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY 3:45-6:15PM and SATURDAYS at Trinsey from 10AM to 1PM. Practices begin the week of August 16th.
|
|
GVCO Community Partnership |
|
For many years, GVCO has enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Temple University's School of Sports Tourism and Hospitality Management. Recently GVCO has reached out to Immaculata's Office of Career and Professional Development to initiate a similar relationship. As a local community partner, Immaculata is a natural fit for GVCO as we continue to develop further programming here in the Great Valley Community. Immaculata has strength in areas like adult programs and Education - areas that GVCO plans to focus on with the onset of the new facility. As we move into the new school year, look for GVCO and Immaculata working together for the betterment of our local community.
|
|
Jody and George Powers
"Yes, count us all in!"
How lucky are we to have a new community center in our area?! GVCO has been a part of our lives since our children used to play hoops at GVBL over 15 years ago. The camaraderie and good spirits in that gym were refreshing and seeing the kids grow into a sport they liked made it so enjoyable.
|
|
In 2019, we were able to participate in and volunteer our time when GVCO introduced Pickleball. Over 200 players got involved and had a blast learning and playing the game and participating in other GVCO programming as well as the Caring Hands Foundation.
We cannot wait for the new center and the new pickleball courts! We are thrilled that the building will house many sports, programs, and activities that benefit the community. The new center is a true labor of love for the many parents and volunteers who have given so much of their time and effort to the project.
If you have not already done so, please help the cause and donate today so we can all benefit from all that GVCO has available. Let's make GVCO the place to go!
|
|
GVCO Sponsorship Spotlight |
|
is a full service engineering firm located in Downingtown with a staff that has been serving the Delaware Valley for over 25 years.
|
JMR Engineering is a professional civil engineering, land planning, and CADD drafting services consulting firm for the private land development and municipal industry. They utilize the latest technology to offer a wide range of services to our clients including land development design for residential, commercial, industrial, retail, mixed use development and redevelopment projects.
The company was founded in 2010 by President John (Jack) Robinson, P.E., M.B.A. His engineering education from the University of Delaware and his business education from West Chester University helped produce a unique mix of experience with a mindset toward efficient design. Jack has been working in the engineering industry in the southeastern PA region for 25 years and has developed a team of professionals able to handle today’s challenging engineering projects. Along the way, JMR has developed strong relationships within the community and a reputation for trustworthy reliable service.
|
|
New GVCO Community Center |
|
|
|
We are on our way...
to a world-class community resource that delivers a broad range of sports, educational, arts, recreational and senior programs that address key community needs.
The time is NOW.... Together we can make it happen!
We need your help to finish what we've started! We will not get the necessary financing to complete the project without raising additional funds.
|
Together we can we do this!
|
|
More Ways to Support GVCO |
|
|
|
Do You Match?
It's a great way to contribute and help complete the entire new GVCO Community Center project.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
