The unveiling of Vandalia’s “Forging Our Future” campaign sets in motion a fundraising campaign to complete a project consisting of three tiers that will include major facility upgrades that will provide benefits for Vandalia athletes and the Vandalia community. The committee behind the campaign has a goal of raising $4.75 million over the next 3 years to make major upgrades to the wrestling and weight room facilities; football field, bleachers and concession stand building and the tennis facilities. Vandalia Athletic Director Jason Clay presented the scope and details of the project during a special Vandalia School Board meeting on Thursday night and says this project is one that they see as something that will really show inclusivity of and benefit all of the district athletes in many ways.
Clay mentioned during his presentation that this major project comes after some upgrades already in the works as Vandalia High School will be receiving a new sound system recently approved by the school board as well as a new videoboard that will take the place of the current scoreboards which will then be recycled to the elementary school gymnasium. The campaign to improve the facilities has officially been kickstarted by a large donation made by a former Vandalia athlete and local businessman and his wife, a former Vandalia teacher, as Bob and Susan Culbertson made the first donation to the campaign in the amount of $100,000. And after the unveiling, when asked if he could have envisioned the opportunity for something like this project coming about for the school, Culbertson said this is something he couldn’t have imagined but is excited for what could come of the upgrades for Vandalia athletics.
With the campaign underway and now in full swing, a webpage is available to find out more information by visiting www.vandaliaone.com/forging-our-future. Artist renderings and updates are provided on the page as well as a link for donations to made. The “Forging Our Future” committee has also created a Facebook page to help keep the public updated on their progress and with any information on the project and campaign.
