Emporia, Kans. — The Corner House is $400,000 closer to building a new treatment center on Market Street.
The non-profit agency, which treats people with drug and alcohol addictions, has received challenge grants from the W.S. & E.C. Jones Trust of Emporia and the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla. The agency will get that money if it can raise another $400,000 in gifts and pledges by June.
In a news release, Basil Kessler, a member of the Corner House Board and the campaign leadership committee, said the campaign goal has been set at $1.4 million.
The committee “has set a goal of securing the final $400,000 in gifts and pledges by Dec. 31 of this year,” he said. “We have a waiting list of people who need our services and our residential program cannot meet their needs unless we have the new facility.”
Corner House occupies two house in the 400 block of Market Street. In its 33 years, the agency has treated more than 3,500 people for drug or alcohol addiction.
Kessler said the houses are more than 80 years old.
“Architect and engineers indicated it would be a waste of money and time to renovate them,” he said. “We intend to tear down one of the houses and build a new facility at that location.”
Fund raising for the project began before the announcement of the grants.
Committee member Daryl Flager said, “The quiet phase of the campaign has benefited from more than 40 gifts and pledges from foundations, businesses and individuals.”
Kessler said national studies have shown that every dollar spent on the treatment of addiction saves society $7 in other costs.
According to the news release, donors will have up to four years to complete pledges made this year.