The Thursday Morning Club, a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs and owner/operator of the Madison Community House has initiated a Capital Campaign to fund a renovation of its 83-year old Madison Community House. The project will cost $2 million.

For over a century the Thursday Morning Club (TMC) has been improving the lives of our citizens by delivering a broad array of services and programs to the people of Madison and the surrounding area. The hub of the TMC's outreach is the Madison Community House (MCH)a true community center through which the TMC and other non-profits deliver programs and services to meet the changing needs of our community family, especially groups that are often underserved. With limited resources - one part-time Executive Director, one full-time Office Administrator, and 19 part-time staff for the nursery school and BASCC Program, and by harnessing the power of volunteerism, the TMC/MCH has truly shaped the character and face of the community.

The MCH is no ordinary community center. Originally built as a "Settlement House" in 1924 by the TMC, it offered educational and recreational services to a burgeoning immigrant population. Later, the name was changed to the "Madison Community House" to reflect the extraordinary range of programs and services it offered to all residents of Madison and surrounding areas.

Current programs include a state-licensed not-for-profit nursery school for children ages 2 1/2 to 4, before-and-after school child care (BASCC), after school activities, adult and senior programs, ESL classes and much more. In addition, the "House" serves as the collection, storage and distribution site and home for Dress for Success Morris County and its associated support workshops for its Professional Women's Group. The MCH also offers meeting facilities at no cost to other non-profit and civic organizations. Each year over 35 groups and 50,000 people from preschoolers to seniors- utilize the services and meeting spaces of the MCH.

In order for the TMC and MCH to continue to play this extraordinary role in the community, critical new construction and renovations of the Madison Community House are required. Structural damage to the roof and walls of the gym/auditorium were discovered in the summer of 2006. This coupled with the need to upgrade the nursery school facility, the commercial catering kitchen, and lavatories to comply with ADA and other federal and state-mandated regulations, prompted the TMC Board of Trustees to approve a construction plan, prepared in consultation with professional engineers and architects, to raze and rebuild the George Burroughs Gymnasium/Auditorium and Rose Wing portion of the MCH.

In the short time since the capital needs were identified, the TMC has taken decisive action to move forward with the capital project and associated fundraising. In early 2007 the Rosen Group Architectural Firm completed a feasibility building study and has been retained to complete the architectural plans. The TMC engaged J.R. Prisco, Inc. (General Construction and Engineering)as our contractor.

The Madison Planning Board at their September 4, 2007 meeting unanimously approved the preliminary and final site plans. The unprecedented speed of the Board's approval reflects the Borough's commitment to the TMC/MCH and its community programs. Construction began on June 9, 2008 and be completed in January/February 2009.

The firm of Ruotolo Associates completed a Planning Study for a capital campaign in June 2007. The Campaign Leadership includes business and community leaders in addition to TMC members and spouses and supporters. The campaign plan developed and approved by the TMC's Board of Directors is well underway. We had an official Community Campaign Kickoff Open House on Feb. 24, 2008. We are now reaching out to the entire community for support. The existing endowment will be maintained to support maintenance and to encourage planned gifts. The fundraising campaign started in July 2007 and will be completed by March 2010.

The project will cost $2 million. The TMC/MCH had already committed $500,000, raised through a significant bequest and prudent investment strategies. An additional $1.5 million needs to be raised. As of 7/08/08 the TMC/MCH has secured pledges/donations exceeding $1,200,000 from its members and supportive community residents. We need another $300,000 to reach our goal.

If you would like to be part of this exciting project, make your check payable to TMC Capital Improvement Campaign and mail to William M. Odell, CPA, 15 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ 07940. All donations are tax deductible and securities are accepted - call the Madison Community House at 973-377-0244 for information.

The Proposed Architectural Plan and early construction photos are shown below. For more information about the project, call Olga Soriano-973-377-1404 or Bernie Grohol-973-822-2427.