New Rush County community center gets name
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A nearly 70,000-square-foot community center currently under construction in Rush County now has a name. The $20 million facility, which is being developed at a former Walmart site, will be known as the Love Community Center presented by Jay and Christie (Kile) Love.
The name is in recognition of the couple, which made a seven-figure donation that serves as the lead gift of a capital campaign for the continued operation of the facility through the Rush County Community Foundation.
Jay Love, a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, said in a news release that he and his wife are thrilled to help ensure the center’s future financial footing.
“This project will address many of Rush County’s most pressing issues – food insecurity, convenient access to comprehensive social services, and health outcomes,” said Love. “It will improve the quality of life with many positive educational, social, and recreational opportunities.”
The gift is being facilitated through the Ebert H. and Bessie M. Schroeder Fund at the Rush County Community Foundation. The funding was created by Christie’s mother, Wilma Jo Kile, in the name of Christie’s maternal grandparents, with the specific intent of sustaining the community center for generations to come, the foundation said.
Work on the community center began last September. The 50,000-square-foot Walmart building is being redeveloped to bring a number of social services and recreational amenities under one roof, including the Rushville Public Library, the Rush County Senior Center, and the Rush County Community Assistance Food Pantry.
Crews are also building an addition to the site, which will house a gymnasium and indoor pool, bringing the total size of the center to about 68,500 square feet.
Construction is slated for completion by the end of the year. You can learn more about the project, including how to donate, by clicking here.