St. Benedict The Moor Church

BRYANT CENTER
2423 Grant Street
Omaha, NE 68110
(402) 348-0631

April 22, 2008

Enclosed is a proposal to reopen the Bryant Center at 24th & Grant Streets that will provide thirty-six (36) basketball games a week for twelve weeks in July and August with a cost of $60,000.00
This proposal addresses the problem of violence affecting a high portion of at-risk young adults and minority groups who have limited access to meaningful activities during the summer months.
All contributions are tax deductable; your financial support will be greatly appreciated.
Respectively,

View signed letter of Fr. Vavrina
Fr. Ken Vavrina
Pastor
St. Benedict Catholic Church

Enclosure: Mayor Mike Fahey letter of support
View Letter from Mayor Fahey

BRYANT CENTER
2008 SUMMER RECREATIONAL PROGRAM
PROPOSAL

Submitted By:
Bryant Center
2423 Grant Street
Omaha, NE 68110

TABLE F CONTENTS

1. Bryant Center History and management capacity
   1. Organizations Profile and History
   2. Management Capacity
   3. Staff Skills and responsibilities
   4. Adequate Facilities and Resources
2. Description of Major Neighborhood Problems and Project Need
3. Results and Benefits expected
4. Evaluation/Summary
5. Budget appropriateness and Reasonableness
6. Project Budget

BRYANT CENTER
2008 SUMMER RECREATIONAL PROGRAM PROPOSAL

PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY/ABSTRACT:
The Bryant Center outdoor basketball courts went dark in 1970.  We are turning the lights back on!  Not to do so would be a sin.  We lament the high crime rate, but area youngsters had nothing to do during the summer months to occupy their time….Until now!

Jr High and High Schools boys and girls will play twelve basketball games a night from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on three overhead electrically lighted outdoor courts located on 24th Street, two (2) blocks south of Lake Street.  The games will take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for six (6) weeks in June and July.  An estimated 1,000 people will be present each night.  Police will be hired to provide security.  The budget is $60,000, and all proceeds will be used to open and reestablish the Bryant Center.

The Bryant Center is a 501©3 corporation located at 24th and Burdette Streets on land owned by St. Benedict the Moor Church.  The adjoining Bryant Center outdoor recreational/educational facility is located in an economically distressed area of Omaha’s Near North side.  The area is however experiencing significant redevelopment sponsored by various local community organizations, private developers and the City of Omaha.  Unfortunately, the Bryant Center was closed due to funding cutbacks.  Under the leadership of St. Benedict the Moor Church, community volunteers and concerned residents, a plan has been developed to reopen Bryant Center during the summer of 2008.  The summer outdoor program will lead to continuing these efforts yearly.

The proceeds of the $60,000 funds will be used for a project which will result in the creation of needed services to at-risk youth and young adults during the summer months through a collaboration of public and private interests.  These services will include educational, cultural enrichment and recreational programs.  A basketball program and league will serve as a catalyst to help attract some of the participants to take advantage of services and other programs offered at Bryant Center.  The population of the community to be served by this project includes a high portion of at-risk young adults and minority group members with extremely limited access to supervised meaningful activities/programs during the summer months when school is not in session.

The funding levels are:
Platinum           $25,000.00                              Copper           $5,000.00
Gold                 $15,000.00                              Patron Gifts     Any Amount
Silver               $10,000.00
All contributions are tax deductable.

BRYANT CENTER MISSION:
The mission is to implement and help sponsor educational, cultural enrichment and recreational programs that create human and community development opportunities to benefit low-income youth and young adults in the community.

POJECT NARRATIVE:

A. BRYANT CENTER HISTORY AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY:

1. ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE/HISTORY:

The original Bryant Center Basketball program was started by the late Fr. John Killoren, S.J., pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Church.  The Bryant Center was created to provide educational, cultural enrichment and recreational programs for low-income, and primarily minority group members in the community.  The centerpiece of the Bryant Center overall program was a unique outdoor basketball program and league.  The basketball program and league was also utilized as a drawing feature to attract young adults to the educational and cultural enrichment activities offered at the facility.  The Bryant Basketball Center was named after the late George Bryant a member of St. Benedict the Moor Church, choir director, trustee, well-known musician, and recipient of the Benemerenti Medal at the direction of Pope Pius XII.  The original Bryant Center was established with a twelve (12) member advisory committee who ran competitive games, and non-basketball events.  The pure fun of the events drew players, spectators and the media.  It was a highly successful program and received national recognition for it’s excellence and community service.

The Bryant Center program was discontinued due to cutbacks from various funding sources.  St. Benedict has developed a comprehensive plan and program to reopen Bryant Center as a 501©3 corporation and offer again needed programs during the summer beginning in 2008.  A ten (10) member Steering Committee has been created to oversee the reestablishment of the Bryant Center and it’s programs.  The committee consist of six(6 community representatives and four (4) professional members selected for their expertise and commitment to the mission of the Bryant Center.  The committee will monitor the management of Bryant Center’s programs, property, and affairs.  They will set priorities which give a high degree of community participation to policy and decision making.  The original Bryant Center had an enviable record for fiscal integrity and financial responsibility, and timely reporting to funding sources.  This tradition and professional financial management will be continued under the new Bryant Center program.  Arrangements have been made for the preparation of monthly financial statements and independent audits.

2. MANAGEMENT CAPACITY:

Fiscal integrity is critical to the Bryant Center’s success and program.  Monthly financial statements along with an outside independent audit will be prepared.  The Steering Committee will create a Finance Committee that will compile and annual budget and supervise expenditures.

3. BRYANT CENTER STAFF AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Staff responsibilities for the Bryant Center personal are organized in terms of programs, finance and administrative functions.  The Center Manager and Center Supervisor will have the primary responsibility for the completion and follow-up for all tasks associated with this program.  The personal with key steering committee members as the Project Management Team will coordinate the development and management aspects of the program.

4. ADEQUATE FACILITIES/SITE ZONING:

The Bryant Center has adequate facilities to successfully carry out the works and activities proposed for the program.  These resources include a fully surfaced, overhead electrically lighted ¾ block outdoor recreational basketball court/facility adjacent to the office of St. Benedict Parish.  The approximate ¾ block area outdoor facility is fully serviced by roads, utilities, water, and power lines.  The site is also serviced by public transit facilities and is three (3) blocks away from the exit/entrance to the Interstate system.  Adequate off-street parking is available.

 B. MAJOR NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS/PROJECT NEED:

The Bryant Center serves the entire community; however, most of it’s efforts are focused on providing programs to serve low income residents located in underserved Near North Omaha neighborhoods.  This underserved area suffers from severe rates of unemployment and underemployment, low levels of educational achievement, population loss, income  erosion, crime and youth gang involvement, and the need for community economic improvements.  Based upon data from the Nebraska Labor Department the immediate neighborhood’s 19.8% unemployment rate is the highest in the state.  The documentation to support the previously mentioned distressed factors and other problems in the Bryant Center service area is based upon current published U.S. Census data, the City of Omaha and the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Urban Research Department.

C. RESULTS AND BENEFITS EXPECTED:

During the summer months the Program will sponsor an outdoor six (6) week summer program for students both male and female fro local area schools located in the community.  A mutually beneficial partnership will be formed with community, public and private sector organizations to establish the program.  The program plans to re-establish the legacy that was left behind by the original Bryant Center Program services to low income, at-risk, minority youth and young adults.  Te program plans to serve as a means to keep them busy, occupied and off the streets of the New North Side of Omaha.  Team members and other participants in table games and cultural events would number over 800 youngsters per week.  Staff referees and volunteers will account for just under 100, and spectator numbers would add another 600.  The program has the potential to reach 1500 individuals per week.

D. EVALUATION/SUMMARY:

As part of it’s management and fiduciary responsibilities, the Bryant Center will work closely with the project Steering Committee and an outside volunteer consultant to compile data and evaluate the success of the project.  The evaluation will also make recommendations for future programs.

The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

• The program’s ability to be a viable and active community partner.
• The number of individuals and teams served.
• The program’s specific sports/educational curriculum.
• The program’s ability to address educational achievements, quality of culture enrichment and experience.
• The program’s staffing and resources.
• The number of individuals participating in other structured activities.

E. BUDGET APPROPRIATENESS AND REASONABLENESS:

St. Benedict the Moor parish is totally committed to the success of this project and has allocated $2,000.00 of it’s limited financial resources to help reopen the Bryant Center.

The total funds needed to implement the program are realistic and representative of the costs associated with a successful program.  Technical support in determining budget cost was provided by the City of Omaha, previous managers of the Bryant Center summer programs, professional construction contractors (for repairs) and various local recreational and other equipment suppliers.  Based upon our past experience, as well as professional analysis, the cost associated with this project is realistic and reasonable.

F. PROJECT BUDGET:

The budget expenses are based upon approximate 2008 prices.

• Project Manager Salary (12 weeks, $500 per week)                               $ 6,000.00
• Project Supervisor Salary                                                                           3,000.00
• Staff Members (8 individuals)                                                                     4,032.00
• Concession repairs/purchases                                                                   15,000.00
• Security Services (6 officers)                                                                     13,500.00
• Referees                                                                                                   10,800.00
• Insurance                                                                                                   No cost
• Court Repairs (Asphalt & Striping)                                                              4,350.00
• Plumbing                                                                                                        446.19
• Portable Toilets (1 ½ Mos)                                                                             190.00
• Banners and signs                                                                                        1,200.00
• Printing                                                                                                           550.00
• Postage                                                                                                          160.00
• Utilities (estimate)                                                                                            900.00
• Repairs                                                                                                        2,600.00
• Rental Equipment                                                                                            300.00
• Other Games                                                                                               1,500.00
• Basketballs and Nets                                                                                      527.88
• Fence/Gat repairs                                                                                        2,600.00
• Trophies and Awards                                                                                     700.00

                                                                                                            TOTAL      $54,856.07