2012

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ECCCreceives grant for Foun ers' Gym

The structure was recent]} declared a Mississippi his– toric landmark. Fundraising eff01 ts were initiated in 2008 to reno,vate the gym, which played host to hundreds of basketball games from 1930 to 1970, including local, state and r<'gional championships for both high school and college level teams. Tht• gym was also used for May Day pro– grams, proms, dances, plays, musicals, gradua· lions and many community events. Founders' Gym is named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin ~Frank" Hunter, james "Jim" McDonald

11mmes and otllers instru– mental in establishing the Coli ge in 1928. Dr. Sutpl1in said the reno– \ation project includes four ::;tages at an estimated cost of $8 million Appro~tely $6,000 has been rais('d as of Dee'. 31,2011. · Contributions may be made to tbe ECCC Founda– tion, Inc., P.O. Box 129, Decatur, MS 39327. For more information, contact Dr. Stacey Hollingsworth, executive dir{'("tor, J~oundation and Alumni Relations. (601) 635- 6327 or call toll free, (Ef17) 462-3222. eXt 327.11te e– mail address is sholling@eccc.edu.

Special to The Star

project budget of$100.000 and provides the neces· sary funding to complete the first phase of the much-anticipated project, said ECCC President Dr. Phil A. Sutphin. ''We plan to use the funds to restore the south arcade," said Dr. Phil A Sutphin. "It is our intent to bring Founder~· Gym to its orig– inal look while also modern· izing the historic structure. We continue to seek private funds which v.ill be needed to complete the project" Founders' Gym is recog– nized as one ofthe oldest buildings on campus and the oldest standing brick gym– nasium in east Mississippi.

DECATUR- East Cen– tral Community College's efforts to renovate Founders' Gym received a financial boost thanks to an $80,000 grant from the Mis– sissippi Department of Archives and History. , The ECCC award is included among 19 projects totaling $2 million in preser· vation grants prO\ided across the state through the Community Heritage Grant Program, authorized by and funded by the Mississippi Legislature The $80,000 amount, combined with a local match of $20,000. will create a total

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