The Salvation Army in Idaho announced today that it will seek funding from the estate of Joan Kroc (pictured) for the construction and operation of a $20 million Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Coeur d’Alene.

In making its decision, the Army accepted the recommendation of the Idaho Kroc Initiative Task Force, which was chaired by Mrs. Patricia Kempthorne, and which heard presentations from nine communities throughout Idaho. Based upon that information, the Task Force recommended that construction and operation of a Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene would best serve the goals established by Kroc’s estate.

The Salvation Army in Idaho will now begin the process of working with city and community leaders in Coeur d’Alene in order to prepare a formal application by a March 1, 2005 deadline, at which time it will compete with similar applications from twelve other western states for the placement of between five to seven Kroc Centers.

Joan Kroc’s charge to The Salvation Army was clear and unequivocal: that a Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center should consist of facilities and programs of superb quality that provide children, youth, families and individuals with educational, recreational, arts and other activities that build character, confidence and competence; and that the Center should be a beacon of hope and an agent of change in an underserved community.

Nine communities in Idaho including Idaho Falls, Twin Falls and Meridian submitted feasibility applications to the Task Force. By recommending the application from Coeur d’Alene The Salvation Army will now lay out plans to build a $20 million facility. Under the terms of Mrs. Kroc’s estate, approval of such an application would bring with it an additional $20 million for the creation of an operational endowment.

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