SPCC Gala To Celebrate 25 Years, Honor Founders

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Geographically situated in the heart of Severna Park, the Severna Park Community Center is the literal and figurative hub of our community. With meeting spaces for groups and clubs, a dance studio for aspiring ballerinas, a pool for a future Michael Phelps, and a basketball court that hosts a myriad of sporting events and large gatherings, SPCC has been open to nearly every Severna Park resident to “gather, play, grow and thrive!”

Severna Park natives might not remember a time without this valuable community resource, but in fact, SPCC is just 25 years young. To celebrate the silver milestone, Executive Director Sarah Elder teased, “Our annual gala will be better than ever this year! Truly a night to remember.”

Dubbed “An Evening of Glamour and Giving,” the SPCC fundraising gala has been rescheduled from April 18 to October 24, and it will honor its founders to mark the center’s silver anniversary. To accommodate an expected 300-plus people, the event will be held at the Hilton Hotel at Linthicum Heights, near BWI airport, and it promises to be a spectacular evening.

This year’s gala honors the founders of the community center, including Andy Borland, Mark Corneal, Carl Gutschick, Charlie Kreter, Lee Marston, Jeff Norris, Terry Schoener, John Strange and Joan Tiernan.

Once a YMCA, that facility closed in 1996, and developers quickly saw townhouse potential on the large property. Wanting to preserve the community gathering place, a group of Severna Park citizens formed a committee, and in collaboration with Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, purchased the property. The Severna Park Community Center was established as a nonprofit organization. The old YMCA was demolished and replaced with a beautiful new building that housed a pool for swimming and water-based physical therapy, dance studios, gymnasium, fitness facility and community meeting spaces.

“Through the past 25 years, an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 people per year enjoyed using the facility,” said Elder. “This year’s fundraiser and gala celebrates the vision and legacy of our founders. Money raised will help to ensure the center’s future success.”

Unlike galas past where a single community member was recognized for contributions that year, “this year the center will applaud those individuals who helped to launch this local gem,” said board chairman David Orso. “We are so blessed to have such an amazing facility right here in the heart of Anne Arundel County.”

The night will feature fabulously delicious food stations so guests can move around and mingle with honorees and their Severna Park neighbors. The Shatners Band will provide live music to help partiers dance the night away. There will be live and silent auctions, and of course a few surprises. The event might not be until October, but it’s never too early to start searching for the perfect gala attire complete with silver sequins and glam in the silver-spangled Hollywood-themed style.

“While we are amazingly proud of our history,” added Elder, “we’ve got plenty more planned for the SPCC’s future!”

This year’s fundraiser will help offset the costs of repairing the center’s HVAC, renovating the dance studios, renovating the Andy Borland Gymnasium and remodeling the locker rooms, as well as programming at SPCC.

It’s not too early to purchase tickets for this sure-to-sell-out evening. Volunteers, donations, ticket sales and sponsorships are all needed. Tickets can be purchased on the website at www.spcommunitycenter.org (click on the “Giving” drop-down and choose “Gala”).

And, if you are able to contribute or get involved, contact Sarah Elder at 410-647-5843, ext. 201, or at selder@spcommunitycenter.org.

The Severna Park Voice plans to feature the honorees over the months leading up to the 25th anniversary gala so you can get to know these visionaries and learn their thoughts on what makes the Severna Park Community Center so special.

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