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SCHOA Foundation funds grow quickly in Sun City

Resident suggests helping replace signs

Posted 3/11/20

The SCHOA Foundation is ready and willing — and funded — to take on projects, but so far they have few and far in between.

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SCHOA Foundation funds grow quickly in Sun City

Resident suggests helping replace signs

Posted

The SCHOA Foundation is ready and willing — and funded — to take on projects, but so far they have few and far in between.

The Foundation was created last year to provide an avenue for residents to donate tax deductible funds to assist with various projects around the community. The organization was an evolution of the Sun City Resident Action Program that worked to wash and paint the community’s exterior common walls.

When that 2.5-year effort was completed in 2019, SCRAP officials wanted to find a way to help with other projects. Formed the non-profit foundation not only provided that opportunity but gave residents the chance to have their contributions be tax deductible. That part of the equation brought swift benefits, according to Lloyd Maple, Foundation board president.

“We have more money than we have projects to work on,” he said.

The Foundation garnered more than $18,000 and has more than $11,000 in a separate fund designated for additional or continuing wall work, according to Mr. Maple.

The Foundation’s focus is on the Sun City Home Owners Association’s Residents Assistance Maintenance Program that targets properties whose owners or tenants are physically or financially unable to maintain their yards properly. Using volunteers and contributions from SCHOA business partners, the properties are cleaned up at no charge.

Mr. Maple said while the Foundation’s revenues have grown, there is still more need for funding as projects are initiated.

“We are now set up to take credit cards for donations,” he said. “We also have new brochures and charitable bequest forms.”

While the Foundation’s focus is the SCGOA RAMP effort, Mr. Maple said the organization continue to address wall issues as they come up.

“There is still some work to do,” he said.

In addition, the Foundation board could consider projects outside the RAMP. A resident attending the Feb. 25 SCHOA board meeting suggested the Foundation could fund replacement of “welcome” signs into the Sun City community.

There are six such signs at strategic entry points into the community. They were placed several years ago in partnership with the Maricopa County Department of Transportation. Those signs were later replaced by ones purchased by the Recreation Centers of Sun City. However, those signs became weather worn and are in need of replacement, according to Pam Schwartz, SCHOA board member.

She also said some people were disappointed with the phrase “The Original Fun City” on the existing signs. She said people voiced their desire to return to the phrase “City of Volunteers.”

“I have talked to people at RCSC and they say they will not pay to replace them,” Ms. Schwartz said.

No firm decision was made by the SCHOA or Foundation boards last week regarding funding for the sign replacement. But a consensus believes they should be replaced and include “City of Volunteers” in the lettering.