Inspiring Minds Opens Public Phase of $1.5M Campaign

WARREN, Ohio – Inspiring Minds has kicked off the public phase of its $1.5 million Now We Can campaign that will fund the future home of the nonprofit organization’s headquarters.

In 2017, Inspiring Minds purchased a 25,000-square-foot building at 837 Woodland St. near Warren G. Harding High School. Since then, it has completed the first part of a three-phase construction plan, and raised $970,000 of the $1.5 million project goal.

Last night the nonprofit hosted an event to recognize donors, announce the public phase of the campaign, update supporters on its progress and unveil future plans.

Inspiring Minds’ founder and CEO, Deryck Toles, explained at the celebration that growth and expansion of the program were the driving forces for the organization to find permanent space of its own, and thanked the many people who helped make this dream a reality.

“I cannot thank our team, our school system, our supporters and our community enough for rallying around our mission,” Toles said. “Because of each and every one of them, now we can do more.”

The first completed phase of the project houses most of the high school programming space complete with large and small classrooms, study rooms and a student lounge. It also includes administrative offices, a conference room and a reception area, officials say.

Phase two will include additional high school study rooms and classrooms, as well as all kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms, study rooms and multipurpose rooms. This phase also includes a cafeteria/auditorium and fully-functioning training kitchen. This is expected to be complete in August.

The third and final phase will be an 8,500-square-foot gymnasium space featuring a modified full-court basketball area, weight room, indoor turf training station, open fitness areas, outdoor fitness space, locker rooms and storage. The project is expected to be finished in December

During the presentation, students, parents, supporters and stakeholders shared their first-hand accounts of how the new headquarters has positively impacted their lives.

“I love walking to IM after school,” said Inspiring Minds sophomore Kennedy Harris. “You walk in the door and everyone is so happy to see you and ask about your day and help you with homework or whatever you need.”

Jalaya Provitt, high school program coordinator and Inspiring Minds alumni, explained that “the new building will be a safe, positive place for young people to be who they are and follow their dreams.”

Campaign donors, who were recognized during the event, include: Nordson Corp. Foundation, Patsy Kouvas, The Lubrizol Foundation, Jim and Diana Whetstone – Toyota of Warren, AVI Foodsystems Inc., Drs. Alexander L. & Joanne V. Gabbin, Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation, Producer Consciousness, Trumbull Memorial Housing Authority, Chemical Bank, Strimbu Memorial Fund, Downtown Development Group, Sidney Robinson and Dr. Tracye Lawyer-Robinson, Frances Schermer Charitable Trust, The Youngstown Foundation, O’Brien Children Memorial Fund, Janice Schneider, KP Consulting and Rossi Insurance Agency.

Inspiring Minds also had 100% donor participation from its staff and board members.

Inspiring Minds is seeking donors to complete the final 35% of the Now We Can campaign.

Pictured: Inspiring Minds students stand outside new headquarters.

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