DALLAS, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, T. Boone Pickens and Mayor Tom Leppert announced a $6 million donation to the Jubilee Park community to be used to fund a comprehensive revitalization strategy that will touch on education, crime, housing, employment and community services. The gift was commemorated with a bulldozing of a nightclub, which is across the street from a kindergarten and has been a hot spot for criminal activity.
"Through the generosity of Boone Pickens, and the commitment and sheer will of this community, Jubilee Park will be revitalized and become the model for other Dallas neighborhoods trying to improve the quality of life for their residents," Mayor Leppert said.
The donation by the T. Boone Pickens Foundation is the foundation's first major gift towards distressed inner-city neighborhoods, and will be used for land purchase and the construction of community and park facilities.
"It is my hope that this gift will empower this neighborhood to continue to strive for excellence," Pickens said. "This money isn't just putting a band aid on the problem -- it will be used for programs that make the streets safer, the schools better, and to provide services that will give these families skills to improve their quality of life today, and for the next generations."
Already, Jubilee Park has used donated funds to make strategic land purchases, including the purchase of a nightclub, located across the street from David's Place, a Head Start preschool program serving this underprivileged community. Plans include the complete demolition of the club, and construction of a Resource Center that will provide much needed services like a Community Prosecutor and a City of Dallas Police Station, which will provide service to Jubilee Park and surrounding areas.
The Pickens donation will also be used to construct an expanded Jubilee Community Center that will provide focus for the comprehensive improvement programs in the community, recreational activities for at-risk youth, a "weed-and-seed" program, mentoring programs, English classes and services for seniors.
The Jubilee Park neighborhood recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and some of the programs and property acquisitions made possible by the Pickens donation have been in place since the summer. Jubilee has spent over $5 million on building a signature park, making neighborhood improvements and funding programs in housing, employment, public health and anti-crime, including a successful surveillance camera program used to catch crimes in the area.
"Many of these residents don't have an abundance of resources, but they have will, and a dream," Walt Humann said. "And now, through the generosity of Mr. Pickens, and the work of residents, volunteers, the City of Dallas and DISD -- that dream is much closer to becoming a reality."
About the T. Boone Pickens Foundation. Established in 2006, the T. Boone Pickens Foundation improves lives through grants supporting education, medical research/development and services, athletics and corporate wellness, at-risk youths, the entrepreneurial process, conservation and wildlife programs and a wide-range of public policy initiatives.
About Jubilee Park. The Jubilee Park and Community Center Corporation (JPCCC) was originally established in 1997 at the 50th anniversary of the Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. JPCCC's mission is to be a "catalyst for community renewal and enrichment." It is now driven by an army of volunteers from all denominations. Besides the volunteers, Jubilee operates with a small staff and active resident and business associations. This team has worked very effectively with the City, DISD, and other non-profit organizations to accomplish its mission. Almost 99% of the funds Jubilee has spent to date come from private donations by individuals and foundations.
T. Boone Pickens Foundation
