$4M donation advances Lake Chelan Community Center, $2M match aims to double impact

CHELAN — The Seven Acres Foundation has announced a $4 million donation to the Lake Chelan Community Center, a landmark gift that accelerates construction and strengthens the center’s long-term finances.

Half of the pledge is available immediately, with the remainder to follow over time. The gift will fully fund the gymnasium and performing arts center, one of the project’s most anticipated features, and includes naming rights for the donor family. Board members said the direct contribution gives the project valuable flexibility: Unlike many grants that come with added costs and requirements (such as prevailing wage mandates or green-building certifications), this funding can be applied where it delivers the most progress within the existing budget.

Alongside the gift, the family launched a $2,000,000 matching challenge tied to the October Golden Hour Gala (Saturday, Oct. 4) and running through the fourth quarter of 2025. If fully met, the match would generate an additional $4 million by year’s end, with proceeds slated to retire existing debt, build a new pickleball facility, and support ongoing operations.

Originally envisioned at $10 million, the community center’s total cost has climbed above $20 million due to inflation, supply-chain pressures, and higher interest rates. To keep the project moving, board members say they have collectively covered more than two-thirds of the overall cost to date. The new donation arrives at a pivotal moment as the center transitions from construction toward completion of Phase Two, expanding its role as a hub for recreation, wellness, education, and community connection.

“This gift is so much more than dollars and construction progress — it is a vote of confidence in the vision for this center and the future of our valley,” said Brooke Isaak, president of the Seven Acres Foundation board. “The support ensures that our gymnasium and performing arts center will not only be built, but will become a place where children, families, and neighbors can gather, grow, and celebrate together.”

For more information about the Seven Acres Foundation and the Lake Chelan Community Center, visit chelancommunity.org or contact Maribel Cruz at maribel@chelancommunity.org.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media