Oak Grove Receives $10,000 Toward New Gym

A gymnasium is one step closer to becoming reality for students at the Oak Grove Center for Treatment, Education & The Arts in Murrieta.

The center, which serves youth with behavorial problems, recently received a $10,000 donation from Wells Fargo Foundation. The donation will be allocated toward the $1-million goal set for Oak Grove Center to build a gym/multipurpose room on their Murrieta campus. 

“Our 2011 New Year’s Resolution was to raise enough money to build this gym for the kids. I’m ecstatic to report that with this donation from Wells Fargo, we are exactly halfway to our goal of $1 million,” said Tammy Wilson, chief executive officer for Oak Grove Center, in a news release.

The City of Murrieta is currently reviewing the plans for the new building and several developers, contractors and vendors have already committed their time and resources to the project, said Kristi Reedy, public relations representative for the center.

The gym/multipurpose room design includes a 120-foot by 150-foot multipurpose building that will include a CIF regulation basketball court, an occupational-play therapy room designed to meet the needs of the growing autism population, a performing arts room and a recreation room, Reedy said.

Ashley Thompson from Wells Fargo and Robin Hought, assistant vice president community affairs, presented the check to the Board of Directors along with Jonathan Martin, vice president of Wells Fargo - Ynez Road branch, who was recently appointed to the Oak Grove Board of Directors. 

"It never ceases to amaze me the kind things that people and businesses will do to support the kids at Oak Grove Center," Wilson said.

Oak Grove is a nonprofit 24-hour residential and educational treatment center that serves 76 children who live on campus and an additional 80-90 day students who attend its nonpublic school day program. A second campus, Oak Grove at the Ranch, is located in Perris and serves an additional 50 students.

Children and youth are admitted with a variety of psychological, social, emotional, behavioral, medical and neurological problems with concurrent behavioral difficulties, school problems, family dysfunction and alcohol or substance abuse, Reedy said. Many of the children have suffered physical and/or sexual abuse, other traumas or experienced many other social, emotional or behavioral challenges.

Several other fundraisers are planned to raise the additional funds for the gym, including the annual "Evening Under the Oaks" dinner and auction gala April 23.  For more information on how to donate to the gym/multipurpose room project, contact Tammy Wilson at 951-677-5599 or visit OakGroveCenter.org.