Hutton, a Chattanooga-based commercial real estate, development, and construction company, has committed to helping remodel a winning facility for a winning school – Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy.
“The girls will have a functional and attractive gymnasium, a place to hold school-wide events, and a home for their winning sports programs,” said CGLA Executive Director Dr. Elaine Swafford. “It will also provide space to hold health and physical education courses, which we need, as we are outgrowing our present space.”
“Hutton has the distinct pleasure of joining CGLA in a relationship Hutton considers one of its most significant community partnerships,” said CEO and owner Karen J. Hutton. “The entire Hutton team toured the school, witnessed the excitement in the hallways, heard the girls’ success stories, and observed the physical needs of the school. This firsthand experience sealed the deal.”
CGLA is an inner-city, all-girl, public charter STEM School that was once on the brink of closure. Since school officials turned things around, the Tennessee Department of Education has named CGLA a Tennessee Reward School for two consecutive years. (Reward Schools are the top 5 percent of schools in the state for performance and year-over-year progress.)
HUTTON is now committed to CGLA’s Corporate Mentoring Program, involved in the Backpack for Success Program, supports the school’s Endowment Campaign, and has made a financial commitment to remodel the school’s gymnasium.
About three years ago, CGLA acquired the old Tennessee Temple High School Gymnasium on Vance Avenue in the Highland Park Neighborhood as an addition to its main campus. Due to its present condition, the gym has not met State regulatory codes and has not been utilized to its fullest potential. Hutton decided this was a great place to make an impact for CGLA and the Highland Park community. Gym priorities include new bleachers, a new HVAC system, a new roof, and the addition of ADA-approved restroom facilities.
Further financial donations are needed to ensure the gym remodel meets the school’s needs.
While Hutton’s philanthropic liaison, Donna Coleman, is working to raise funds for the project, Hutton’s construction arm, led by Trey Hall, is working with local vendors to negotiate gifts and in-kind donations to the project. Hutton’s development project manager, Reggie Vachon, is coordinating the scope of the plan, the budgeting, and the permitting, and is working with Rice Williams, a lead architect from local design firm Artech, who is donating his time and skills to the project. The remodel is to be completed by Aug. 1, 2016.
Hutton has raised $350,000 for the project; an additional $250,000 is needed to complete it. To make a tax deductible donation to CGLA, visit www.cglaonline.com, click on “Donate to CGLA,” and enter “Gym renovation” in the field at the bottom of the page titled “Your info.” There are multiple naming opportunities at the gymnasium. For more information, contact Donna Coleman at dcoleman@hutton.build.
Source: Some information from Hutton