PRESS RELEASE

THE PIXLEY FOUNDATION

P.O. Box 894

Pixley, CA 93256

pixleyfoundation@sbcglobal.net

Contact Person: Jim Morehead, President Board of Directors

(559) 757-3259

Pixley Community Center Project

On June 16^th the Pixley Community took a giant step towards building their Technology & Education Community Center. The Pixley Foundation received the deed to the vacant parcel behind Pixley Food Mart after purchasing the land from Joan Soares Bell and her husband Frank who now reside in Visalia, where Joan is Director of Religious Education for St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She inherited the land from her parents, John & Opal Soares, longtime Pixley residents and worked with the Foundation in the land purchase to support this important project and continue her family’s legacy in the community.

The Community Center will be anchored by a Community Resource Center featuring the ‘Pixley History Project” displaying historic photos preserving Pixley’s past and a Community Technology Center providing public computer access and technology training opportunities for families, senior citizens and all ages. The site master plan includes development of additional buildings & offices for community based organizations that provide additional services to our residents. The Foundation is working with CSET to relocate some of their services to the center. All buildings and parking areas will be designed with complete access for the disabled and handicapped.

Even though there are still months of final planning, permits and work by contractors to be done, the Pixley Community Center project will be coming later this year. A ground-breaking ceremony for the community will be held when the site plans are completed and ready to be unveiled. Announcements will be posted throughout the community when the date is set.

This project would not be possible without our funding partners and project supporters, County of Tulare Redevelopment Agency, USDA Rural Development, AT&T Foundation, Tulare County Library, Great Valley Center, Supervisor Pete Vander Poel, Congressman Devin Nunes and Pixley community organizations and residents too numerous to name. Each one of these agencies, organizations and individuals have supported our project in different ways beginning with the early “dream” planning stages and will be guiding us throughout construction in anticipation of a great community celebration upon completion.

The Pixley Foundation meets the second Monday of each month at
5:00 p.m. in the Albert Dung, Jr. Community Room next to the Sheriff’s Substation.