Sand Springs Native Reaching Out To Help Raise Money

Sand Springs will try to rally citizens to finish the town's new community center. A prominent Sand Springs native is offering $300,000 in matching funds, if citizens will raise the same amount. The News On 6's Steve Berg reports some might be surprised to know that the Sand Springs native offering the money, is property owner Mike Case.

He's given generously to the University of Tulsa over the years, but he also sounds eager to give to his hometown.

The basic structure of the $4.3 million Sand Springs Community Center will be finished by the summer. But they say skyrocketing construction costs has made it difficult to get the equipment and furnishings they want to have.

"It's not just a square building with a gymnasium. This is first-class. It's got the ability to have sporting events, but also have formal banquets and receptions and civic meetings," said Case.

Case says he got involved in part because this is where he was born and raised.

"I lived here until my dad moved us away when I was in the 9th grade," said Case. "But we have a tremendous amount of family and friends over here and we're in and out of Sand Springs every week."

Right now, the city estimates it is about $600,000 short to outfit the building fully with everything they want.

"Mike and Pat Case have generously issued a challenge to our community. They'll give up to $300,000 if our community will match that," said Sand Springs Mayor Bob Walker.

But Mayor Walker quickly replaced the if.

"We're going to raise the $300,000. That's not the issue. You don't tell a Sandite they can't do something," said Mayor Walker.

"When it's completed, I wanted the interior to be very nice and have arts and graphics and signage and things that really take it a notch above the normal. And they're going to do all of that, and it looks like it's going to turn out very, very nice," said Case. "It's something that Sand Springs has needed for a long time

The original budget for the building was $4.3 million and was funded through a bond issue. The $600,000 will be above and beyond that.