School Needs $80,000 to Realize Dream of Gym

COURT HOUSE – For Cape Christian Academy (CCA) students, the 30-year dream of a real gymnasium is almost reality, except for the approximate $80,000 needed to complete the project. A gym sponsorship campaign has kicked off, and administrators are hoping the holiday spirit of giving will extend to them.
“We are within reach of our goal due to very generous community support, $160,000 in donations and $250,000 in gifts in kind,” John Spriggs, administrator, said. “The outside of the gym is completed. But the inside still needs to be done; we need about $80,000 to finish the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lights and other inside aspects.”
The private, non-denominational school that educates children from Pre-K-12th grade has been in need of its own gym for over 30 years. Spriggs said in the past they have used some of the nearby churches’ gyms for team practices and school concerts, events that are typically a part of every child’s school experience.
“Now, we have gym outside if the weather is nice, or in a classroom if it’s not. Having gym in a room that’s 22 feet by 22 feet is part of our challenge. Using a hallway is also out, as we have other classes in session,” he said.
All donations are tax deductible as the law allows, Spriggs said, because the Academy is a 501(c)3 entity. “We also would accept donations in-kind if there are local contractors who want to help,” he added. “We’ve been very fortunate so far, and hope that people will take advantage of the end of the year with a donation. When you become a sponsor, you will help us move closer to our goal of providing a clean, fun, exciting and safe gym for our children.”
Spriggs is not new to giving, since he has donated his salary back to the school over most of the seven years he’s been administrator. “When I started here, things were tough. I was on the board of directors and knew what I was getting into,” he said, citing declining enrollment and other challenges.
Having faith that he would be guided in the right direction, he took on the administrator role, made some changes that “helped in my mind,” he said. “We are moving along.”
Spriggs estimates he has donated about $100,000 over seven years, which has helped fund students who could not afford to attend the school, or has been added to the capital and gymnasium funds.
“I’m not one to toot my own horn,” he said. “But I am hoping if people see what I’ve been willing to do, that they will support our efforts and help, too.”
Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) President Chandi Ankrum found out that the Wildwoods Convention Center was getting a new floor, according to Spriggs, and asked the Greater Wildwood Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWITDA) to give CCA the floor.
“It originally came from the Philadelphia Convention Center,” Spriggs said. “Wilt Chamberlain and Tom Goya played on it. It was sold to the school for $1.” (Both Chamberlain and Goya were Philadelphia natives who went on to have stellar basketball careers for the local professional team.)
Smeltzer and Sons Feed and Pets, Court House, helped move the floor from Wildwood, Spriggs added.
Any size donation will be accepted, Spriggs said, noting there are five levels of support: platinum for donations of $5,000 and more; gold at $2,500; silver at $1,000; bronze at $500, and friends for anything up to $499.
Each level has its own set of perks, and all individual contributors will receive a recognition plate on the Academy’s Wall of Fame.
“Our goal is to finalize the fundraising by the end of the year,” Spriggs said.
Anyone interested in donating services or time should contact Spriggs by telephone or by emailing info@CapeChristianAcademy.com; monetary donations may be sent to Cape Christian Gym Sponsorship Fund, Cape Christian Academy, 10 Oyster Road, Cape May Court House, N.J. 08210.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.