The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

We represent the descendants of Bob and Mavis Schellin. Many of us grew up across the street from Sweet Park and the city pool, and our summer days were spent swimming with friends. Later, we participated in summer swim team. As adults, we have taken our children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to the pool and watched the next generations of our family enjoy the facility as much as we did.

Our family believes in the mission of the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation. We believe the community pool is more than just a luxury; rather, it is a critical part of maintaining a healthy, active, and safe community. Further, we feel the pool is vital to keeping Chinook a place where young parents want to raise their children.

Phase A—the facility-saving improvements and repairs to the pool infrastructure—is estimated to cost $1.55 million. The Foundation has already raised an incredible $1.02 million dollars for the project. However, the highly-unexpected removal of Chinook’s project from consideration for the matching State grant leaves the Foundation just over $500,000 short of the funds necessary to complete these critical repairs.

The additional Phase A funds need to be raised in early 2024 to give the Foundation Board adequate time to seek and review bids so construction can begin by early fall 2024. An early fall construction start date is necessary to fully deploy the community-approved bond money in 2024.

A number of our family members have already made meaningful donations to the Pool Fund; however, in light of the shortfall described above, we recognize the immediate need to champion the cause even more.

Therefore, the descendants of Bob & Mavis Schellin and their spouses are committing $100,000 in matching funds to help raise the remaining $500,000 needed to complete Phase A on schedule. We will match every dollar donated by families and individuals up to $100,000, beginning with donations made after January 1, 2024 and ending on March 31, 2024 (unless extended). Our family contribution will hopefully help raise an additional $200,000.

We hope other individuals or families might be willing to provide a similar matching fund donation, and we hope that others feel encouraged to contribute what they can during a time when their gift will have double the impact. If you feel motivated to join us as a “matching fund donor” or to make a donation which we can match, please see donation instructions at the end of this article.

The pool renovation project, in some form, is a “go.” However, at this time-sensitive juncture, it is going to take the vision, generosity, and commitment of a few dedicated, large-scale donors to push Phase A, as proposed, through to completion. It is going to take radical altruism from families and groups, like ours, who value the pool and are willing to sacrifice to see it secured for the next generation.

Are you and your family ready to make an investment in the future of Chinook?

Donations are tax-deductible and can be mailed to Friends of the Pool and Park at PO Box 785, Chinook, MT 59523. You can also drop donations off in person to First Bank of Montana, as well as donating online at https:///chinookfriends.org/donations/. For more information about how YOUR donation can move the project forward, please contact the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation at (406) 945-7052 or email info@chinookfriends.org with any questions.

Signed

BJ Schellin, Chinook, MT (Class of 1966)

Brent and Nancy Schellin, Chinook, MT (Class of 1969)

Karen Schellin, Anaconda, MT (Class of 1971)

Dick and Nellie Jo (Schellin) Nicholson, Chinook, MT (Class of 1976)

Susette Schellin, Chesnee, SC (Class of 1985)

Scott and Lesa (Schellin) MacLeod, Chinook, MT (Class of 1996)

Logan and Julie (Schellin) Terry, Littleton, CO (Class of 2002)

Taylor and Lexi Nicholson, Chinook, MT (Class of 2010)

Anna Terry, Littleton, CO (Class of 2023)

Representing All the Descendants of Bob and Mavis Schellin and their spouses