Why Ashland?

In January 2006, the Salvation Army released the list of locations approved for the construction of a Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. As I opened the e-mail announcement, I wondered if one of these state-of-the-art centers would be built in Cleveland or Akron, or maybe Toledo or Youngstown, big cities with impoverished neighborhoods, just the kind of setting that Joan Kroc’s bequest was meant to serve, or so I thought. When I scanned the list of the winners, I was surprised to see that Ashland, Ohio was selected. A lovely town, yes, but why a Kroc Center in Ashland?

Six months later, that oft-repeated question became mine to answer when my husband Larry and I were given the responsibility to develop the RJKCCC in Ashland, Ohio. If I had a quarter for every time I’ve been asked that question over the last nine years, I could treat the town to Happy Meals – or Coneys and root beer from the A & W. I can’t speak for the hows and whys of the selection process. But in retrospect, I do know why Ashland is the home of a beautiful Kroc Center.

There is a Kroc Center in Ashland because of B.J. Brown. This die-hard Cleveland Browns, Indians and Cavs fan has cerebral palsy, and the old facility was not accessible for wheelchairs. Once B.J. became too heavy for his father to carry up the Salvation Army’s stairs, he could no longer attend programs there. But now, with a perfect record for church attendance and a broad smile even in the face of Cleveland defeats, the light in B.J.’s eyes shines throughout the Kroc Center.     

The Kroc Center also came to Ashland, Ohio for Trudy. With the support of ACCESS, Hospice, and Salvation Army staff, a dying journey that began in the Sacred Space at the RJKCCC brought faith, companionship and reconciliation to the final weeks of Trudy’s life.

And that’s not all. Because of the Kroc Center, Ashland’s children can leave their stifling apartments and stand for hours under the Tumblebuckets in RJ’s Spraypark on a hot and humid day – yes, soon! Women (and sometimes men) of all generations can pull up a chair to the knitting circle, creating community conversation accompanied by the rhythm of clicking needles. Young people can learn the basics of food preparation, gardening, or archery, and even the family dog can develop good manners in Puppy Pre-School. I just finished proof-reading the next program guide (available April 24) – there’s no way anyone can say, “there’s nothing to do in Ashland” this summer.

Has it made a difference? Ashland Times-Gazette editor Ted Daniels had this to say upon the first year anniversary: “In one short year, the Kroc Center has become such an integral part of the community that it's difficult to imagine Ashland without it. Perhaps that is the most fitting testament to its first-year success.”

Mrs. Kroc wanted these centers to level the playing field of opportunity so all children could reach for the stars. Yet so far, none of the children who’ve played soccer at the Kroc Center have advanced to the World Cup. None of its budding instrumentalists have performed at Carnegie Hall. No one from the afterschool program has been accepted at Harvard. Those may have been Joan Kroc’s lofty dreams for her legacy gift, but I’m happy to see young people playing middle school soccer, performing (soon) in Archer Auditorium, and beginning classes at AU. And, beyond specific achievements, I’m thrilled to see the development of character, confidence, and hope in children and adults, for as Christopher Reeve believed, “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”

Someone recently asked me why Mrs. Kroc chose Ashland. I explained that the McDonalds heiress died long before the sites for the new centers were chosen. But I believe that if she was able to spend just one day at the Ashland RJKCCC, she would be pleased with the choice. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’d hear her say, “I’m lovin’ it!” As it completes its sixth year of operation, I’m grateful to its donors, guests, staff, and supporters for making Ashland the perfect place for a Kroc Center.