The SADF has been fortunate enough to help the Swansboro Area community with various  projects. Some of these projects are completed accomplishements and some are projects currently underway.   

ORIGINATION

The Swansboro Area Development Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation which formed in January of 2007 in response to a need to “get things done” in the Swansboro area.  SADF is a non-profit organization charged with establishing and developing projects to improve the quality of life for the residents of Swansboro and its surrounding areas.  The Board is comprised of business owners and concerned citizens volunteering their time to make things happen. 

MISSION

The SADF Mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of the Swansboro area through development of comprehensive projects and services.

HISTORY

Initial Project:  Swansboro Soccer Complex

Our first project was to partner with the Swansboro Soccer Association (SSA) in the development of the Swansboro Soccer Complex on Hammock’s Beach Road in Swansboro, NC.  The Soccer Association was having difficulty raising funds for development, recruiting personnel to undertake the project, and paying the taxes (almost $10,000 annually) on the 23-acre parcel of land.  SADF viewed the completion of the complex as one that could promote tourism and business in the area (via the hosting of soccer tournaments for out-of-town teams), as well as improving practice and playing field availability for over 600 kids playing soccer through the SSA.  Consequently, SADF undertook this massive project in the fall of 2007.

In order to complete this project, SADF secured $325,000 in grants from Onslow County Tourism as well as a working line of credit for $250,000 from First Citizen’s Bank.  The borrowed money was paid back through fundraising efforts exclusively by SADF, including  hosting  a resurrected outdoor soccer tournament (Kropinack Memorial Tournament) aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in partnership with Marine Corps Community Services.  The Kropinack family donated all proceeds to debt repayment of the new complex.

Project managers for the Soccer Complex project, David Pucci and Pierson Lane, with the help of the rest of the SADF Board managed to secure thousands of dollars worth of in-kind donations and hundreds of volunteer labor hours to draw this project to completion in record time:  11-months!   The fields were graded, seeded, irrigated and children began playing at the complex one year after breaking ground!  Fencing was installed around the perimeter of the complex and roads and parking lots were graveled.  Two local Eagle Scouts completed projects to enhance the complex:  two brick entry walls constructed by Justin Ellenberger;  and  16 team benches constructed by Christian Rosso.  Both young men secured the funding and materials for their projects through donations by area businesses.   

The complex was turned over to the SSA and future plans include building a concession stand, administration offices and equipment storage. 

Pirate’s Cove Municipal Park Enhancements

SADF partnered with Swansboro Rotary Club and donated $2,000 to purchase covered shelters for the picnic areas at Pirate’s Cove Municipal Park in Swansboro, NC.  Pirate’s Cove is a safe, themed playground located just off Highway 24 (Corbett Avenue) and is a wonderful place for families to play and picnic.  The lack of shade trees prohibited relief from the burning UV-rays of the sun; therefore, SADF donated funds in 2009 to rectify this problem.

Swansboro Recreation Center

In November 2008, SADF made a formal commitment to the Town of Swansboro to pledge $100,000 toward the development of a new Recreation Center in Swansboro, NC.   Because of our commitment, the Town of Swansboro received a $500,000 Part F grant from the State of North Carolina to build the Center.  Plans are underway to incorporate the needs of our community (as indicated by the 2008 Community Needs Assessment Survey) as well as the needs of our youth (as indicated by the Swansboro Area YOUTH Development Foundation).

Three phases of development have been outlined to include a large recreation (gymnasium) room, meeting rooms, and skate park; outdoor pool and jogging/walking trail; and perhaps an indoor pool and racket ball courts.

SADF Providing Activities/Events for Swansboro-Area Residents & Visitors

Through the establishment of three subsidiary committees of SADF, SADF is solving the problem identified in the Community Needs Assessment Survey (2008) of “nothing to do in Swansboro!”  The three subsidiaries of SADF include:

 Seaside Arts Council – established in June 2009; partnered with Down East Folk Art Society to bring the Winter Concert Series to Swansboro, NC.  Folk singers made a multi-stop tour, monthly, to Swanboro, New Bern, and Beaufort, NC. 

 Friends of the Park—established in March 2010; hosted Swanfest (May 1, 2010), an outdoor concert in the Swansboro Town Square, and will hold monthly concerts throughout the summer.

 Swansboro Area Youth Development Foundation—established in March 2010; 8^th-12^th graders from Swansboro Middle, Swansboro High, Broad Creek Middle, and Croatan High Schools join together to learn to organize events that meet the needs of youth in the Swansboro Area. 

STRATEGIC PLAN (2010-2015)

SADF’s five-year strategic plan includes the following: 

 completion of Phase I and II of the Swansboro Recreation Center

 supporting the goals/projects of the Swansboro Area Youth Development Foundation

 supporting the activities of Friends of the Park

 renew and strengthening our non-profit organization through the assistance of the Eastern Carolina Council

 hire a volunteer coordinator for SADF

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME

SADF gladly welcomes any volunteers who are willing to serve on its Board of Directors, various committees, or projects we have begun.  Please contact the Swansboro Chamber of Commerce (910-326-1174) if you are interested in participating.