Goodman Brothers Donate $2M To Atwood Community Center
March 05, 2007 -- Channel 3000 -- Madison, Wis Madison city leaders and
others said thank you on Monday to two men who have become prominent donors to a
variety of community projects.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and workers at Atwood Community Center told a
crowd of children, teens and seniors that Irwin and Robert Goodman, better known
as the Goodman Brothers, are donating $2 million to help build a brand new
center on the city's East Side. The current facility is located in the 2400
block of Atwood Avenue.
The Goodman Brothers have donated large amounts of money to help build the
city's first pool and other facilities in the past.
In a letter to Monday's group, the brother said that health conditions prevented
them from attending the announcement, but they said they were very impressed
with the center's popular programs and happy to help with such a worthwhile
endeavor.
Becky Steinhoff, the director at Attwood Community Center, spoke to those
gathered inside the center's 53-year-old building.
"Although we have a lot of money to raise yet, this train is moving forward, and
with this incredible gift and with a lot more hard work, we will be cutting the
ribbon to our new community center in mid-2008 -- six months ahead of schedule,"
Steinhoff said.
This news was met with clapping and cheers from those in attendance. A song was
dedicated to the Goodmans, part of which prompted a standing ovation and big
"thank you" signs aimed at the two brothers. Community center leaders handed out
sparkling apple juice in champagne glasses, WISC-TV reported.
The Goodmans' large contribution will let the center consolidate all of its
programming under one roof as it's now scattered at multiple sites.
About 14,000 people used the services or attended programs at Atwood last year,
officials said.
In honor of the brothers, the new building will be called the Irwin A. and
Robert D. Goodman Community Center
