Kubota Tractors donates $10,000 towards Willard PAL’s Camp Character

Last summer, the Willard Police Action League (PAL) was a finalist for a $100,000 grant in Kubota’s Hometown Proud Project competition, with the intention of using the funds towards their Camp Character. They didn’t win (Chief Tom McClain believes they placed fourth in the competition), but on Tuesday, Dec. 7, Kubota presented PAL with a check for $10,000 for Camp Character’s development.
Looking for success
Kubota donated the money because they wanted to see Camp Character succeed, McClain said.
“They said they so appreciated our project and the community momentum behind getting us the grant that they wanted to reward us with funds to help us achieve our goals,” he said.
McClain said PAL would use the funds, along with funds they raised on Giving Tuesday, towards building up Camp Character.
“We will use the both the Kubota funds and our Giving Tuesday funds to help pay for the launching pad for our big dog zipline, our insurance and National PAL membership fees (and) signage to facilitate our mission of strengthening kids in our four core pillar areas: responsibility, honor, self-control and discernment,” he said. “We still have another mile of trail to cut through our woods and that may entail hiring an operator with a skid steer.”
McClain said the donation will allow PAL to build upon improvements they have already made to Camp Character.
“Since the close of the Hometown Proud Grant campaign, we have put in water lines, (electricity), zip-lines, a bridge into the campground and an assortment of other improvements,” he said.
Additionally, McClain said Camp Character will hold its grand opening this spring.
“We (will) offer hiking, archery, ziplining, outdoor cooking and mentoring in our four core areas,” he said.