100th CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

This season we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of KBIA, an organization that has meant so much to generations of children and their families.

In 1910, a group of year-round residents, hotel owners, and new summer residents formed a beach improvement society to ensure their vision of environmental preservation at Kennebunk Beach. Named the Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association, or KBIA, the organization was primarily concerned with safeguarding the natural environment, limiting commercial ventures and keeping the beaches clean, safe and accessible to the public.

This mission has inspired a succession of KBIA volunteer leaders and dedicated members for the past 100 years. Fifty years ago, with the donation of Strong Cottage by Mrs. Margaret Woodbury Strong and the purchase of The Dipsy Baths (now known as Smith House), programmed summer youth activities began at KBIA. From those early days of swimming lessons in the Cove, KBIA has expanded to its current programming; serving nearly 300 families and providing a wide variety of educational and enrichment activities to more than 500 children.

Today, we find ourselves part of a century old organization that has faithfully met a high standard of environmental protection and quality youth education – this generates no small feeling of responsibility. Suddenly, we realize that WE are in charge of setting the stage for the next 100 years of KBIA.

With this in mind, the KBIA Board of Directors set in motion a comprehensive multi-year strategic planning initiative. Following an extensive review, the Board determined that there is significant investment required to adequately support current programming, improve the structural integrity of the facilities and to meet present day compliance codes. The key components are described in more detail within the following pages.

We ask you to delve into the plan us your comments, questions and consider supporting the effort. We feel strongly that we owe it to the future generations and we owe it as a thank you to all those before us who provided a foundation for so many memorable summers. We hope you feel the same.

Sincerely,
Andrew Harrington, President, Board of Directors
Martin Lodish, Executive Director
Jonathan Turnbull, Chair of the Fundraising Committee