From left, Dr. Robert Romines, Superintendent of Moore Public Schools, receives a $500,000 check from Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief Director Sam Porter and Executive Director-Treasurer Dr. Anthony L. Jordan. The funds, which were presented on April 23, will help build a 1,600-person storm shelter at Central Elementary/Junior High in Moore. (Photo: Jonathan Burkhart, BGCO)
MOORE, Okla.–The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s (BGCO) Disaster Relief organization presented a $500,000 donation on Wednesday to the Moore Public Schools to build a 1,600-person storm shelter at a school in Moore.
The BGCO, which has an ongoing involvement in the response and rebuilding after the May 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes, is designating the gift for Central Elementary School and Central Junior High School in Moore, both located off Interstate 35.
“We are privileged to present the Moore Schools with this check to help fund a storm shelter building at Central in Moore, which will benefit an estimated 1,600 students, teachers, and staff,” said Dr. Anthony L. Jordan, BGCO Executive Director-Treasurer. “This investment is made possible because of the generosity of thousands of Baptists and others who gave toward Oklahoma Baptists’ disaster relief and recovery work,” added Jordan.
Moore Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines appeared with Jordan and other BGCO officials at the school site of Central Elementary School and Central Junior High School, where the storm shelter facility will be constructed.
“We are grateful beyond words for this investment by Oklahoma Baptists, which will mean so much peace of mind and provided safety to so many families,” said Romines.
“When disaster struck last May, the BGCO and its volunteers were on the front lines of the response and recovery efforts,” said Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin. ”Oklahoma Baptists disaster relief served thousands of meals to victims and volunteers, and cleared debris from more than 1,200 home sites.”
“This latest donation shows the continued commitment of the BGCO and its leadership to the safety and well-being of Oklahoma families. Their generosity will mean thousands of children will now be safer in the event of an emergency, and their parents will have the comfort of knowing they have a secure place to go during a storm or tornado. My thanks go out to the BGCO and its members for their continued great work on behalf of our Oklahoma community.”
Also attending the announcement of the gift were the BGCO Disaster Relief Director, Sam Porter, the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, Todd Lamb, as well as others from the Moore community.
“We challenge all of the relief agencies to get involved in a similar fashion as Oklahoma Baptists, working to provide safety to the students of the great state of Oklahoma,” said Porter.
