COEUR d'ALENE - Call it a halftime adjustment.

A sizable pledge from a charitable trust that usually focuses on education and development causes has Kootenai Youth Recreation Organization shifting its game plan on the fundraising future for the $2.8 million, yet-to-be-completed ice arena off Seltice Way.

First the bad news: A grand opening date could still be a ways down the road.

Now the good news: The nonprofit received word Nov. 18 that it was awarded $150,000 from MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, a Pacific Northwest giant that gives millions to educational and human service organizations.

"Ecstatic," Matthew Beam, KYRO's president, said of his reaction. "It pushes us a lot closer to an opening date."

Progress inside and outside the 37,000-square-foot building is measurable, with the trailhead to the Centennial Trail completed and some of the parking lot spaces taking shape.

The grant comes with conditions. The money kicks in as the last $150,000 of the fundraising drive, meaning $650,000 of the original $800,000 total has to be raised before the trust money can come.

That leaves $237,517 to raise before the windfall can be secured.

Strings or no, the grant shows that the support is out there to turn the ice skating dream into a reality. Added to that, KYRO was told when applying for the grant that the Murdock Trust generally hasn't supported recreational projects recently in light of the economy, Beam said. But its founder, the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, co-founder of Tektronix, Inc., did support ice-skating sports when he was alive.

That seemingly perfect fit helped KYRO nab the grant, which Beam said he hopes springs more fundraising to finish the project once and for all.

"It shows that commitment," Beam said.

Dave Coleman, Trust program director, couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

"In addition to a special interest in education and scientific research, the Trust partners with a wide variety of organizations that serve the arts, public affairs, health and medicine, human services, leadership development, and persons with disabilities," The Trust's mission statement says on its website.

Now the shift in the fundraising goal:

In August, KYRO's goal was to raise $150,000, which would have helped it secure a bank loan for around $350,000. That loan would have gotten the doors open, but a condition of the trust grant is the money raised can't be loan money. So the trust grant wouldn't kick in with loan money anyway; only for dollars actually raised.

It was enough of a financial commitment to make KYRO call an audible. Even though an opening date can't be scheduled yet, the KYRO team is upbeat.

"It all sounds pretty encouraging," Beam said.

To donate visit www.kyro.org or call Beam at 765-4423.