COEUR d'ALENE — The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene turns 10 on May 11.

The community is invited to birthday events from this Sunday through May 11.

Activities include:

- Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — kick-off event in the Kroc Theater, followed by free lunch, games, and activities. (Guest speakers include granddaughter of Joan Kroc, Amanda Latimer, and previous Coeur d'Alene Kroc Center leadership Majs. Ben and JoAnn Markham and Lt. Cols. John and Lani Chamness.)

- Wednesday, 4-7 p.m. — free barbecue on the patio

- May 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — community open house with free access to the pools, gym, rock wall and more

- May 5-11: The community is invited to record a special message for the 10-year time capsule at kroccda.org/10years.

The Kroc Center annually benefits one in three residents in Kootenai County and provides more than $20 million in social and economic benefits to the local community based on a study done by Partners for Sacred Places in 2015.

"Dream of great things to come and vow to be ready to receive them when they do come," wrote the late Joan Kroc, benefactor of 26 Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Centers built between 2002 and 2013.

Her vision was to build state-of-the-art recreational and arts facilities in underserved communities throughout the nation to ensure that all walks of life have equal opportunities to discover and grow their natural talents.

Former Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem, Sue Thilo, Jack Riggs and a small group of local community advocates dreamed of great things for North Idaho when they began the application process for a Kroc Center grant in 2004.

At the time, Kootenai County did not have a community center, had few opportunities for youth to be engaged after school and even fewer options for indoor swimming and swim lessons.

Fast forward to 2019 and not only did Coeur d’Alene beat hefty competitors in Boise, Seattle and Tacoma to receive a coveted Kroc Center grant, but the center is showing unprecedented community impact.

Since opening on May 11, 2009, 20,140 individuals have learned to swim at The Kroc Center, 4.2 billion miles have been logged on treadmills and cardio equipment, and 406,993 theater goers have enjoyed 1,987 productions from Christian Youth Theatre, Out of the Shadows for aspiring actors with special needs, and other performing artists.