Dating back to FY09, after a City-led strategic project and much City Council committee research, the formation of a hybrid foundation called the Sugar Land Legacy Foundation was established.  The City’s motivation was to create the ability to fund capital projects that are more related to quality-of-life enhancements and exceed the City’s financial capacity.

With the concurrence of the City Council, the Certificate of Formation was filed in 2010, outlining that the Sugar Land Legacy Foundation is a non-profit corporation established to support “the City of Sugar Land, Texas, in the City’s acquisition, ownership, construction, development, improvement, operation, or maintenance of land and facilities owned or controlled by the City of Sugar Land, including land, facilities, and activities for recreation, entertainment, sports, the arts, and similar activities that might benefit the citizens of the City of Sugar Land.”  Accordingly, the City Council approved the bylaws in June 2010 and appointed the first Board of Directors in October 2010.

The Foundation is guided by its vision, mission and values – which are listed below:

• Vision:  Leaving a Legacy by Enhancing Sugar Land’s Quality of Life

• Mission:  The Sugar Land Legacy Foundation promotes community investment in facilities and activities that enhance the long-term prosperity and quality of life of Sugar Land residents

• Core Values:  Advocating diversity of culture, race, ethnicity, religion and age; Ensuring transparency, accountability and fairness in all dealings; and Promoting service to the community

Since its inception, the Foundation has:

• Transferred several donations for public art to the City of Sugar Land

• Facilitated the completion of the Veterans Memorial at Sugar Land Memorial Park

• Facilitated Improvements to Eldridge Park Trail

• Completed a campaign for $200,000 to fund the Universally Accessible Playground at First Colony Park

• Continued collecting donations for brick pavers, which honor veterans, at Sugar Land Memorial Park

On November 16, 2016, City Council offered direction to the Sugar Land Legacy Foundation for future priority projects.  As part of this report, the Legacy Foundation will provide a status update on each of the priority projects, which include:

• TIRZ No. 4 Plaza Pavilion

• Memorialization of SL Memorial Park

• Sugar Land Heritage Foundation Museum Exhibit Build-Out

Additionally, this past year, the Foundation began implementing its updated strategic plan refining its strategic goals and objectives.  In the coming year, the Foundation plans to expand the Board by two additional positions bringing the overall board size to ten (10) positions.

The Legacy Foundation bylaws state that the President is to provide an annual report to the City Council on the organization’s activities and financial condition.  Accordingly, Mr. Sunil Sharma, President of the Legacy Foundation, will provide the City Council with a summary of the previous year’s activities, as well as previewing upcoming goals for the Foundation.