In 1986, the family of Lettie W. Jensen, who was a former resident of Amherst, generously presented a gift in memoriam of one million dollars to the Tomorrow River communities for the construction and operation of a community center. The Jensen Community Center was to be a place committed to supporting Tomorrow River area residents of all ages by providing cultural, social, academic, business, recreational, and health related activities.
The Jensen Community Center opened in August 1988, providing excellent accommodations including a community room, kitchen, game room, and meeting rooms. The original plans included an auditorium shell. In 1991, over $105,000 was raised for completion of our 242 seat auditorium. The grand opening for the auditorium was held on November 6, 1994. The auditorium serves the community well through use by Tomorrow River Chautauqua, the School District of the Tomorrow River, and other local organizations. In March of 2003, the Jensen Center began publishing the Community Spirit; a newspaper filled with school district announcements and good news from our local community, reaching over 6,000 readers.
The Amherst Area Foundation, Inc. is charged with overseeing both the day to day operation of the Jensen Community Center and the management of the endowment funds. We are deeply committed to the communities we serve, and look to our employees and volunteers to share our commitment to the best operation of our community center.
