When David Robinson walked into the Carver Community Cultural Center, he saw a way to give something back to this economically-depressed community, located just a few blocks from where Robinson's NBA champion San Antonio Spurs play, the New York Times reports.

He came to the Carver -- an arts center on the east side of San Antonio -- in 1997 to talk about a possible donation to the organization, at the time operating on a $1.4 million annual budget and planning to start a capital campaign. He left deciding to give $5 million to build a school for children in the Carver's neighborhood.

Robinson delivered on his promise and groundbreaking on the new school, to be located next to the Carver and to be called the Carver Academy, was held Monday, Aug. 30th.

After going from a large gift to a completed project, however, Carver staff now know how much strain a large gift can mean for an organization inexperienced at handling such capital projects, the Times reports.

Jo Long, director of the Carver for 23 years, had dreamed of a school to go along with the arts institution the Carver was becoming. She was unable to go to the groundbreaking ceremony because of a breakdown she and other staffers attribute to the stress of the effort, the Times reports.

Along with that crisis, the Carver Development Board -- formed in 1987 -- had to be reconstructed to bring in lawyers, bankers and capital projects experts needed to carry out the project, the Times reports.

In addition, the $5 million gift was given with Robinson's permission to use it as challenge grants. The board has raised $3.5 million of the $6 million needed for both renovations at the Carver and the new school, the Times reports. Most of these funds were raised by Long.

Still, despite the stresses and strains of adjusting to such a large project, the Carver is already showing benefits, the Times reports.

The city -- which had been trying to cut funding for the Carver -- has decided to leave the budget alone for now and is helping to acquire property for the center and the school. In addition, a large mixed-use complex full of offices, residences and manufacturing is being developed in an old manufacturing plant near the school.

The Carver Academy is scheduled to admit its first students in the 2001-02 school year. It will be an independent elementary school that runs a rigorous academic curriculum, the Times reports. The renovated Carver Center will open at the same time.

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