From Staff Reports

After many years of work and dreaming about having a new YMCA, plans are now underway to break ground in October, 2004.

Only eight months into the capital campaign, volunteers from the YMCA are proud to announce the campaign has already reached over $1.5 million.

Construction of the new building is expected to take 12-15 months for completion.

In the next several months, YMCA volunteers will continue in their work to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the project.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response to our preliminary campaign requests,” says John Calame, Co-Chair of the Campaign Steering Committee.

“While we still have a long way to reach our goal, we are off to a great start.

This dream for our community will finally become a reality after many years of planning and hard work.”

Just this week, the YMCA received their largest gift to date from the W. Leon Jones family to fund the aquatic center which will be named in his honor.

The indoor pool was one of the top needs expressed by families in the market study.

The aquatic center will include two pools – a cool water lap swimming, teaching and exercise pool and a warm water pool which will be used for arthritic exercise classes in the mornings as well as serving as a family water park for children and families during the day with water toys, fountains and a water slide.

Jones family representatives said, “Our father, an original owner of Bush Hog, has served as a member of the Industrial Development Board and the YMCA Board of Directors.

He knows the significant contribution that the YMCA makes to the citizens of Selma.

We hope that this announcement will encourage others to contribute to this wonderful project for our community.”

Another significant source of funding has come through a collaboration developed with Vaughan

Community Health Services.

“While we are a non-profit as well and don’t typically give away donations, we think of this as more of a partnership and a cost effective way for us to further our mission of community wellness through education and prevention,” said Kim Cogle, Executive Director of Vaughan Community Health Services.

The sense of urgency for the campaign has never been greater as the YMCA prepares to put shovels in the ground.

“We want to be able to build all the features the market study said the community wants, and we still need funding for several of the features such as the gymnasium, child care center and outdoor spray park,” says Angie Miller, CEO of the YMCA.

“Gifts to the YMCA campaign may be spread over

a 3-5 year period.

We just need to have pledge commitments now as we plan what to include in the building.”

All of the charter donors who make their gift prior to the October groundbreaking will be recognized at the groundbreaking ceremony.

During the construction period, additional funds will be raised to complete the project, and the entire community will have an opportunity to participate and leave a legacy through the new YMCA.

The project architect, McKee and Associates, and contractor, Cooper Brothers Construction Company, are hard at work with pre-construction planning for the $5 million, 41,500 square foot family center.

The staff is already beginning to plan for all the diverse programs which will be able to be offered to children and families through the new facility.

Ted Henry, Co-Chair of the YMCA Campaign added, “I see the YMCA as an integral part of building the future we want for our community…from economic development and promoting quality of life to building strong kids and families and bringing our diverse community together.

The investment we make in this project will bring great returns and impact the lives of thousands of people for generations to come.”

Members of the YMCA Campaign Steering Committee Include:

John Calame, Co-Chair, Ted Henry, Co-Chair, James Beardon, Reid Cain, John Crear, Molly Gamble, Catesby Jones, Ronnie Leet, Juanda Maxwell, Johnny Morris, Archie Reeves, Julius Talton, Sr., Fred Williams and Dr. Lee Youngblood

For information about the new YMCA and how you can help, contact Angie Miller at 334-412-9622.