On its biggest night of the year, the Jackson YMCA made a very big announcement.
At the Strong Kids, Strong Communities Campaign kickoff event, held Nov. 2 at the Richmond Brothers airport hangar, the Jackson YMCA launched the public phase of a Capital Campaign. The goal is to raise $25 million by Dec. 25, 2017, to build a new YMCA facility in downtown Jackson. The current facility, which had more than 200,000 member check-ins in 2016, is 55 years old, not fully accessible to those with limited mobility, and deteriorating rapidly.
“We desperately need a new building, and I’m humbled by the overwhelming support of the community,” said Jackson YMCA CEO Shawna Tello. “Everything we do at the Y is for the benefit of the entire community. A new facility is necessary not only to continue to offer our current programs but also do even more to improve the health and well-being of Jackson.”
With the Jackson YMCA having been in the quiet phase of the Capital Campaign, board members say the level of initial support from individuals and corporate / similar entities is encouraging.
“This idea of $25 million by December 25 came to me in August, and I could not get it out of my mind,” said Matt Curfman, President of the Jackson YMCA Board of Directors. “I had to find a way to make it happen. I have seen the work leading up to this moment. I feel strongly that the time is now and that the community will be incredibly supportive of this cause. The Y touches so many people.”
Of the $25 million, approximately $20 million would go to a 70,000-square-foot facility that would include an Aquatics Center, space for all-day child care and early childhood education
programs, and much more. About $1 million would cover debt and expenses, and $4 million would go to an endowment to help make the Y sustainable for the next half century or more.
The YMCA board voted unanimously to proceed with the Capital Campaign on Sept 27. As of Thursday Nov. 2, approximately $10 million has been committed.
To follow along with the “25” theme, the Y also is asking members and program participants to pledge $25 X 25, or $25 per month for 25 months. The monthly tax-deductible contribution, which is the cost of less than a date-night dinner or trip to the movies for a family of four, gives individuals the opportunity to play a key role in building the new facility.
For the second consecutive year, Richmond Brothers on Nov. 2 hosted the Strong Kids, Strong Communities Campaign (SKSC) kickoff event. Attendees were treated to dinner and entertainment from popular tribute band Your Generation in Concert and heard testimonies from Y members on how the Y has changed their lives.
The annual SKSC Campaign makes it possible for the YMCA to provide financial assistance for membership and program participation. In 2016, the Jackson Y awarded more than $200,000 in financial assistance.
“This campaign is at the heart of everything we do,” Tello said. “It is a unique situation, because we have two campaigns launching at the same time. While we are committed to raising funds for a new Y, we need to continue to offer the financial assistance that so many individuals and families depend on for care after school, during the summer and more. Both share one common goal, however: To build a better Y and build a stronger community.”
