“I received tremendous support from the staff and the people I work out with. It’s like on Cheers, where everyone knows your name. When I hit a plateau, my classmates keep me going.”
Jason Fleming, who lost 100 lbs. at the Downtown Y
“I really look forward to coming to the Downtown Y. I eat my breakfast, I let my dog out. But, my day really starts at the Y.”
Cynthia Kerr
A NEW DOWNTOWN FAMILY YMCA
The Downtown Family YMCA was originally dedicated in 1912 as the Central YMCA. The building contained 252 dormitories that were rented to young men who had recently arrived in Cleveland.
In 2009, the Y sold the aging building located at 2200 Prospect Avenue East to Cleveland State University. The college currently uses space on the second through eighth floors to house their students.
The Y leases the first floor for its membership facility and Community Youth Services Administrative Office, while the ninth floor is for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland’s Association Office. Ninety-nine years after its grand opening, the Downtown branch is still a home away from home for many, as the Y continues to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Money that is donated to the Y flows through the non profit organization and back out into the communities it serves. The Y’s policy is to turn no one away due to the inability to pay. In 2010, the Downtown Y provided more $300,790 in indirect financial aid by subsidizing the cost of child care, aquatics and sports and fitness programs by making them more affordable and by offering some of them at no charge. That same year, the Downtown branch awarded $90,427 in membership scholarships and $9,694 in program scholarships. Downtown volunteers contributed $76,960 worth of their time to the Y and Downtown Y staff contributed $1,250 worth of their talent to other community groups. Area non-profits were also given $14,435 worth of subsidized facility use.
The new Downtown Family YMCA will have 30,000 to 40,000 square feet of health, wellness and fitness space, in addition to 10,000-square-feet for corporate offices. It will include a 4,000 to 5,000-square-foot cardio, strength and weight room, as well as an aerobic room, yoga/stretch room, cycling room, a three-lane lap pool, a half court basketball gym, men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers and saunas, a co-ed whirlpool, staff offices, and a small meeting room. The new facility and its higher traffic location will allow the Y to serve even more people who are in need of its youth development, healthy living and social responsibility programs and continue to be a home away from home.
To make a contribution to the Campaign, contact Toni Kayumi, Vice President of Financial Development and Government Relations, at tkayumi@clevelandymca.org or by phone at (216) 263-6844.