Your Gift will allow us to:

Tackle childhood and adult obesity
Provide safe places for youth & teens
Reduce chronic disease
Promote healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility
Be a beacon for collaboration, diversity and inclusion
Provide additional community programs
Expand our nurturing, affordable child care

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When will the fund-raising campaign begin?

The campaign is already underway. It began after the YMCA of Greater Cleveland Board of Directors approved the campaign and followed the completion of a feasibility study and months of work by a Capital Campaign Readiness Committee, made up of Board of Directors members, YMCA staff, and community volunteers. Some work has already commenced, including visits with potential major donors who have abilities at all levels to make the campaign a reality for the Greater Cleveland YMCA Association.

What is the focus and theme of the campaign?

The theme of the campaign, which seeks to raise $15 million over the next three years, is “Strengthening the Foundation of Community.” The campaign focuses specifically on the YMCA of Greater Cleveland’s urban initiatives in the city of Cleveland, including the development of a new Downtown YMCA, expanding and improving urban programming initiatives and expansion and improvement of the existing West Park-Fairview Family YMCA. The campaign also focuses on both Inner Ring and Outer Ring Communities served by the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and seeks to provide funding to develop a brand new Warrensville Heights Family YMCA (in partnership with the city of Warrensville Heights) and expand and improve the existing Euclid Family YMCA. In the Outer Ring Communities, the campaign includes the development of a new North Royalton Family YMCA and a new Hillcrest Family YMCA branch in Lyndhurst, to replace the aging, existing facility on Mayfield Road.

How will the campaign dollars be allocated in keeping with the focus of the campaign?

IIn the city of Cleveland:
• $7 million for the development of a new Downtown branch, serving the growing needs of an expanding Downtown business and residential community
• $2 million for the expansion/improvement of the West Park-Fairview branch to enhance membership and serve more families, teens, and children
• $2 million for the expansion/support of urban programming initiatives with an emphasis on programs for children, youth and families.
In the Inner Ring Communities:
• $3 million for the expansion/improvement of the Euclid branch to better serve a community where many residents are struggling economically
• $1 million for the development of a new Warrensville Heights branch, (the city of Warrensville Heights is contributing $9 million), and with a special focus on youth and teen-related programs.

In the Outer Ring Communities:
• $7 million for the development of a new Hillcrest branch (in Lyndhurst), to better meet the programmatic and health and wellness needs of the greater Hillcrest area
• $3 million for the development of a new North Royalton branch (the city of North Royalton is contributing $2.2 million), allowing us to offer YMCA programs and services to a previously untapped population.

What will be the amenities at each of the new branches?

The new Warrensville Heights Family YMCA will include:

45,000-square-feet of space
A competitive/recreational hybrid swimming pool
Gymnasium and Locker Rooms
Wellness/Fitness Area
Multipurpose rooms
Special areas for both teens and children including ChildWatch
Outside play areas including a playground

The new Warrensville Heights Family YMCA will be constructed on a 16-acre site which will also be home to a new branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. Both the new Y and the Library are being constructed using sustainable design concepts. The majority of funding for the new Y is coming from the city of Warrensville Heights, with the YMCA of Greater Cleveland fund-raising for the rest.

The new North Royalton Family YMCA will include the following amenities:

48,000-square-feet of space, approximately 7,000-square-feet of which will be devoted to a new Parma Community General Hospital rehabilitation center with its own separate entrance
A new state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool
A gymnasium
Health and Wellness Center
ChildWatch area
A meeting center for senior citizens
Child Care facilities on site, offering before-and-after-school child care.
Construction costs are being paid for by the YMCA of Greater Cleveland which has embarked on efforts to raise between $6 and $7 million.

When will the new facilites open to the public?

Both the Warrensville Heights and North Royalton Family YMCAs are on target to open in late spring 2012. Groundbreakings for both were held in May 2011.

Why do these communities need new YMCA facilities?

Each community’s needs are different. In Warrensville Heights, there has been an expressed need for programming that is centered around youth and teens, in particular. There is also a need for the recreational aspects the Y provides, since the city has no established recreation center. The intention is that the Warrensville facility will be – like all other Greater Cleveland YMCAs – a community gathering place for children, teens, adults, families and senior citizens.

In North Royalton, there is a very strong need for the planned indoor swimming pool, as well as the recreational programming the new Y will offer. The city does not have its own recreation center, and residents are clamoring for what the Y will bring to their community.

How is a YMCA of Greater Cleveland facility different from a private health club or gym?

A YMCA is all about people and programs. We are family-centered. The facilities will exist to provide service and strengthen not only individuals and families, respectively, but the community at-large. YMCA programs are specifically designed to develop the strong character values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility. Unlike private gyms, the Y provides financial assistance to those who need it – we are open to all and we serve all, and no one is turned away for the inability to pay.