$800,000 gift to Geauga Family Y funds new fitness equipment

Paul and Kathryn Miller

The Geauga Family Y has received a major financial gift which will result in the purchase of new fitness equipment.

The gift came from the Miller Family Charitable Trust, established by the late Paul and Kathryn Miller.

Paul C. Miller, Jr. recently notified Geauga Family Y Executive Director Debbie Johnson of the gift from his residence in Bonita Springs, FL.

The gift will spur the purchase of new fitness equipment for the Geauga Family Y, said President and Chief Executive Officer Glenn Haley. The Y of Greater Cleveland will then buy out the lease on the current Geauga Family Y fitness equipment, thus allowing old equipment at other Greater Cleveland Y branches to be upgraded.

“We are deeply appreciative of the generosity of the Miller family in making this substantial gift to our Geauga branch,” Haley said.

The Miller Family has a long history of philanthropy with the Geauga Family Y. Through the years, they have contributed more than $2 million to the Chardon facility, which opened in 2003.

The Geauga Family Y Fitness Center is named in memory of William F. Miller, Sr., through the generous gifts of his family: Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Miller, Sr.; Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Miller, Jr.; Richard and Joyce Burke; James and Joanne Collins; the Randy and Kathy Mattson family; and the William and Dee Dee Miller family.

William F. Miller, Sr., was President of the Johnson Rubber Company from 1946-1979. He served as the company’s Chairman of the Board from 1969-1979 and Honorary Chairman of the Board during 1979-1980.

Mr. Miller was born in 1888 and passed away in 1986.

“The Miller family has been very dedicated to the Geauga community for many years,” said Johnson. “It’s very exciting to know that we have people so dedicated and committed to the Geauga Family Y.”