Member News – June 8, 2022
Berwick Area YMCA Announces Community Phase of Capital Campaign
At a groundbreaking ceremony for a new gymnasium, The Berwick Area YMCA announced the start of the community phase of fundraising for their planned capital project. The new gymnasium is Phase 1 of the $5.5 million expansion. Phases 2 and 3 include new wellness facilities to better meet the needs of community health, expanded parking and a new STEM activity lab to better prepare youth with 21st century job skills. “We began planning for this moment almost immediately after our last capital expansion in 2010” said Berwick Y CEO Nick Pajovich. “We knew that to truly meet the needs in our community, we needed to continue to grow and develop more programs. To date we have raised $5.1 million dollars which equals 94% of our $5.5 million dollar project cost. This project is all about uniting our community and inviting the residents to join us in this exciting campaign that will ensure we can help even more people on their journey for a better life and give children the best start possible. .We need our community’s help to reach our goal so we can complete all three phases of the project. The opening of the new facilities will be a transformative moment for the community.”
Since the last capital expansion, YMCA membership has grown and the Y no longer has the space to accommodate the need for services and can no longer expand any new programs. The Berwick Y is now the largest provider of childcare services in the county, as well as one of the largest providers of anti-hunger programs. “We identify community needs and develop programs and solutions that meet those needs,” said Pajovich. “These new facilities will allow us to expand programs that prevent chronic disease, develop other healthy lifestyle initiatives that will impact the health of our community, ensure that kids and teens have a safe place with positive role models, expand our anti-hunger programs to reduce food insecurity among kids and families in the community and create opportunities for seniors to stay active and social. The improved parking will eliminate barriers to seniors and the disabled and allow more people access to our programs, and the new STEM lab will give youth and teens the opportunity to discover skills and talents that will serve them for a lifetime. The possibilities of what we can accomplish with these new facilities are truly endless.”
To help the cause, the Community Giving Foundation has provided a challenge grant to the project. In addition to the $250,000.00 they have already committed, the Foundation will match, dollar for dollar, the next $50,000.00 pledged to the campaign. To support the campaign, contact the YMCA. Donations are also being accepted through the Berwick Area YMCA webpage, www.berwicky.org.