YMCA To Build Program In Northwest Arkansas
Founders Campaign Endeavors To Raise $600,000
Last updated Friday, April 27, 2007 8:13 PM CDT in News
By Richard Dean Prudenti
The Morning News
BENTONVILLE -- At least $600,000 is needed to build a YMCA program in Benton County over the next three years.
Anyone interested in learning more about the area's YMCA effort is welcome to attend a Founders Campaign Kick-Off at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Shewmaker Center, 1100 S.E. Eagle Way, at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.
The first milestone will be raising $200,000 from individuals and corporations to fund the first year of operation. That benchmark allows the organization to hire an executive director who can assist with fundraising efforts, said Kalene Griffith, vice chairman of the YMCA of Northwest Arkansas board.
"That will tell us we can raise the other $400,000," Griffith said.
Griffith said the local YMCA board invited to the kickoff "key leaders" in the community, including those from businesses and nonprofit organizations. However, the kickoff is open to everyone.
The founders campaign will also allow the organization to buy equipment and rent space for an office.
The YMCA intends to "fill in the gaps" rather than duplicate programs of other organizations. Initially, the YMCA's programing won't be facility-dependent, said Don Romoser, a local YMCA board member.
"We will build a facility (one day), but we have to determine the needs and geographic location," Romoser said.
Every YMCA makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate. Child care, teen leadership and sports clubs for older adults may be offered in one community, while another town's YMCA provides swim lessons, adventure guides and after school programming in local schools.
More family activities are needed in the area, Griffith said.
"One of the things we found out from our first feasibility study was that there weren't as many family-type of activities. There are things to do for kids, and there are things to do for adults," she said.
The YMCA is intended to serve Northwest Arkansas, not just Bentonville and Benton County. Griffith said the YMCA intends to partner with other civic groups, schools, churches and local sports organizations and doesn't want to compete with these organizations.
"Our goal is to collaborate to assist groups like Boys and Girls Club of Benton County in serving their kids," Griffith said.
For more information on the YMCA of Northwest Arkansas, visit www.ymcanwa.org or call 464-3540 or 426-2344. You may e-mail comments to info@ymcanwa.org.
At A Glance
The YMCA is a not-for-profit, volunteer organization that welcomes all people through affordable fees and/or financial assistance. The organization's mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirits, minds and bodies.
Source: YMCA of Northwest Arkansas
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