Northbrook, IL After successfully overcoming once-crippling debt and past operational challenges, the North Suburban YMCA is now moving forward to launch Phase II of their Capital Campaign: Investing in a Healthier Community. The Y is looking to raise $4 million to expand and renovate the building located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook in an effort to meet the ever increasing demands for Y services.
In 2008, with the generosity of many of the area’s corporate and private citizens who share in the Y’s tradition of service to the community, the Y reached and exceeded their Phase I goal – raising $3.3 million to relieve all past debt and begin basic and essential repairs to the facility.
“This is the exciting part”, said Bob Dahlke, Jr, NSYMCA Board President and lifetime Northbrook resident. “By improving the Y, we’re making a more vibrant community, creating a facility that everyone in the area can be proud of.”
The Y’s plans include upgrading and modernizing the facility to make it fully ADA compliant, allowing accessibility for all; expanding the facility space by up to 15,000 square feet to increase indoor fitness and wellness studios, adding additional children’s and family program spaces, installing a new indoor warm water therapy pool, replacing the existing playground with a new fully accessible one, renovating and upgrading the locker rooms and child care facilities, and replacing the Y’s outdated mechanical and HVAC equipment with new, energy efficient, “green” technology systems.
These plans come after several years of data-driven knowledge derived from member and community surveys, key stakeholder interviews, a competitive market analysis and primary market area study, and a demographic analysis.
“Even the Northbrook Park District’s recent community study confirmed the need for more indoor wellness space, so we are thrilled to be launching Phase 2 of our campaign at this auspicious moment to help address that need,” said Howard Schultz, Executive Director/CEO of the NSYMCA. He went on to say that the Y has maintained dialogues with a number of other community agencies about the potential for partnering in the expansion of the Y, and those conversations are continuing.
The Y’s mission has also ensured that no one is left behind due to an inability to pay for services. Over the past year, the Y has stepped in to help the community during these tough economic times including responding to an unprecedented number of requests for additional assistance through the Strong Kids Scholarship Fund and Island in the Storm Initiative, and most recently donating space to the North Suburban Career and Networking Center.
The YMCA is a not-for-profit entity and relies on donations to fund capital improvements and transform the facility. All board members including Phase II co-chairs, Phil Ruben, Dave Otis, and Don Roth are community volunteers, who donate their time, talents and financial resources. Located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook, the YMCA has served area families in its twelve city region, for over 40 years. Their mission is to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities through family-focused programming accessible to all. For more information or to make a donation contact Howard Schultz at 847-272-7250.
