NEWS RELEASE
YMCA OF SIMCOE MUKSOKA
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The YMCA is launching the “Midland Y: Stronger Together” campaign to support its efforts to reopen the Midland health, fitness and aquatics location at Little Lake Park.
“We understand how important the Midland Y is to this community – tens of thousands of people have benefited from our programs and services over the years,” said the Y’s newly appointed CEO, Jill Tettmann. “But the reality is we need the support of our community to open our doors.”
Tettmann added that, “every dollar raised through this campaign will stay in Midland to support our reopening efforts over the next 12 months.” Earlier this fall, the YMCA approached the municipalities of Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay to financially support their reopening efforts; the Y was offered a low interest loan. Kirby Wagg, chair of the local YMCA’s board of directors explains that “while we greatly appreciate the offer of a loan, as a charity we cannot take on any further debt at this time.”
The good news is, the Y is well on its way to achieving its goal.
“We are hoping to raise $500,000, and so far we have raised over $260,000 from the Midland community” shared General Manager, Naomi Murray, “We are feeling optimistic and appreciative for the community support we have already received.”
The funds raised through the “Stronger Together” campaign will cover necessary capital repairs to the Midland facility, as well as offset operating costs over the next twelve months. The Midland location needs 1,900 members per month to break even; based on results across the country, the Y is anticipating approximately 1,300 members when it reopens its doors.
“That shortfall of six hundred members a month represents approximately $250,000 over a twelve-month period,” explains Murray.
Prior to closing last March, the Midland Y had over 3,000 members. While the Y’s health and aquatics facility has not reopened, the local charity continues to serve Midland and the surrounding area through licensed child care, before and after school care, employment services, youth counselling, day camps, and is preparing to reopen Camp Kitchikewana next summer.
Earlier this year, the YMCA announced that it would not be reopening its Barrie, Orillia, and Parry Sound locations as a result of economic realities facing the charity as the result of Covid-19. The YMCA has recently reopened its Collingwood and Innisfil facilities.
The Y announced it is planning to reopen its Wasaga Beach and Gravenhurst health and aquatic facilities in the new year; the Y received financial support from its municipal partners in these two communities to support its reopening efforts.
Online donations to support the reopening of the Midland YMCA can be made at www.midlandstrongertogether.ca.
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