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YMCA of Greater Dayton Launches First YMCA Neighborhood Development Center

25 May 2004

For Immediate Release

Contact: Tim Helm, President and CEO
Phone Number: 937.223.5201
Fax Number: 937.223.3997

May 25, 2004 - The YMCA of Greater Dayton is pleased to announce the launch of its first YMCA Neighborhood Development Center. This Center is a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Dayton, Dixon United Methodist Church and the Dayton Academy and will be located at the current West YMCA facility at 4415 Dayton Liberty Road.

For the past two years, the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Dayton and the West YMCA Board of Advisors have been developing a plan to improve the delivery of programs and services to the West Dayton community. A consulting firm has helped to facilitate this process by working with community leaders, neighborhood residents, staff and volunteers. As a result of this effort, the YMCA Neighborhood Development Center model was developed to serve children and families in both the West and East neighborhoods of the City of Dayton.

This new model will allow the YMCA of Greater Dayton to serve a broader community of children and families as expanded programs and services are offered to core neighborhoods in both East and West Dayton, said Tim Helm, president and CEO for the YMCA of Greater Dayton. The YMCA

Neighborhood Development Centers will be able to leverage both organizational and community resources to launch and sustain this initiative.

Joey D. Williams, Dayton City Commissioner and Division Manager of Commercial Banking at Bank One, said, "I am pleased the YMCA has developed a creative way to collaborate with Dixon United Methodist Church so they can continue to support the West YMCA. I am also excited about the prospects of not only supporting this site, but expanding the YMCA's

Neighborhood Development Centers to other areas where children and families need constructive, healthy, and exciting activities.

Rev. Bob Biekman, Pastor of Dixon UMC, said, At Dixon we are Reaching Out and Raising Up. The creation of a Wellness and Worship Center at what is currently the West YMCA facility and gaining strong community partners, brings together resources and relationships necessary for stepping outside the box and realizing our congregations God-given passion and vision for reaching out to the community while at the same time raising up physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy Christian families.

The new YMCA Neighborhood Development Centers will provide for a significant increase in programs and services based on the use of expanded and shared resources. While there will be a reduction in hours of operation for the pool and fitness center at the Dixon UMC site, YMCA Neighborhood Development Center members can look forward to additional after school programs, counseling programs, expanded activities and events for teens, additional youth sports programs, youth leadership programs, family support programs and more! As a member of a YMCA Neighborhood Development Center, there will be many opportunities to participate in a variety of programs and services for youth and families. Financial assistance is also available, as in all YMCA programs and services, allowing for the greatest accessibility for all members of our community.

We envision an ability to have a greater impact on children and families through the Neighborhood Development Centers, said Tony Boddie, current Board Chair for the West YMCA and Vice President for Small Business at Key Bank. An exciting partnership model is being embraced to maximize stewardship within communities to support cooperation that benefits the collective future of our communities.

Future YMCA Neighborhood Development Centers are in the process of being confirmed. The YMCA of Greater Dayton plans to open another Center by the end of this year with additional Centers developing in the Spring of 2005. For more information please call Tim Helm, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Dayton at (937) 223-5201.