For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Helm, President and CEO
Phone Number: 937.223.5201
Fax Number: 937.223.3997
YMCA OF GREATER DAYTON LAUNCHES
FIRST YMCA NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
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 congregation’s 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.
