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East-of-the-river community leaders to help raise millions for the new YMCA
Area leaders rallying business and individual donors to bring services to community
With the leadership of several prominent community volunteers, plans for the new Eastern Regional YMCA in Ellington are gaining traction. Groundbreaking for the 40,000 square foot facility on Pinney Street is scheduled for summer 2008, and at the project’s completion the following year, east-of-the-river families in will have access to full-facility YMCA programs and services.
The YMCA of Greater Hartford has named as co-chairs of its Eastern Regional Major Gifts Committee, Gary Wolff of Tolland and Jim Wehr of South Windsor. Tom and Bette Wolff of Vernon have been named honorary co-chairs. The YMCA’s Eastern Regional Major Gifts Committee has already secured nearly $1.6 million of the $ 4 million fundraising goal for the project—including major donations from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Travelers, The Hartford, and Prudential Financial.
Co-chair Gary Wolff, president of Wolff Insurance in Vernon, is a member of the Greater Hartford YMCA Board of Directors. “We have an opportunity to make a difference on this side of the river,” says Wolff. “There are pockets of poverty in towns east-of-the-river, and the Eastern Regional YMCA will provide important benefits to the community—from the Read to Succeed adult literacy program, the Minority Achievers family mentoring program, to special exercise classes for those with health issues.”
Gary’s parents, Tom and Bette Wolff continue a tradition of local philanthropy by accepting the roles of honorary co-chairs of the Major Gifts Committee. Both are longtime community and business leaders in Vernon. “In this region, we may not have a concentration of the top income levels that you find in some other towns in Connecticut, but the people in this area have always responded to worthwhile endeavors that need the financial support of the community. I think they will give generously to bring the YMCA to this area,” says Tom.
It was a visit to the Wheeler Regional YMCA in Plainville that left an impression on Jim Wehr, senior executive vice president and chief investment officer for the Phoenix Companies, Inc. There, Wehr saw what the Eastern Regional YMCA could bring to families served by the new facility-- not only fitness and recreation, but a childcare center and a community activity center.
“Families were rolling in, women were bringing kids to childcare, seniors were visiting with each other-- this is something that our community, and families in our community, will benefit from,” says Wehr. “It’s always difficult to raise money, but once people become aware of what we’re planning here, it’s an easy mission to get behind. And the YMCA is an easy organization to get behind for what it stands for and what it does for the community,”
Once completed, the Eastern Regional YMCA will meet the growing demand for quality family services in the region. The facility will have warm and cool pools, a wellness center, fitness studios, a rock climbing wall, teen center, child care and child watch rooms, locker rooms and a café. Schools and civic organizations will be able to use the facility for meetings and events, and the facility will become a center for area youth and teen programs.
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The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded a grant of $1 million to the YMCA of Greater Hartford for the construction of two new YMCA facilities – $500,000 each for facilities on Albany Avenue in North Hartford and in Ellington. The YMCA of Greater Hartford operates ten locations in Greater Hartford, including the Wheeler Regional Family YMCA in Plainville, which serves Avon, Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Plainville, and Plymouth. The new facilities will provide a wide range of health, wellness, educational and recreational services and programs for all ages. Pictured with the young swimmer are from left to right: John Byrnes, Board Chair, YMCA of Greater Hartford, Mark F. Korber, Chair, Board of Directors, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and Kevin Washington, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Hartford. |
The YMCA of Greater Hartford is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization which serves more than 107,000 people in 41 towns across the Capital Region. YMCA programs put the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility into practice to build healthy spirit, mind and body for all participants.
Contact:
Natalie Zembrzuski, YMCA, 860-522-9622 ext: 2309
Gary Wolff: 860-896-2250; email: wolffinsurance@comcast.net
Jim Wehr: 860-403-5369; email: jim.wehr@phxinv.com
Tom Wolff: 860-896-2255; email: twolff2591@aol.com
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