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YMCA of Greater Hartford awarded a $850,000 challenge grant for a new YMCA Youth and Family Center in North Hartford

The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan has awarded an $850,000 challenge grant to the YMCA of Greater Hartford to complete the capital campaign for the new YMCA Youth and Family Center at 430 Albany Avenue in North Hartford. The grant, which is made on a challenge basis to assist the YMCA in raising the balance of funds required to complete its capital campaign goal, will be applied toward the construction of the new facility at the corner of Albany Avenue and Brook Street.

According to the Kresge challenge, the YMCA of Greater Hartford must raise an additional $1,715,512 by June 1, 2009 in order to receive the grant funds. To date, over $8.8 million has been raised for the nearly 42,000 sq. ft. facility, which will serve as a town green style community center for Hartford's Clay/Arsenal and Upper Albany Avenue neighborhoods, and all the neighborhoods of Hartford. The new YMCA will serve people of all ages by offering programs and services that address the community's most pressing social issues, and delivering family development and education programs—life changing experiences that will touch some 6000 people in the first year alone. The new YMCA will be the centerpiece for a collaboration between three organizations that already provide services to the community. At the project's completion, the YMCA, the Urban League of Greater Hartford, and Community Health Services will together provide health and wellness programs, education, youth and family development, and recreation programs to neighborhood residents.

"With the awarding of this grant, we are saluting your efforts to improve conditions and advance opportunities in your community," noted Rip Rapson, president of the Kresge Foundation. "Nine values serve as the centerpiece of our grant making: creating opportunity, community impact, institutional transformation, risk, environmental conservation, innovation, collaboration, underserved geography and diversity," said Rapson.

"The Kresge Grant represents a significant milestone in our endeavor and the culmination of work from many individuals, corporations, and foundations who have partnered with us to create and support neighborhood change in North Hartford. The YMCA of Greater Hartford Board of Directors, Trustees and staff have worked diligently over the last five years to move this project forward," said Kevin Washington, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford. "Kresge's investment in this initiative will provide the emphasis needed to fulfill our dreams."

The Hartford-based JCJ Architecture Incorporated is architect of record. Bartlett Brainard Eacott, Inc. is construction manager. Construction is anticipated to begin this summer, with opening in fall 2009.

The new YMCA Youth and Family Center at 430 Albany Avenue in North Hartford, slated for construction beginning this summer, is depicted here in a rendering by JCJ Architecture.

The YMCA of Greater Hartford is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization which serves more than 108,000 people in 44 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

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