Strengthening Our Community Together
Our YMCA is in a unique position to address community needs for child care and healthy recreational living. Through communitywide partnerships, our community is stronger and more efficient amidst current socio-economic challenges.
Communities thrive when they are supported by good infrastructure including high-quality schools, child care facilities, access to mental health resources, and recreation. Economic development is fostered by quality of life and a strong sense of culture. The vision for improving our YMCA and expanding our services began four years ago in September 2019 when the YMCA Board of Directors engaged in a strategic planning process.
It’s true! Our YMCA has embarked on a HUGE project, but we haven’t done it alone. We have done so in conjunction with a broad range of partners, seeking to include and welcome people of all ages, abilities, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. Our collaborative community partners include:
- Colony Brands
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Avenue’s Counseling
- Jacob’s SWAG
- MultiCultural Outreach Program
- United Way of Green County
- Local School Districts
- Green County Economic Development Corporation
- SSM Health Monroe Hospital & Clinic
For 40+ years, the Green County Family YMCA has been a cornerstone of the Green County community, serving more than 5,000 people each year across four dozen zip codes! If you belong to an organization within our community and are interested in developing a partnership with us, please contact Luke Smetters, Membership & Community Engagement Director at lsmetters@greencountyymca.org or call 608-325-2003.
Why Now
- Building is out of space. Rooms are often shared by different overlapping programs.
- Program enrollment is maxed out rendering the Y inaccessible to others.
- Membership and program growth are limited by a lack of available space.
- Innovative and creative growth for programming is confined to an outdated facility.
- Community needs have radically changed since the facility was first built 40 years ago.
- The last capital campaign to address youth programming needs was 25 years ago.
- Partnership opportunities are limited due to space constraints.
- Local businesses depend upon vibrant organizations to recruit and retain a skilled workforce.
- Modern recreation facilities are essential for supporting economic development.
“We understand that if your vision is to create a community where families want to live and businesses want to locate because of quality of life and standard of living, access to child care and quality recreation is a critical piece of that.”
— Lynne Wheeler, YMCA Board Past President