YMCA Capital Campaign Approaches $1M Mark

The Door County YMCA announced today that Green Bay Packaging and the George Kress Foundation have made a $500,000 commitment to the YMCA for a new, 3,500-square-foot Lifestyle Center addition to the Northern Door Program Center. This addition is the centerpiece of the current effort to raise $1.5M to construct the new Lifestyle Center, reroof the gym, replace the facility’s air handling units and refurbish the locker room shower rooms.

Will Kress, Green Bay Packaging CEO, indicated that they are pleased to be able to support this important YMCA expansion program.   “Our family has been long-time supporters of the YMCA in northeast Wisconsin, and we have had a deep interest in Door County for several generations. We appreciate the importance of a strong and vibrant YMCA program and understand that the Y in Door County is truly the center of the community,” Kress said.

The new Lifestyle Center will face Gibraltar Road and it is hoped that construction will begin prior to the end of the year.  More than $900,000 has been raised to date for this phase of capital improvements. Last year the YMCA raised $750,000 to expand the Aquatic Center mechanical room and replace the dehumidification system and boilers.

“It is our intent to move forward with each necessary improvement to the Northern Door Program Center as the funds are secured,” said Door County YMCA CEO Tom Beerntsen. “The improvement to the pool area was an incredibly important but not very visible investment. Our next improvements will be highly visible and significantly improve the usability of our facility – the Lifestyle Center addition will change the way we are able to serve our members and the community.”

Contributions and pledges are currently being sought to reach the campaign goal of $1.5M. For additional information on the building program and the fund raising effort, contact Drew Richmond, Development Director/Northern Door Program Center Executive Director (drichmond@doorcountyymca.org, 920-868-3660) or Tom Beerntsen (tbeerntsen@doorcountyymca.org,920-743-4949).