It’s not often that someone donates $2 million to a local cause, but that’s just what happened this past August for the Regional Family YMCA. Steve Simon, YMCA director, said he heard of the donation through a board member. “My reaction was one of shock,” Simon said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to get such a wonderful gift.” While the family that donated the money asked to remain anonymous to the public, YMCA officials know who they are. “The donors had fond memories of their YMCA experience from their youth and they believe in the organization,” Simon said. “They know people associated with this YMCA, and they trust us and believe we’ll use the money to service everyone.” He added that the donors’ biggest concern was helping children, and the YMCA has programs to do just that. In fact, some of the requirements of the gift is to provide transportation to the YMCA for children in the Tri-Town (Dawson, Dickerson Run and Vanderbilt) area and to provide membership scholarships to the facility for children who cannot afford the regular membership rate. Otherwise, there are no other stipulations with the donation, which will probably be used for facility enhancement and programs. Simon said the largest donations before this one were a few $150,000 gifts from different individuals for the building of the current facility, along Bessemer Road in East Huntingdon Township. Before the donation came through, YMCA officials had just begun to take another look at their long range plan. “We were looking at what improvements were practical and what were not, and we wanted to focus on the needs of the community,” Simon said. “This donation really gives a boost and some enthusiasm to look at this plan again.” When officials at the YMCA decided to go public at the beginning of November about receiving the donation, ideas for improvements began to flood in. “Everything from a swimming pool and an expanded fitness center to more program rooms and outdoor facilities was talked about,” Simon said. But he added that they will not rush into anything too quickly, in hopes of being fiscally responsible. “We want to see what the community needs,” Simon said. He added that donations are a big part of keeping the YMCA running as it currently is. “We’re just very fortunate that people do donate to our facility,” Simon said.

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