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(Posted 9
a.m., Oct. 8)
Orléans Y fundraising campaign kicks off with $1M donation
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
The effort
to raise $4.65 million to expand the Orléans YMCA-YWCA has already achieved
40 per cent of its goal thanks in to the largest single donation in the
history of the charitable organization.
Businessman John
Ruddy and his wife Jennifer have donated $1 million to the project through
the Ruddy family's Trinity Development Foundation. In exchange, the $7 million
addition to the Centrum Blvd. facility will be named in their honour
The announcement
was made during the official kick-off of the YMCA's "Strengthening
the Heart of Our Community" campaign. The organization plans to raise
$15 million over the next three years to help fund an ambitious $35 million
redevelopment plan that takes into account all three YMCA-YWCA facilities
in the National Capital Region.
Speaking on behalf
of the Ruddys, Mariette MacIsaac said that the family hopes generous gift
will encourage other large donours to step up to the plate.
"The Y
truly addresses community needs by having providing programs for families
and seniors that are available to all. We hope others will support the campaign
and help strengthen the heart of our community," said MacIsaac.
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A
torrent of confetti partially obscures the architectural drawings of the
planned expansion of the Orléans YMCA-YWCA. Work on the $7 million project
will begin immediately. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The Orléans YMCA-YWCA
is the organization's first priority. The Y has already received $2 million
in recreation infrastructure funding from the federal and provincial levels
of government that will go towards expanding the facility to include a pool
and a double gym. Construction will begin right away and should be completed
by next August.
The additional
amenities will allow the Orléans Y to significantly expand its programming.
The planned expansion will include both a recreational 20-metre pool with
a moveable floor, and a smaller warm water pool for seniors and young children;
a new Kids and Youth Zone with interactive video games and innovative play
structures that kids will be able to use while their parents are working
out; and a double gymnasium that will allow for the introduction of individual
and team sports programs.
The total cost
of the expansion is $7 million, $2 million of which is being provided by
the federal and provincial government. Another $350,000 is being provided
by the city in forgiven fees. Of the remaining $4.65 million, the Y is hoping
to raise $1 million within the local community through individual donations.
Tony Pacheco
is the president and CEO of the YMCA-YWCA National Capital Region. During
Wednesday's kickoff, he explained that the organization plans to make good
on its original vision for the Orleans Y.
"The original
vision was to put the facility at the heart of the community. Unfortunately,
that vision had to be diminished because of resource issues, but it was
not because of a lack of commitment to the community," said Pacheco.
"With this latest campaign we are about to come full circle and make
good on that original vision by building a centre of excellence that will
serve families and the community for generations."
Orléans YMCA-YWCA
regional director Jacqueline Ryan-Leduc said the centre's staff is excited
about the many possibilities the expansion will bring.
"It's going
to make a huge difference in the type of programming we will be able to
provide our members," said Ryan-Leduc.
(This story
was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local
business partners.)
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