Letter to the Editor

Help assure the future of the YMCA

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Dear Editor,

Some years ago, the Ed Thomas YMCA held a special fundraising campaign to pay for repairs to the pool that they called “Save the Wave.” This was a community-wide fund drive. At that time like many young families, Kent and I had several other commitments and just didn’t feel we could make a worthwhile donation to the campaign.

The community came through and the campaign was successful. A beautiful donor board was created and displayed in the upstairs workout area. Every time I used the treadmills or walked the circular track, I was face to face with that donor board. Our names were not on it – and they should have been.

We were members, our daughters participated in Y sports (basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball), they took swimming lessons, attended the after-school program, had birthday parties at the Y, and participated in many other fitness classes, workouts and events. My grandmother was a member and enjoyed the water classes in the mornings. We had three generations at the Y. Although we could not make a significant gift at that time, we could have made some gift as the YMCA was an important part of our family. Now we have an opportunity to be part of this historic renovation and expansion of Our Y.

Will we sit back and make the excuse that our gift won’t make a difference and isn’t needed? Not this time!

Although Kent and I live outside of McCook and our girls are grown, we see the YMCA as one of the true gems of McCook. Now that the public campaign has been kicked off, we will be asking others to join us to make this a successful fund drive. We would not ask someone to give without making a gift ourselves, so last fall we took the tour and looked at the plans that will transform Our Y into a premier facility for many years and generations ahead. We made a pledge to be paid over five years. We highly encourage you to contact the Y staff to take the tour and have them answer your questions about the plans for Our Y.

So whether you live here or have moved away, if you have ever been a member, participated in Y sports, took swim lessons there – or have family members who have – then we hope you will be a partner in this campaign and make a donation. When the next donor list is made, we will be proud to have our names listed – and we truly hope yours is listed on it as well. Our Town, Our Y, Our Future!