CHRIS FULDNER FAMILY MAKES MAJOR GIFT TO MONETT Y CAMPAIGN
The capital campaign being conducted by the Monett Area YMCA received a major boost today with the announcement of a $3 million dollar gift from the family of Chris and Ginny Fuldner. $2 million of the Fuldner gift has been earmarked for the construction of a new YMCA building, and $1 million will be used to establish an endowment fund to support operations of the aquatic center to be built as part of the new Y facility.
“Obviously, we are delighted with this significant and generous contribution,” said Monett YMCA executive director Gordon Brown. “This gets our capital campaign off to a strong start, and I hope the Fuldner’s gift will inspire others to participate in the effort to build a new facility in Monett.”
In announcing their gift, the Fuldners emphasized that their support for the new YMCA building was a family decision. “For more than 32 years, we have called Monett home,” the Fuldners explained. “During those years, we have raised three children, been blessed with a successful business, and developed lifelong friendships and memories through our involvement in the Monett community. When our family heard that the Y was planning to build a new facility in Monett, we knew immediately that we wanted to be involved.”
We are grateful for the support that the Monett community has given our family and our EFCO business,” Chris Fuldner commented. “In particular, we appreciate the support that area residents have provided for the Monett Water Thrashers, a swim team that Ginny started in 1989. In a very real sense, it is the long-time support of EFCO employees and other Monett residents that made our gift possible. This is our way of saying thanks, and to demonstrate our pride in the Monett and our desire to see the area grow and prosper.”
“The new YMCA will provide Monett with a large, first-class fitness and activity center unlike anything before it,” Chris Fuldner said. “It will make Monett even more attractive as a place to live and work and raise a family, and it should have a positive impact on the ability of local businesses to attract and retain employees.”
“We feel the new Monett Area YMCA is a fantastic and much-needed addition to the city of Monett,” said Ginny Fuldner. “Building strong kids, strong families and strong communities is really what the Y is all about, and this new facility will help the Y achieve those goals.”
In commenting on their gift, the Fuldners pointed to their personal experiences at various YMCAs as one of the many reasons they chose to support the new facility proposed for Monett. “I remember swimming at the Saint Louis YMCA as a young boy of 5 or 6,” Chris Fuldner recalled. “And the wellness equipment at the Monett YMCA helped me recover from a recent knee surgery.”
Ginny’s earliest memories of the YMCA involved her two older brothers participating in the YMCA in Orange, New Jersey. “Our entire family was involved in the Y and its activities,” she said. “This dates me, but at that time the YMCA was an organization strictly for males, as the “M” in YMCA indicates. I could only participate in activities through my brothers.”
Ginny’s main involvement with the Y would come later, in the early stages of a rewarding swimming career. She trained and competed for a spot on the US swim team at the YMCA in Summit, New Jersey. In 1964, her training paid off when she won an Olympic gold medal in the 400 meter free style and a bronze medal in the 100 meter backstroke.
“I vividly remember the 5:30 a.m. practices at the Y each day before school,” Ginny said. “It was a comfortable place to go every day. Although I was not a part of other activities at the Y, through my extensive swim practice I became acquainted with many Y members and benefitted greatly from those relationships.”
“I am particularly pleased that the new YMCA will include an indoor aquatic center, thereby continuing to encourage interest in water sports in the Monett area. The new aquatic center will open the door to all types of water activities, for all ages, throughout the entire year,” she said.
The Fuldners expressed their hope that their contribution to the YMCA capital campaign and their enthusiasm for the Y’s new facility will help to create support for the campaign. “When you consider the many positive benefits that the new YMCA will provide to area families, this is an outstanding cause for people to support,” Chris Fuldner said. “The proposed Y has something to benefit everyone in our area – arts, youth and adult sports, teen leadership development, fitness and wellness programs for all ages – all of which is offered in a safe and positive environment which emphasizes the four main character values of the YMCA: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.”
To learn more about contributing to the YMCA capital campaign, contact the Monett YMCA executive director Gordon Brown at 235-8213, or visit www.yourmonettymca.org.
A home for the holidays
YMCA offers a house to anyone who can move it
By Lisa Schlichtman
December 9, 2009
'Tis the season of giving, and the Monett Area YMCA is getting into the Christmas spirit. This week, YMCA officials announced that the local organization will be giving away a house to a family who has a plan and the means to move it.
The home being given away is located at 115 S. Lincoln Ave., just off of Highway 37 south of the Monett South Park jet. The home and surrounding property were purchased by the YMCA in June of 2008. The intent was to deed the property to the City of Monett and then lease the property back to be used as the site for the new YMCA.
As plans to build a new YMCA solidify, the home will have to be removed to provide space for when construction begins.
“The local YMCA Board would prefer to save the house and have it become a home for an area family rather than tearing it down,” said Gordon Brown, executive director of the Monett YMCA.
The YMCA is not requesting any payment for the house but is looking for proposals from individuals who are interested in moving the home to a new location.
“It’s a neat home,” said Brown. “It has good nostalgic, old-fashioned woodwork and a big front porch. The house has the feel of a home that a family could grow up in. They would love for it to be used by a family if possible.”
A welcoming front porch, wood floors and interior French doors are hallmarks of the two-story home, which includes three bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, a dining room and an eat-in kitchen on the main floor as well as a bedroom and bonus room on the second level.
An open house to give interested individuals an opportunity to view the home will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.
“Anyone who is interested in taking possession of the house is encouraged to attend,” said Brown. “This will be the time people can gather information about the house.”
Proposals on the home will be accepted until Jan. 15, 2010, with the requirement that costs of moving the house would be assumed by the new homeowner. Proposed plans for the house should include a time frame for moving the house and estimates of what it will cost to accomplish the plan so that the local YMCA Board can determine that the plan is feasible.
“The individual whose proposal is accepted by the YMCA must be able to provide a $1,000 refundable deposit,” Brown said.
The deposit will be refunded if the house is moved by April 30, 2010. If the house is not moved at that point, the contract would be void and the deposit forfeited.
Proposals should be mailed to: Monett Area YMCA, Attn. Gordon Brown, 205 Euclid, Monett, MO 65708.
“The YMCA board hopes there is a family out there who can move this house and use it as their home,” said Brown.
December 7-8, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YMCA announces $10 million campaign
The Monett Area YMCA today announced a $10 million dollar capital campaign to increase the level of service that the YMCA can provide to residents of Monett and the surrounding area.
Monett Area YMCA Director Gordon Brown announced today that the campaign for a new YMCA facility is now underway.
“The current YMCA facility lacks the size and resources to accommodate its growing membership base,” Brown said. “To continue the Y’s mission of encouraging a life-long development of spirit, mind, and body, the Monett Area YMCA needs a new home.”
According to Brown, YMCA members take full advantage of available facilities and programs. The Y offers a variety of programs and activities for youths, teens, adults, seniors and families, including sports, dance classes, art classes, piano lessons, after-school care, exercise classes, wellness programs, running club, family fun nights, swimming lessons, holiday events, summer programs and much more.
This year, Monett YMCA membership has grown to 3000 people. Presently, the Monett YMCA has as many members check in every day as do other facilities three times its size.
“The YMCA’s current facility is aging,” Brown said. “Maintenance and repair are costly. The lack of program and parking space is a daily issue. The ability to add programs and classes is limited. Space for additional fitness equipment is virtually nonexistent.”
Several committees of community members were formed to determine whether there was a need in the area for a new YMCA facility. The answer was a resounding “yes,” and the planning process began. Area residents were surveyed to gather input and assess the areas of greatest need. After much information-gathering, communication, and planning, the Monett Area YMCA Capital Campaign has begun the initial phase of fundraising efforts.
A new, larger, more accessible facility is planned for the area adjacent to Monett’s South Park and would include one of the resources most frequently requested by Monett area residents—an indoor pool. Other planned additions include an expanded wellness center, indoor water playground, warm water therapy pool, indoor track, rock-climbing wall, aerobics/dance/yoga rooms, expanded wellness equipment for seniors, Kid Zone/Child Watch, kids’ gym, game room, art and meeting rooms, and racquetball courts.
In addition to YMCA Director Gordon Brown, the Capital Campaign Committee is directed by Chairs Mike Garrett and Mike Wallace, along with honorary co-chairs Chris and Ginny Fuldner. It is rounded out by Scott Beckwith, Rob Jackson, Greg Johnson, Dr. John Jungmann, Jack Prim, Marty Scaborozi, Dr. Ralph Scott, Robin Walker, and Lora Wilkins.
For information on how to help bring this new facility to the area, contact Gordon Brown, director of the YMCA, at (417) 235-8213 or at gbrown@monettymca.org or visit the capital campaign’s website at www.yourmonettymca.org.
The Monett Family YMCA is a part of the Ozarks Regional YMCA association and has served the community for over 120 years with over 20,000 members in the association to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.
The Ozarks Regional YMCA consists of seven branches including The Ozark Mountain Branch in Hollister, Bolivar/Dallas County Area YMCA, Monett/Cassville, Camp Wakonda, Child Care branches, and two facilities in Springfield.
