St. Cloud YMCA Kicks Off Community Phase Of Aquatic and Community Center Funding

ST. CLOUD -- The St. Cloud YMCA is making a final financial push to fund the new Community and Aquatic Center.

The organization kicked of the community phase of the project today (Wednesday) in an effort to raise the final $1.4-million needed to begin construction on the 103,000-square-foot facility.

YMCA Executive Director Greg Gack says the community has been waiting a long time for this facility and this campaign could finally make their dream a reality.

"This is really the chance for our entire community at large to make a significant impact, and if everyone can do the most that they can we can get by this remaining dollar amount," says Gack.

The total budget for the project is about $25-million. Gack says along with the campaign every dollar raised with be matched up to $257,000.

"We had an opportunity with Regional Diagnostic Radiology who have stepped up with a $150,000 community match gift, and then we had another anonymous donor who stepped up with another $125,000," says Gack.

Along with the campaign, Gack says a celebration will be helped on September 26th at Whitney Park from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as a way to thank the community for all their support.

"We began fundraising back in March 2014 and I'm pretty amazing the collective resources together have brought in $23.6-million, that's phenomenal so let's celebrate that," says Gack.

The event will include inflatables, AirMaxx launch pad, face painting, a balloon-making clown, Zumba and more.

Gack says they hope to raise the remaining funds by October 15th so they can begin construction by the end of October.