10. PRSR 07 14 2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4B C TU_S DAY. JUNE &. ?004 SUBURBS _ HASTINGS YMCA in works as fund-raising starts $2 million donation kicks off campaign BY SHANNON PRATHER Pioneer Press The YMCA of Greater Saint Paul could break ground on afull-service, $8 million center in Hastings as early as 2005. The Hastings Area Family YMCA launched its multimi]- lion~lollar capital campaign Monday. Hastings-based Smead Manufacturing jump- startedthe fund-raising with a $2 million contribution, mark- ing the largest single donation in the St. Paul YMCAs 147- year-history Hastings YMCA's 14-member Board of Directors and Y staff also have vowed to personally donate and raise $400,000. Regina Medical. Center, which is partnering with the YMCA, tentatively .has approved along-term agree- ment to lease land to the YMCA for $1 a year In return, the medical center will house its Healthy for Life wellness program in the new building. If organizers meet their capital campaign goal, the Hasting YMCA will be 65,000 square feet and include an aquatic center, gymnasium, fitness center, walking track, teen center, children's gym and playground. It will serve about 3,000 children and fami- lies. Monday, community mem- bers and YMCA board mem- bers, who started offering YMCA programs at local schools in 1999, said Hastings and surrounding communities sorely need a family and com- munitycenter. "We've refused to let this' dream die," said Dr. Lawrence Erickson, medical director of Regina Medical Center and Hastings Area YMCA capital campaign chairman. Erickson stressed the need for the new athletic and com- munity center. "Inactive lifestyle, obesity and lack of physical exercise has become the No. 2 cause of preventative death in theUnit- ed States, second only to ciga- rette smoking," Erickson said. Sharon Avent, Smead CEO, 'said she polled her employees before deciding to donate. "'Everyone said this is important to our community and our family life," Smead said. I think this is .an important project for Hast- ings. We need a family gath- ering place and we don't have that now." Market and feasibility stud- ies have concluded there is a community need and econom- ic support for a Hastings YMCA, said Thomas Brinsko, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Paul. The St. Paul Y operates 11 full- service sites, three overnight camps, five day-camps in Min- nesota and Wisconsin and provides childcare-. for 2,800 daily. Brinsko said most YMCA facilities open about 18 months after the start of the capital campaign.