President's Newsletter - March 2017
Jack Fucci
Mar 09, 2017
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Our History is Your History
The West Suburban YMCA is strengthening our community every day. Today, we are stronger than ever as we enter our 140th year of service to the City of Newton and its surrounding communities. Recently, I reviewed our institution's storied history by looking through archives, documents and photos we discovered during our facility renovation. I learned the names of some of our founding officers and members from the late 1800's which included: R.F Cummings, A. Clark, C.F. Bacon, D.F. Barber, G.D. Gilman, E.G. Clough, W. O. Trowbridge, Dr. D.K. Hitchcock, E. Whipple among many more.
The West Suburban YMCA is strengthening our community every day. Today, we are stronger than ever as we enter our 140th year of service to the City of Newton and its surrounding communities. Recently, I reviewed our institution's storied history by looking through archives, documents and photos we discovered during our facility renovation. I learned the names of some of our founding officers and members from the late 1800's which included: R.F Cummings, A. Clark, C.F. Bacon, D.F. Barber, G.D. Gilman, E.G. Clough, W. O. Trowbridge, Dr. D.K. Hitchcock, E. Whipple among many more.
In 1877, these individuals and others mobilized dozens of local residents who came together to charter our YMCA. Meetings were held in the Eliot Block building in Newton. Eventually, they raised funds, identified our current 276 Church Street location and built our facility in 1912. Our Y is forever grateful to our original founders and members. Today we say the same to you, as you are part of our history. You have invested in our organization by being active members, program participants, staff, volunteers and donors.
History in the Making
On February 23rd, I hosted a Team Town Hall Meeting for more than 30 of our staff, sharing an update on the state of the Y, our vision for the future and answering staff questions. Over the past two years, we have revived our camps, redesigned our facility, expanded our financial assistance programs and launched new programs and partnerships. In the coming months and years we will continue to be an intentionally inclusive organization, welcoming ALL. We will focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility...every day. And we will represent not just our Y, but the legacy of those that came before us. It is a privilege to be part of our YMCA. The actions we take today, to make our Y stronger, will also be felt and appreciated decades from now by future generations.
On February 23rd, I hosted a Team Town Hall Meeting for more than 30 of our staff, sharing an update on the state of the Y, our vision for the future and answering staff questions. Over the past two years, we have revived our camps, redesigned our facility, expanded our financial assistance programs and launched new programs and partnerships. In the coming months and years we will continue to be an intentionally inclusive organization, welcoming ALL. We will focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility...every day. And we will represent not just our Y, but the legacy of those that came before us. It is a privilege to be part of our YMCA. The actions we take today, to make our Y stronger, will also be felt and appreciated decades from now by future generations.
On behalf of our historic YMCA, thank you for all you have done for our Y in the past, your involvement today and support of the future.