Capital Campaign
Meeting the challenges of the future and ensuring we have purposefully designed spaces to support generations to come.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
The YMCA is uniquely suited to meet our community’s health and well-being needs, every day.
Will you help ELEVATE your community? With vision and imagination we can meet our community’s needs. That vision sometimes takes the shape of facility expansions, major building improvements, or even bringing new Ys to under-served communities while addressing the unique needs of our neighbors. Each capital project offers a greater level of service to our members and the people we serve. As we continue raising dollars for our $20 million, multi-year, capital campaign, we are thankful to those who have given their support. In 2024, we expanded our fitness center at the SwedishAmerican Riverfront YMCA, and established the new Good Shepherd YMCA. Several additional projects are in the planning stages, and we welcome the chance to share them with you. Greater impact is possible with your support.
SwedishAmerican Riverfront YMCA
The vision for our flagship facility is to contribute to the redevelopment of the riverfront by modernizing our building to expand services offered to our community. We aim to create spaces for families and youth to connect and gather, including a renovated pool for recreation and safety around water education. Other plans include adding multi and single use spaces for nutrition services, mental health support, drop-in childcare, college and career readiness programming, and more. Additionally, we will improve accessibility throughout the building, including a new east-side entrance for better access.
Our pools are one of our most popular amenities. The pools are aging and we often have to close them to make repairs. Your support will provide much-needed upgrades to infrastructure so we can continue to offer life-saving lessons, aqua fitness, and recreation. Additionally, we plan to install a new slide and on-deck whirlpool.
The graduation rate in our community is nearly 20 points below the state average. Nearly half of Rockford students are chronically absent compared to 28% statewide. Youth and teen programs engage young people when they are most likely to participate in high-risk behaviors. The Y’s College and Career Readiness Center offers academic support and tutoring, mentoring, leadership development, and more.
Our downtown facility is one of the largest in the country and has been expanded numerous times over the years. The result is a confusing layout and limited opportunities to connect in common spaces. We envision the heart of the building, transforming it into a central hub that improves access to program areas and fosters a sense of community by bringing members together in shared spaces.
Other Projects
As we continue to expand our reach to meet the community’s needs, we recognize other opportunities to enhance our facilities across the association. You can make an impact in many areas of the Y. Future plans include expanded fitness options at the Northeast Family YMCA, an outdoor playground at the Good Shepherd YMCA, and upgrades to our day camp facilities at YMCA Camp Winnebago.
Donors made this dream a reality. The new Good Shepherd YMCA serves youth, adults and seniors in an underserved neighborhood. The strong sense of community continues to grow and your investment can further expand offerings. We hope to add an outdoor playground, indoor climbing wall, and other technology to enhance our programs.
Since the 1960’s, Camp Winnebago has operated year-round on over 160 acres of wilderness and features three beautiful log lodges, three pavilions, a climbing tower, high ropes course, and more. Your donation can add sleeping lodges to offer an overnight camp experience and add an outdoor pool to provide swimming and safety lessons.
Be Part of the Growth
You can make an impact in our community with your capital campaign gift. There are several options:
- Mail a check to YMCA of Rock River Valley, Attention Mission Advancement, 200 Y Boulevard, Rockford, IL 61107
- Click the button below to make an online gift.
- Make a gift from your donor-advised fund. Click the button below to get started.
The YMCA of Rock River Valley is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Tax ID #36-2174838
