YMCA of Garner still trying to reach $7 million goal for facility | News & Observer

The YMCA of Garner has raised $6.3 million to date, $700,000 away from its overall goal before construction on its new facility begins this spring.

“Our dream was to do it by the end of this year, but we still have a couple of months to get it by the end of the first quarter,” said Melissa Oliver, vice president of financial development for the YMCA of the Triangle.

The end of the quarter is in March, around the time the YMCA of Garner hopes to break ground on the new facility.

The YMCA of Garner announced in May it would build the Poole Family YMCA in Garner on Aversboro Road, adjacent to White Deer Park.

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The facility will have a 4,500-square-foot wellness center, locker rooms, a nursery and children’s adventure area, an outdoor aquatics center, indoor track, a gymnasium and group exercise studio and the capacity to serve 5,000 members from the Garner community.

The YMCA set a goal to raise $7 million before the facility was built.

Oliver said the YMCA also received a challenge from an anonymous donor. The donor will give up to $250,000 to the YMCA, if other donors can match the number. The donor will match whatever amount the YMCA of Garner is able to raise in conjunction with the challenge. So if the YMCA only raised $200,000, then the donor will give the YMCA an additional $200,000 toward construction of the building. But if the YMCA raises $250,000, the donor will give the full $250,000.

The YMCA has raised $140,000 so far. That money is included in the $6.3 million the YMCA of Garner has raised so far.

The deadline to raise the full amount from the challenge is by the end of January, Oliver said.

“They’ll give us whatever we raise, so we’re asking people to help out so we don’t leave money on the table,” she said.

The full cost to build the YMCA is about $9.3 million. But the YMCA wants to go into building the facility with as little debt as possible.

“I’m definitely optimistic,” said Bruce Murray, the branch director of the YMCA of Garner. “I think now is a great way to make your gift count.”

“I think everybody is working really hard, including all of our volunteers that are working on the campaign.”