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YMCA seeks more funding
$12K needed to fix Warren site’s track
By JORDAN COHEN
WARREN
The Warren/Trumbull YMCA has received a grant of $10,000 to partially fund a replacement for its running track and physical-fitness area, but that will not be enough to cover the entire cost of $22,000.
The grant, awarded by the Mahoning Valley Sports Charities Fund of the Youngstown Foundation, is contingent upon the YMCA’s raising the $12,000 balance — money the cash-strapped organization does not have.
“I would describe our situation as revenue neutral,” said Mike Bagby, a member of the YMCA board of directors who is in charge of the fund-raising effort. “We’re not losing money, but we’re not in a position to go into our own cash.”
The track, located above the second-floor basketball court, was built in 1963 and is clearly showing its age.
“The original flooring is starting to peel up, and we’re not sure about conditions under the flooring that may also have to be replaced,” said Wendy Marvin, the local YMCA executive director.
Marvin said the surface of 1,600 feet will have to be re-covered.
The track and fitness area had been built and installed by volunteers, according to Jim Aller, who was physical-education director of the YMCA at the time.
“We had executives from local companies working on it, an engineer from Wean Engineering supervised it, and most of the material was donated,” said Aller, 78, now retired and living in Wilmington, N.C. “We didn’t spend more than $700 to build it.”
Aller said he has returned to the YMCA and is saddened by the condition of the track.
“We used cork linoleum to floor it, and it’s still the same and needs repaired,” Aller said.
Jan Strasfeld, executive director of the Youngstown Foundation, said the foundation is flexible with its timetable for recipients to raise money and complete a project.
“Historically, it’s done within a year, [and] our commitment gives them the leverage to raise the rest of the money,” Strasfeld said, adding that the foundation requires periodic updates on progress.
Marvin said the YMCA hopes to raise the funds in a much shorter time period.
“We would hope to have the money pledged by the end of July so we can start working on the track in August and have the track completed by fall,” Marvin said.
Bagby said the organization may go ahead with the project even if its efforts fall short of the $12,000.
“The remainder we would try to finance, but we don’t really want to do that,” Bagby said.
Bagby said the organization has begun approaching other foundations and previous donors for help.