Waushara County YMCA Nears Finish Line: $10 Million Raised, $1.2 Million to Go
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Waushara County YMCA Nears Finish Line: $10 Million
Raised, $1.2 Million to Go
Stevens Point, Wisconsin (April 4, 2025) – The people of Waushara County
have always known how to come together. After years of planning and months of
fundraising, the Waushara Community YMCA has reached 92% of its total goal
with more than $10 million raised from local donations, grants, and pledges.
Now, the final push begins.
An additional $1.2 million is needed to fully outfit the highly anticipated pool and
make it operational. The YMCA facility will be located at the site of the old
Waushara County Courthouse, making it a central gathering point for residents
from every corner of the county. The pool’s foundation, shell, and utilities will be
included in Phase One construction, which begins July 1, 2025. That decision
helps reduce costs and minimizes disruptions to downtown Wautoma.
In addition to the pool, Phase One includes a licensed childcare center, a gym
with a walking track, dedicated wellness and fitness spaces, and areas for classes
and community meetings. Telehealth services will also be available, helping rural
residents access care that’s often out of reach. The new space offers a place for
kids learning to swim, grandparents getting the exercise they need, and families
finding connection in a place built to bring people together.
“This is the single most impactful occurrence to take place in Waushara County in
many years,” says Marc Bickford, a longtime resident of Waushara County and
President-Elect of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
To keep access affordable and long-term operations sustainable, the Friends of
the Waushara Community YMCA Fund has been established at the Community
Foundation of Central Wisconsin. That fund will support Phase Two of the project,
completing the pool to make it fully operational and providing future support to
help cover annual maintenance costs.
Contact:
Ryan Zietlow
Stevens Point Area YMCA
715-952-9300
rzietlow@spymca.org
Support for the YMCA has come from across the community, starting with a lead
gift from the DeMars Family Fund at the Community Foundation. The project also
received $4.25 million in funding from the Evers administration and a $300,000
matching grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation. Crucial strategic guidance
throughout the process from the Stevens Point Area YMCA, helped move the
project from idea to blueprint.
“The Stevens Point Area YMCA Board of Directors is excited to support this
transformational effort in Waushara County. By aligning resources with our
YMCA’s, we can impact more lives, more efficiently. Our ultimate goal is to
address community need and create fuller lives for our friends and
neighbors. This Project will accomplish that goal.” shares Dan Mahoney, Board
Chair for the YMCA. He continues, “The tremendous work of the Waushara
County community has been remarkable in what has been achieved so far. We
have come so far and are so close to fully realizing the vision the community has
shared they would like to see. We look forward to walking this path together in
strengthening the foundations of our communities.”
Fundraising continues, and community support remains essential to bring the
project across the finish line.
To help close the $1.2 million gap for a fully operational YMCA and pool,
donations can be made to the Friends of the Waushara Community YMCA Fund
online at https://tinyurl.com/wausharaYMCA or by contacting the Community
Foundation at 715-342-4454 or foundation@cfcwi.org.
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About Us
The YMCA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit social services organization dedicated to Youth
Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. The Stevens Point Area YMCA
has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to
deliver, lasting personal and social change. www.spymca.org
The Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that inspires
charitable giving by connecting people and resources to enhance Central Wisconsin now
and for future generations. For more information on how you can give back to your
community and accomplish your philanthropic goals, please visit www.cfcwi.org.
