Membership surge buoys YMCA programs

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Participation is booming in YMCA fitness classes, like this one led by Linda Dahlke. | Photo courtesy Creative Marketing Associates

Updated: March 10, 2012 8:03AM

The North Suburban YMCA announced that it has achieved its highest membership numbers in more than eight years. As of mid-January 2012, YMCA reported that more than 2,225 households currently hold memberships, up more than 30 percent from a little more than 1,700 households in 2006. Membership has registered a 10 percent overall growth since September 2011.

Measured separately, family memberships — the core membership category of the Y representing 45 percent of all membership units — have grown by 20 percent since December 2009.

Program participation has also been on a steady upward trend. While more than 11,000 participants registered for programs in all of 2011, more than 7,000 people have already registered for the first six months alone for 2012, putting the YMCA on pace to break its record-setting pace set last year. Enhanced YMCA membership benefits, including free cycling and Zumba, have contributed to many programs experiencing greater growth and waiting lists, and some drop-in fitness classes are often filled to capacity.

YMCA Executive Director/CEO Howard B. Schultz believes this is the result of the YMCA’s cause-driven mission as a family-based community center, its outstanding instructors, and the visible and extensive improvements made by the 50-year-old community institution. “Since 2006, we’ve listened to what people wanted, and we’ve created innovative programs to fill those needs,” Schultz said. “Plus, everyone is excited about the renovations in our building.”

The renovation of the YMCA’s facility was paid for by generous large and small private donors to the YMCA’s ongoing Capital Campaign. With fund raising launched in 2006, the campaign has raised $5.4 million to date and paid off the Y’s mortgage, paid for the installation of a passenger elevator and new fully accessible playground, purchased new fitness equipment, and enabled the YMCA to renovate a number of vital child-care and fitness spaces.

In the coming weeks, an additional $1.6 million in major renovations will begin on the building’s lobby, locker rooms, ADA accessibility, a new security system and restrooms. The YMCA will remain open throughout the process. Future projects will include improvements to the swimming pool, track area, and additional mechanical systems once an additional $2.4 million is raised in the campaign. All the improvements will promote the YMCA’s core goals of supporting healthy families and a healthy community that is accessible to all.