On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, the South Shore YMCA Executive Board and senior leadership team hosted this year’s summer social gathering to celebrate the impact of the “Leave Your Mark” Capital Campaign at the Y’s new Outdoor Aquatics Center at the Emilson YMCA branch in Hanover.
Executive Board Chair, Matt Shadrick, welcomed nearly 100 guests representing the Y’s executive board, committee members, ambassadors, President Club members, and key partners, who gathered to celebrate the near completion of the Y’s new Outdoor Aquatics Center, the first of several major projects made possible by the “Leave Your Mark” Capital Campaign.
In 2019, the South Shore Y launched the “Leave Your Mark” Capital Campaign with a goal of raising $9 million in funds to revitalize and expand the South Shore YMCA facilities across the region for families to enjoy for generations to come.
Campaign Chair Dan DeMarco shared the vision of the “Leave Your Mark” Campaign, which raised an unprecedented $10.2 million in just nine months, and thanked donors and committee members who made it possible, including honorary chairs Rob and Karen Hale, Herb Emilson, and Jeff Corwin, and committee members Len Bicknell, Paul Caruso, Alex Clark, Peter Finnegan, Paul Leone, Paul Mollica, and Matt Shadrick.
South Shore YMCA Chief Operating Officer, Trevor Williams, provided an overview of the nearly completed Outdoor Aquatics Center project and its impressive scope. Originally built in the 1960’s, the Emilson Y outdoor pools were in disrepair and no longer fit the needs of the Y’s growing campership and membership. In just over ten months, the old pool facility was completely leveled and replaced by a state-of-the-art outdoor aquatics center with all-new zero-depth entry pools, spray parks, playgrounds, seating and shade structures, and brand new buildings that house camp and membership offices, concessions, new locker rooms, and changing areas. The center is expected to open in late June 2023.
Williams, who also served as project manager for the Y, extended special thanks to those who worked tirelessly to bring the new Outdoor Aquatics Center to life, including teams from Integrated Builders, South Shore Gunite, Grady Consulting; DJSA, O’Brien & Sons, Gallagher Corporation. He gave special thanks to Y Building Committee Chair, Dan Russell, and Building Committee member, Stephanie Bandzak, for sharing all their expertise and management on this project. He also thanked partners from the town of Hanover for their ongoing support and closed by thanking the staff team at the Emilson Y branch for their participation.
South Shore YMCA President and CEO, Paul Gorman closed out the evening, providing an update on the state of the South Shore Y and sharing his vision for the future. Gorman expressed his gratitude for all those involved in the “Leave Your Mark” Campaign and Outdoor Aquatics Center project, including Building Committee members Dan Russell, Dan DeMarco, Mark Dickinson, Alex Clark, and Stephanie Bandzak, and all others who made the new Outdoor Aquatics Center and other projects possible.
“I’m very pleased to say how well our Y is doing,” shared Gorman. “Our membership has bounced back to over 90% of our pre-COVID numbers. We have not raised rates in four years and, in fact, we have made our Y even more accessible than ever with financial assistance and new membership referral programs. Our After-School and Early Learning Centers continue to fill up, and we are looking for more teachers to expand based on the demand. Camps are knocking it out of the park, with more families needing quality summer camps, and the Y is here to deliver.”
Paul shared highlights from the South Shore YMCA’s three-year strategic plan to strengthen core offerings, complete capital projects to expand community impact, and look forward to aspirational goals to better serve families and members based on new trends and needs.
“We could not do this without our donors, executive board members, and volunteers,” said Gorman. “Thank you for your amazing work and support to bring our Capital Campaign and this beautiful new facility to life. Thank you all for your support.”
To view images from the event, please visit the gallery below.
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