Published: June 29, 2009 08:53 am      

The breaking point: London’s YMCA

Will Schneider

Editor’s Note: About three weeks ago, the London/Laurel County YMCA gave operations of its daycare over to Cornerstone Christian School. It was the last remaining program for the YMCA, which had previously closed its gym. The YMCA board plans to dissolve its corporation in the near future, according to its former interim executive director. Here are his words.

Many local organizations have left a mark on our community. Lots of these organizations come from the non-profit sector and provide much needed services right here at home.

From 1999-May 2009 the London/Laurel County Family YMCA impacted thousands of lives here in the Tri-County area. Like a phoenix rising the YMCA was headquartered in the new basketball gymnasium on the old Sue Bennett College campus; now referred to as the Bennett Center. The London/Laurel County Family YMCA was an independent licensed charter under the YMCA of the USA; each charter is locally owned and governed by the local citizens.

In the late 90’s then Mayor Ken Smith, Marymount Hospital, Cumberland Valley National Bank, London City Council, Randy Smith & the Chamber of Commerce, Laurel County Fiscal Court, our founding fathers donors, and many others brought a YMCA to London. The vision was to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. This was no easy undertaking and demanded volunteers, civic leaders, and yes, lots of donations to make possible.

Once up and running, the YMCA offered numerous programs to the community which became true staples such as men’s basketball, summer day camp, swim lessons for all ages, soap box derby, fitness/wellness center, BMX track, summer feeding program, water aerobics, and healthy kids day. Then executive director Mark Fryer, along with excellent hard working board members such as Melvin Chesnut, Dr. Boland, Dr. Don Johnson, Dr. Steve Anderson, John Collett, Don Rogers, Granville Cox, Lisa Dotson, and many more, sought to meet the needs of the community by expanding into Club JC and the construction of a new state of the art daycare center located at the industrial park, with special help from the Industrial Authority.

Programming was always the cornerstone of the YMCA mission and some of the following stats I believe will amaze you about what the YMCA did: Summer Day Camp averaged 60 kids per day, childcare averaged 80 kids per day, men’s basketball league averaged 300-400 participants, gymnastics averaged 20 participants, fitness/membership over 1000 members, Head Start had 90 kids per day, swim lessons averaged 150 people per summer, Grace Fellowship’s Halloween Alternate had over 1,000 attendees, YMCA Healthy kids day over 600 participants, and Summer Feeding program served over 45,000 meals, to name a few.

In 2000, when I was 18 years old, I was hired to run the martial arts program at the YMCA and saw it grow. Our goal was to offer a quality class for people where money wouldn’t hinder anyone from joining. Then in 2005 I was hired as program director by then executive director Chris Robison to begin and improve our programs offered to the members and community. It was during this time that we expanded many programs, and in the summer of 2005 we opened the YMCA Preschool Prep under late executive director Randy Blount. We also restarted the federal Head Start program in Laurel County at the YMCA with the help of board members, then executive director Don Burgin, and then childcare director Karen Davenport.

Throughout the years the YMCA enjoyed close partnerships with United Way, CCC, Christian Application Project, Heavenly Helpers, BB&T, Marymount Hospital, UK Extension Office, HSBC, Aisin, City of London, Laurel County Fiscal Court and many others.

In 2008, the YMCA incurred financial difficulties and was forced to close the membership/fitness of the YMCA and operate solely the childcare and Head Start programs. During September, myself, and a community-minded board of directors including Brandon Jones, Regina Kladke, Robert Brock, Al Davis, Oscar Miller, JV Loughran, and Tim Edwards, along with two outstanding childcare directors Judy Weaver and Missy Craft, pulled the YMCA back onto its feet and ready for Cornerstone Christian School’s expansion into Laurel County.

On behalf of the YMCA Board of Directors, I’d like to sincerely thank our founding fathers’ campaign, previous executive directors and chairpersons, employees, and our donors who without them we would never have launched nor continued our mission of service. Lastly I’d like to thank everyone who experienced a YMCA program or event during the last ten years. I hope we touched your life and family in a positive Christian way.

Master Will Schneider is the Owner/Master Instructor of Elite Martial Arts & Elite Combat Challenge, the former interim executive director of the London/Laurel County Family YMCA, and a licensed MMA referee/official by the state of Kentucky. Schneider can be reached at www.EliteMa.Info