April 28, 2024
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Ottawa YMCA receives $150,000 from Financial Plus Credit Union as capital campaign continues

Groundbreaking planned later this spring; hope is to be open in late 2023

By Michael Urbanec

(Left to right) Financial Plus Credit Union Marketing Director Lee Wilkins, President Tim O'Donnell, YMCA Board member Phil Devermann and Executive Director Joe Capace. (Michael Urbanec)

Construction on the new riverfront Ottawa YMCA is getting closer to its $7 million goal with a $150,000 donation from Financial Plus Credit Union, as the plan remains to break ground on the new Y facility later this spring.

Financial Plus Credit Union President Tim O’Donnell said he was contacted by fellow banker and YMCA Board Member Phil Devermann about donating to the project.

“I was skeptical at first but once everything was explained to me, I think it’s going to be great to utilize the riverfront area,” O’Donnell said. “It’ll be a fantastic location and hopefully be the first step of using the riverfront to the city’s advantage.”

O’Donnell said there’s so much the YMCA does for the community residents don’t realize, and that a facility such as the YMCA will help Ottawa become the city it wants to be.

The new building includes a natatorium with a competition pool and a warm-water therapy pool, group exercise studios, a kids’ adventure center, child watch areas, family locker rooms and multi-generational spaces for seniors and teens.

The latest photo of the proposed new YMCA along Ottawa's riverfront.

The latest photo of the proposed new YMCA along Ottawa's riverfront. (Photo provided)

The child watch areas and a preschool classroom will be named for Financial Plus Credit Union.

“The child-watch aspects of the YMCA is one of our hallmarks,” Devermann said. “We’re the largest provider of childcare in our service area and people who can’t afford a YMCA membership can get a scholarship. It’s a wonderful thing.”

YMCA Executive Director Joe Capece said the YMCA still is in need of more than $800,000 for the project, which will cost about $24 million overall, although much of that $24 million is covered by grants.

“The vision the Ottawa YMCA and our volunteer board has for this project is a modern, healthy-living campus,” Capece said. “The support of Financial Plus Credit Union will help transform the health and well-being of the communities we serve better for generations. We are happy to name the YMCA’s new child watch center and a preschool classroom in their honor.”

The project, the groundbreaking for which will take place later this spring, will take about 16 months to build and the hope is to be open in late 2023.