Paul Szmal: Joining us live in the studio, the Executive Director of the Geneva Family YMCA, Todd Prelud. GenevaFamilyYMCA.org is the website. Good morning.
Todd Freelove: Good morning. Happy New Year. Thanks for having us.
Paul Szmal: Happy New Year to you. So it's beginning to take shape.
Todd Freelove: It really is. The Building What Matters Here project has been many years in the making. Where do we stand right now? Yeah, so as you drive by William Street or Norwood, you'll start to see that we've got about 11,000 square foot of steel going up, which is really, really exciting. So the decking starts today, and we hope that it will be finished by next week. So that's something that will really start to take shape. As I said, when you drive by, you'll really start to see the new look of the Y.
Paul Szmal: So where did the funding come together for this? I'm sure just donations from the public. You had, I know, some in-kind donations. We helped bring about one of those, fortunately, one of our conversations here on the radio. Did you have foundation support and that kind of thing as well from charitable foundations?
Todd Freelove: Yeah, so we've had foundations. We've had individuals. We've been very blessed with some grant opportunities as well. So yeah, conversations like this. I was going to mention that the glass from Guardian will be going in soon as well. So having conversation about it and just keeping it out there in front of people is our goal because we are fortunate enough to be working with another foundation, the Lis Morris Foundation, and they're actually matching grants for us right now. So anybody that's willing to contribute, you know, their dollar turns into two dollars. So we're fortunate enough to be able to have them helping us out.
Paul Szmal: I know one of the things you want to do too is to thank your patrons for their patience. It's always disruptive when there's building going on, and it's affected programming, but that goal is in sight.
Todd Freelove: Yeah, we are currently beginning phase four. When we had started to replace the roof, some of the existing HVAC systems, that's when we noticed that we should probably bump ahead to save some time, to save some money. So we've kind of displaced some of our adult members. What I mean by that is they've closed the women's and the men's locker rooms, so now we have the boys' and girls' locker rooms available for them. So that's one thing that's been a little tricky. Going through the project and any construction and remaining open definitely has its tricks to it. So that's something that we've listened to our members, and we're doing everything that we can to be able to make them comfortable, but yet still continue in the project.
Paul Szmal: So when this is all done, how much of the original building will be there, and how much will be the new part?
Todd Freelove: So it'll be about two-thirds of the size that it once was. It's been almost 50 years since the building went up. A lot of the building has gone through some deferred maintenance, so addressing all of those things now during the project is a big plus for us to be able to take care of the building for the next 50 years.
Paul Szmal: I was going to say, that's the big part of this, is that it's not just to bring it up to what you'd like for now, but to make sure it's going to be a viable facility for whatever kind of programs we imagine in the future.
Todd Freelove: Yeah, so when it comes to the programs, the amenities, we're not just planning for 2025, but planning for 2035 and so on. So this is great that it'll be able to provide seniors, families, youth a place to be healthy, a place to socialize, and a place to belong.
Paul Szmal: You serve over 3,000 people. The reach of the Y is just so tremendous. How is the way people are using it evolving over the years? I know you've got things like Pickleball that we never heard of a few years ago that everybody loves today. Is the general way people use the Y evolving with time?
Todd Freelove: Yeah, I think the Y in general is a place that always evolves. I think listening to the members, asking what their needs, wants, and interests are, and being able to modify that. If you look back over 150 years, what the Y once was compared to today, it still serves people. It tries to meet people where they are and bring up their spirits and educate them on health and wellness and be a place that they feel like they can be home. So those relationships are really important for the YMCA.
Paul Szmal: And I mean, you do that in so many different ways, and the convenience and the cost can't be beat. There aren't very many places that you can go in at 530 in the morning, and there aren't very many places you can get that full range of equipment and programs at a family-friendly cost.
Todd Freelove: Yeah, to be able to utilize all the amenities that we have from the steam room to the sauna to the pool to the gyms, in proximity to other communities, there's not a lot that offers similar amenities. And pricing-wise, we're very modest. There's other YMCAs that are in the area, and I think if you compare, it's pretty comparable. I think it works the people in Geneva's favor.
Paul Szmal: So what's the timeline for everything to be all finished? You know, always knock on wood because things come up.
Todd Freelove: Absolutely. There's always some contingencies and surprises that pop up, but our goal is to be able to have our opening somewhere in the late summer, early fall.
Paul Szmal: And so what will this addition allow you to be able to do that you couldn't do in the past in terms of accommodating more people or programming or whatever?
Todd Freelove: Yeah, so I think just size-wise, it will definitely help be able to provide more for a lot of people. I think one of the biggest pieces is accessibility. Our current weight room is on the second floor. It will now be on the first floor. So I've had a lot of conversation with some of our people that aren't as accessible to be able to get up and down and move up those stairs. So this is going to be great for them that they'll be able to utilize the fitness center now.
Paul Szmal: I know right after the pandemic there was quite a spike in construction costs and materials and all these supply chain things. Has that begun to ease a little bit?
Todd Freelove: For the most part, yes. You know, some of the products just wasn't available, so there was a little bit more wait time than we had hoped for. Steel was one of those things that took a little longer than we had hoped for, but it is on site. It is all up. We're past that stage now, so we've weathered through it. It's something that didn't affect us too much, but definitely took its toll.
Paul Szmal: The website is GenevaFamilyYMCA.org, and you can click the link and read all about the capital campaign. I know there's always the risk of leaving somebody out, but talk about some of the people who have been the driving force behind this for all these years in terms of your committee members and people who've had this vision.
Todd Freelove: Yeah, so I'm fairly new to the Y, and I know this is a project that's been talked about for quite some time. We have our current board members. We have a few of them that are a part of our capital campaign committee. They've spent countless hours. We meet as a board once a month, but that committee meets weekly, and we have great conversation about the future of the YMCA. Without their support, it would be impossible. From a donor standpoint, we are very grateful that we have the people that are helping us out. Without their support, we wouldn't be able to do what we're trying to do. And lastly, just the members and for their patience. I've had some hard conversation just because of the building not being able to be used the way that they used it a few years ago, but the best part is that Utopia is close. The light is getting closer and closer at the end of that tunnel, and soon enough we'll be able to have a beautiful building that everybody will be able to use.
Paul Szmal: It's great to have that generous support from the public, but I know it's very difficult raising funds for projects. I mean, everybody's out there doing it, and the economy went through a little bump again after the pandemic, so my hats are always off to the people that are able to do development for things like this because it's not an easy job.
Todd Freelove: No, it's definitely not, but that's where it comes down to having a great team. I have quite a few people at the Y that believe in our project, believe in the Y mission, so being able to surround ourselves with those types of folks does make it easier when you have to go out and find those funds.
Paul Szmal: Any last words for your patrons and the public about this project and about the Y going forward?
Todd Freelove: I think just excitement. I think when there's anything new in the community that people get to utilize, it's something that's going to be exciting, so I think just continuing to build up that excitement for people that are cruising through Geneva if they want to take a couple extra turns and head down William Street or Norwood and see what's going on at the Y. I'd love to have them stop in and give them a tour of a little bit before and after.
Paul Szmal: All right, your membership and your support help makes it go, so go to GenevaFamilyYMCA.org. You can click on the link that'll take you all the information, and it'll show you where you can go to donate for the next 50 years, as you put it. So that's pretty good, 50 or more, I hope. Todd, thanks for being with us. I appreciate your time.
Todd Freelove: Thank you. I appreciate your time.
Paul Szmal: All right, again, GenevaFamilyYMCA.org is the site.
