BUILDING FOR A BETTER US© Capital Campaign Update

During the fall of 2022, community leaders and YMCA donors, staff, and volunteers gathered to celebrate and reflect on the transformative work the YMCA is doing in our community. During the event, Jay Parker, YMCA of Central Virginia CEO, and Cindy Forren, YMCA of Central Virginia Board President announced that the Y officially launched the Building for a Better US! Capital Campaign to completely transform the current Downtown YMCA into the new Schewel-Clark Family YMCA.

Forren went on to thank Marc Schewel, who was in attendance, and his family for their $2 million leadership gift to jump-start this effort. “Under Marc’s leadership as the Chair of the Building for a Better US! Capital Campaign, I am also very excited to announce that through the generous support of over 100 community leaders, Board members, and staff – we have now raised over $7.6 million toward our $11.5 million campaign goal,” Forren announced.

And now, just a few short months later, the Y is pleased to announce that they are even closer to their goal, with the current total pledged or raised is $8.1 million.

At the heart of this building transformation is a new 3-story, 23,000-square-foot addition to replace the current lower portion of the building facing Church Street. This “Y of the future” will provide an open, welcoming environment with critical new spaces for community health programs, youth education and support, individual and group wellness, and family programming.

The YMCA of Central Virginia has announced that they have selected the architect and general contractor to complete the proposed renovations to the Downtown YMCA, effectively transforming it into the Schewel-Clark Family YMCA.

Local architectural firm, Dominion Seven, has been selected as the project architect. The YMCA of Central Virginia has a long and successful history of partnering together, including architect Blair Smith’s involvement on the Fauber Architect team that completed the Jamerson Family YMCA.

The local contractor, Jamerson-Lewis Construction company, is the General Contractor. Jamerson-Lewis Construction Company and Dominion Seven will be working hand-in-hand in the design-build of the Downtown YMCA transformation to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective design and construction plan possible.

Key new features of the Schewel-Clark Family YMCA include:

• State-of-the-art 6,000+ square foot Wellness Center

• Large Group Exercise Studios and dedicated Yoga & Pilates Studio

• Youth Learning Center to provide academic enrichment opportunities for children, as well as collaborative space for community partners

• Large multi-purpose Community Center for special programming, educational classes, social activities, and meetings

• Dedicated Teen Center space for safe and structured programming for teens

• Interactive 2-story Kids Adventure Zone play area for children ages 5–12

• Child Watch Area for high-quality care of infants through 5-year-olds

• Teaching Kitchen to include instructional healthy cooking classes for all ages

“While we have much more work to meet our ambitious campaign goal, we are confident we will get there. Today’s YMCA includes everyone, regardless of income, background, or social status, so we invite everyone to get involved by giving to the campaign or sharing the news with others.”

- Jay Parker, YMCA of Central Virginia CEO.