(Spirit Lake)– The YMCA of the Okoboji’s went public today (Mon.) with a special fundraising campaign. CEO Andrew Fisher says it’s been dubbed “Igniting A Healthy Legacy”…
“The campaign’s goal is $6.5 million to affect the whole landscape. As we sit here today we’re north of 70 percent of that goal and currently right around $4.4 million. And now we’re going public with our campaign and ask all of those who have fond memories of Camp Foster, supporters of our organization in the Iowa Great Lakes as well as midwest region and nationally, even, to come together and help us support this great initiative.”
Fisher says it would allow for some needed facility improvements to take place…
“From a high level standpoint, there will be key facility investments at Camp Foster in regards to a dining hall expansion and a visitor’s center and an airnasium, which is a program space dedicated to help service the area as well as expanded cabin spaces. And then on the Bedell Family YMCA side of things we’d be looking at doing an aquatic center renovation, which is such an important space in our community, living in the Iowa Great Lakes. And then lastly we’d be looking to grow an organizational endowment as well as the elimination of some long term liability for the organization that will allow us to reinvest in future projects and initiatives.”
Fisher says those needs were identified through a feasibility study…
“In 2019 we actually had a steering committee put together to look at long term needs for the organization and how we can better support the Iowa Great Lakes and those who we support through Camp Foster as well as the Bedell Family YMCA and in the fall of 2020 we launched a feasibility study which gave us the direction to go with the campaign and looking at the initiatives and projects that were selected.”
Depending upon fundraising, Fisher says they hope to begin construction and to have some of the projects complete in 2022. He thanks the volunteers that have been helping out with the campaign as well as those who have already contributed.
Fisher adds the public will have a special opportunity to see the facilities at Camp Foster, as they’ll be hosting Fall Fest with the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at that location on October 23rd.
