BUILDING WHAT’S NEXT FOR
BURKE COUNTY A Campaign for the Phifer Family YMCA
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A LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KARA CLONINGER
Dear Friends and Community Partners, When we talk about the future of the Phifer Family YMCA, it is easy to begin with the building the spaces we hope to transform, the programs we want to expand, and the improvements we know our community deserves. But this project has never simply been about a building. It is about people. It is about the child who needs a safe, encouraging place to go when the school day ends. It is about the parent who can go to work knowing their child is cared for and supported. It is about the family who wants to live a healthier life together. It is about the older adult who finds friendship, purpose and belonging at the Y. And it is about the neighbor who may not be able to afford a membership or program on their own, but deserves every opportunity to be part of this community. Every day, I have the privilege of seeing what happens when people walk through the doors of the Phifer Family YMCA. They don't simply enter a facility. They find people who know their names. They discover opportunities they may not have had elsewhere. They build relationships, confidence and healthier habits. They find a place where they belong. That is what your investment makes possible. As you explore the pages that follow, I invite you to look beyond the construction plans and numbers and see the people behind them. Every renovated space represents an opportunity to serve someone better. Expanded wellness areas mean more neighbors taking control of their health. Enhanced youth and family spaces mean more children learning, growing and discovering their potential. Evidence-based health programs mean more people receiving support through some of life's most challenging moments. Welcoming gathering spaces mean more opportunities for Burke County to come together. I invite you to see the impact the Phifer Family YMCA is already making, imagine what more we can accomplish with the right spaces and resources, and consider the role you can play in making that future possible. Thank you for believing in what we can build together. With gratitude,
Kara Cloninger Executive Director Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA & Phifer Family YMCA
BURKE COUNTY HAS GROWN AROUND ITS Y Something Remarkable Is Happening at the Phifer Family YMCA What began as a place for health and wellness has become something much bigger. It is where children spend their afternoons. Where families find support. Where older adults build friendships. Where neighbors strengthen their health. And where people who might otherwise face barriers discover that there is a place for them. Burke County has embraced its YMCA and now our YMCA must grow with Burke County. Burke County deserves a YMCA that reflects the strength, pride, and potential of its people. Since 2018, the YMCA has experienced remarkable growth. Hundreds of children participate in childcare, summer camp, and youth development programs each year. Adults and older adults rely on the YMCA for wellness, connection, and chronic disease prevention. Today, the need exceeds the capacity of our current facility. The revitalization of the Phifer Family YMCA will create a welcoming community hub designed to serve Burke County families for generations to come.
2,587 MEMBERS AND GROWING The Phifer Family YMCA has grown from 400 members in 2022 to 2,587 today - A 540% Increase That extraordinary growth tells a larger story: Burke County is looking for places where people can be healthier, build relationships and feel connected to their community. The proposed transformation will allow the Phifer Family YMCA to grow alongside the community rather than allow the limitations of its current facility to limit its impact.
443 NEIGHBORS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Financial assistance helps ensure that individuals and families facing financial barriers can still participate in YMCA programs and become part of the community. That makes financial assistance about much more than reducing a fee. It can mean a child gets to experience camp, a family finds connection, or an individual gains access to opportunities that support their health and well-being.
INVESTING IN CHILDREN Today, the Phifer Family YMCA is already an important part of life for hundreds of Burke County children. Through early childhood development, before and after school care, summer day camp, tutoring and reading support, swimming, sports and active play, the Y provides safe, supportive environments where children can learn, build confidence, develop friendships and discover what they are capable of. But the needs of children and working families are growing and our current spaces limit how many we can serve and what we can provide. This project will create expanded, purpose-built spaces for youth development, giving us the capacity and flexibility to strengthen existing programs, introduce new opportunities and reach more children. By investing in these spaces, we can do more than accommodate growth. We can create an environment intentionally designed to help more Burke County children learn, grow and thrive and give more families a trusted partner they can depend on.
520 CHILDREN ATTENDED BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
252 CHILDREN EXPERIENCED SUMMER DAY CAMP AND MORE
For hundreds of children across Burke County, the Y is a trusted part of each day. Through our before and after school programs, we provide safe, supportive spaces where children can continue learning, build meaningful friendships and develop the confidence and skills they need to thrive.
Summer at the Phifer Family YMCA is about much more than keeping children busy. YMCA summer camp combines active play, swimming and recreation with reading and tutoring opportunities designed to help address summer learning loss.
We are also a trusted partner for working families, providing dependable care during the important hours outside of the traditional school day. With 56% of Burke County K–12 students qualifying as economically disadvantaged, the need for accessible opportunities and support is significant.
For children, those days mean new friendships, caring adult role models, opportunities to try something new and memories that can last a lifetime. For parents and caregivers, camp provides a trusted environment where their children can continue learning and growing throughout the summer.
“My child has always been shy, especially in new places. I’ll never forget picking him up from the Y one day and hearing, ‘I made a friend today.’ It may sound like a small moment, but for us, it was huge. The Y gave my child a place to feel comfortable, come out of their shell and know they belonged.” -Marcus, Phifer Family YMCA member
Your investment helps us ensure more children have a place to learn, grow and belong and more families have the support they need to thrive. By expanding spaces for before and after school care and summer day camp, we can welcome more children, provide more working families with trusted care, and create more opportunities for Burke County’s youth to learn, explore and reach their full potential.
HEALTHIER AT ANY AGE At the Phifer Family YMCA, healthy living is about caring for the whole person. From group exercise, aquatics and functional fitness to nutrition, wellness education and programs that support lifelong health, we create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take meaningful steps toward healthier lives. With 1,051 active older adults already engaging with the Phifer Family YMCA, we are helping older adults maintain strength, mobility, balance and independence while creating opportunities for friendship and connection. For those who may experience social isolation, a class, conversation or familiar face at the Y can become an important part of staying connected to the community. Expanding our wellness spaces and programming will allow the Y to reach more neighbors with opportunities to become active, build healthy habits and improve their overall well-being.
CREATING HEALTHIER FUTURES
2,040
Access to fitness and wellness opportunities can have a lasting impact on the health of Burke County. Group exercise, functional fitness and 24/7 wellness access give people more ways to stay active, build strength, manage their health and connect with others. By making healthy living more accessible and flexible, the Phifer Family YMCA is helping more neighbors build healthier habits and a stronger quality of life.
WEEKLY GROUP EXERCISE PARTICIPANTS
Through this renovation, expanded and reimagined wellness spaces will give us the capacity to serve more people, offer more opportunities to be active and create an environment designed to support healthier lives at every age and stage.
ACTIVE SENIOR MEMBERS STAYING HEALTHY
STRENGTH BEYOND CANCER A cancer diagnosis can change nearly every part of a person’s life. LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA helps ensure no one has to navigate what comes next alone. Through a supportive community and specially designed wellness programming, cancer survivors can rebuild physical strength, restore confidence and form meaningful relationships with others who understand the journey. Your investment can help us expand the spaces and opportunities that make programs like LIVESTRONG possible, allowing us to reach more cancer survivors across Burke County and remind them that the Y is here for every step forward.
1,051
420
24/7 WELLNESS ACCESS PARTICIPANTS
220
LIVESTRONG® AT THE YMCA PARTICIPANTS SINCE 2018
MEET CAROLINE For Caroline, the Y Makes More Possible. Caroline's story is one of thousands. “I came to the Y because I’m a stay-at-home-mom and I wanted to workout somewhere where they would take good care of my babies and somewhere I felt comfortable leaving my children while I was working out.” -Caroline, Phifer Family YMCA member For Caroline and her family, Child Watch makes healthy living possible. Knowing her children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment allows Caroline to prioritize her own physical wellbeing. When a parent has a safe place for their child, they have an opportunity to care for themselves. When children find caring adults and new friends, they grow in confidence. When families build relationships, communities become stronger. That is what happens inside the Phifer Family YMCA every day. And increasingly, there simply isn't enough room for everyone who needs it.
THE PHIFER FAMILY YMCA, REIMAGINED The Phifer Family YMCA has grown alongside Burke County becoming a place where children learn, families find support, older adults stay active, and neighbors come together. Now, it is time for our facility to grow with the community we serve. This is the Phifer Family YMCA reimagined. A revitalized Y will transform our existing facility into a more welcoming, accessible and vibrant community destination creating the space we need to serve more people and deepen our impact. Expanded wellness areas will support healthier lives. Flexible spaces will create new opportunities for programs and partnerships. Improved gathering areas will strengthen connection and belonging. And spaces designed for children, families and older adults will allow us to meet the needs of Burke County today while preparing for those of tomorrow. With your investment, we can turn this vision into a YMCA built for what comes next a place where Burke County can grow stronger together for generations to come.
BUILDING CAPACITY. EXPANDING IMPACT. Increase membership from approximately 2,587 to 3,250–3,500 within three years. Increase overall program participation by 20%–30% within three years. Increase weekly group-exercise participation from approximately 2,040 to 2,500. Increase participation among active older adults from approximately 1,051 to 1,250.
HERE FOR BURKE COUNTY
BUILDING A HEALTHIER BURKE COUNTY
We're creating a YMCA designed not simply for exercise, but for lifelong health. Upstairs will host a space where integrated areas promote healthy living and support the wellbeing of the whole person. Purposefully designed wellness environments will encourage the community to build lifelong habits that enhance physical health and foster meaningful connections. A new functional training area will offer flexible space for people of all ages and abilities to improve strength, mobility, balance, and confidence, empowering community members to stay active and enjoy a higher quality of life at every stage. Health isn't created by equipment alone. It happens when someone takes their first fitness class. When a cancer survivor discovers strength again. When an older adult finds a reason to leave the house. When a neighbor finds encouragement to keep going.
A SPACE REIMAGINED A SPACE REIMAGINED
EXPANDING WELLNESS SPACES With expanded and more welcoming wellness spaces, the Y can meet people wherever they are in their health journey. A young adult can begin building healthy habits. A parent can find time to care for their own well-being. Someone managing a chronic condition can find programs and encouragement designed around their needs. A cancer survivor can rebuild strength and confidence. An older adult can improve balance and mobility while finding friendships that keep them connected.
“After hurting my back, I wasn’t looking to become an athlete, I just wanted to move without pain again. The Y gave me a place where I could rebuild my strength at my own pace and regain the confidence to do the things I love. Having the right wellness space and support has made a real difference in my life.” Phifer Family YMCA Member
WHERE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER
Creating a shared space where partnerships grow, resources connect and Burke County thrives.
The revitalized Phifer Family YMCA will serve as Burke County’s hub for connection, health, and collaboration. Working alongside local hospitals, Burke County Public Schools, government agencies, and community organizations, the Y will expand access to wellness programs, evidence-based health initiatives, and welcoming spaces that bring people together. These investments will strengthen partnerships and ensure the YMCA remains a trusted resource dedicated to building a healthier, more connected Burke County. “The Phifer Family YMCA is more than a fitness facility. It is where children learn, families connect, cancer survivors heal, and neighbors find belonging. Investing in this project is investing in the future of Burke County. My family has benefited from the Y by offering our adopted son emploment and providing a safe space for him to grow.” Tamika Garrison, Board Member
A COMMUNITY TOGETHER
A SPACE THAT WORKS FOR FAMILIES The Y can be more than the place families come for a program, it can be a place where life happens together. A parent can open a laptop and finish the workday while their child takes a swim lesson. A student can find a comfortable place to study between school and practice. Families can meet, neighbors can connect, and members can simply sit down and enjoy time together.
The future of the Phifer Family YMCA is more than a vision, it’s an opportunity we can build together. Turn the page to see what’s possible for Burke County and how your investment can help bring it to life.
THE FUTURE STARTS HERE
REVITALIZING OUR FACILITIES
THE INVESTMENT: $5.67 Million With One Purpose - People
YOUR GIFT GOES FURTHER
New Market Tax Credit
Every gift to the Phifer Family YMCA is leveraged through community investment, public-private partnerships, grants, New Markets Tax Credits and endowment support helping maximize impact and responsibly steward every dollar.
Community Investment
15% Grants & National Foundations
Together, these resources will create expanded wellness spaces, stronger youth and family programs, evidence-based health initiatives and welcoming places for connection. This is more than a renovation. It is an investment in a healthier, stronger and more connected Burke County for generations to come.
Public/Private Partnerships
45%
15%
20% 5% Endowment
Building Transformation
$1,811,150
Wellness & Community Spaces
$2,796,500
Furnishings & Equipment
$555,000
Professional Services
$505,645
TOTAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
$5,669,195
ENDOWMENT Endowment giving is a way to permanently support the legacy of the YMCA of Catawba Valley. The YMCA takes the trust our donors place in us seriously. Our endowment is managed by professional investment advisors under the direction of our dedicated and knowledgeable volunteer leaders. Gifts to the Endowment Fund are kept in perpetuity and invested to generate income that is used to further the work of the YMCA.
Our Endowment has grown from $2.5M to $6M Our endowment now includes five Named funds: Al Shuford Brian Long Charlie and Mickey Shuford Dianna Cloninger Dorothy Shuford General
The Phifer Family YMCA has already shown what is possible when a community believes in its Y. Now, we have an opportunity to build on that momentum. Together, we can create a YMCA worthy of Burke County's future a place where children grow, families become stronger, neighbors find belonging and generations come together.
Join us in building what comes next.
COME BUILD WITH US. PHIFER FAMILY YMCA
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