Valley of the Sun YMCA - Maryvale Branch
At the conclusion in 2004 of the Step Up for Youth campaign that raised $25 million to build new or enlarge existing YMCA branches across Maricopa County, there was one area of central Phoenix still not served by the Valley of the Sun YMCA, Maryvale. As a key component of the revised five year strategic plan the Y's board of directors committed to bringing Y programs and services to that underserved community. In 2005, a founders committee of neighborhood activist joined together with Y board members to launch an effort to bring Maryvale it's own YMCA branch.
The Futures for Families campaign was formally launched in 2005 with Sam Ridley and Amy Thurston serving as chairs. They led a cabinet of committed community leaders, which included Mike Watts, Bob Delgado, Dwight Amery, Jon Held, Len Huck and Herman Orcutt. Dick Snell and Foster Friess served as co-honorary chairs. Foster Friess also committed $3 million as the lead gift, followed soon thereafter by a $1 million gift from Mike and Cindy Watts.
As a result of their efforts and the generosity of 100's of other individuals, businesses, foundations and civic groups, over $9.1 million was raised. In 2008 the 33,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Mike and Cindy Watts branch opened. It will anchor a planned 18-acre human service campus.
For a full list of our clients, past and present, download this PDF file.
