Celebrating the Elmhurst YMCA’s 65^th anniversary

BY VALERIE HARDY 

For Elmhurst, the YMCA is more than just a catchy song. It is a mainstay within the community, and one that is now 65 years strong.

The Elmhurst YMCA, part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, is a nonprofit organization committed to building strong communities and supporting community members in mind, body, and spirit.

“Family-friendly fundraisers invite folks in to put the exclamation points on the anniversary celebration.”

– Ron Anderson, Elmhurst YMCA Executive Director

Ron Anderson, Executive Director of the Elmhurst YMCA, explained that since it first opened its doors in the early 1960s, the local Y has operated as a “come as you are” institution, serving the community across generations. It offers everything from “youth programming, to teen development, to entry-level jobs, to adult programming,” Anderson said.

Anniversary Celebrations

Balloons decorate the Elmhurst YMCA in celebration of its 65 years in the community.

To mark its 65^th anniversary, the Elmhurst YMCA held a Legacy Celebration on the evening of Nov. 21. Hosted at the community’s YMCA building (211 W. First Street), this all-ages event included light refreshments and focused on the Y’s more than six decades of impact. It also celebrated “what the YMCA is today and how we rethink and reimagine what Elmhurst and the YMCA may look like in the future,” Anderson said.

During the Legacy Celebration, supervised children’s activities were also offered on-site as part of a free Kids’ Night Out.

The Legacy Celebration ended at 8:30 p.m., but the festivities continued with a hockey game between Elmhurst University and Loyola University Chicago, played on the Elmhurst Y’s trademark outdoor ice rink. Over 100 spectators attended the game, which was the first collegiate-level one played there in several years.

A week later, on the afternoon of Nov. 28, the Y held another anniversary celebration: a free Community Open Skate. Both celebrations were made possible by “great partners, including the Chicago Blackhawks, that came in to sponsor the 65^th anniversary,” Anderson explained.

Future Focused

Aligned with its 65^th anniversary, the Elmhurst YMCA set a goal to raise $65,000 between November and the end of April. In addition to

contributions from regular donors, funds were raised via an end-of-season ice rink celebration held toward the end of February. The fundraising will likely wrap up with another local fundraiser, such as a trivia night, in April. Anderson said that “these family-friendly fundraisers invite folks in to put the exclamation points on the anniversary celebration.”

Funds raised will go toward operating expenses for the second half of this year, but a larger capital campaign for possible future expansion and renovation of the existing YMCA facilities may not be far behind. In fact, the Elmhurst YMCA already has renderings of what a reimagined version of its space could look like.

Preserving History while Evolving with the Times

Elmhurst YMCA’s Executive Director Ron Anderson and Chicago Blackhawks Foundation’s Executive Director Annie Davis-Korelc showcase a special jersey presented during the Community Open Skate for the Y’s 65th anniversary celebration.

The ice rink has always been a unique feature of the Elmhurst YMCA. “No other YMCA in the United States, that I know of, still operates an outdoor ice rink, and definitely not one of this size,” Anderson said.

Typically open mid-November through the end of February, the rink allows the Y to offer skating lessons, hockey classes and leagues, and open skating opportunities for people of all ages. Over the years, interest in hockey programming has increased significantly. Based on the demand for hockey training, earlier this season, the Elmhurst Y started a Little Blackhawks program in partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks. Participants learn the basics of skating and playing hockey, with all equipment provided by the Blackhawks, defraying costs for participating families. Over 50 youth signed up for the recent Little Blackhawks session, which met Sundays from 4-5 p.m.

Elmhurst University and Loyola University Chicago face off in the first collegiate-level hockey game at the Elmhurst YMCA’s ice rink in several years.

Other growth areas over the years are aquatics programs and summer camps. The Elmhurst YMCA currently has approximately 280 youth enrolled in monthly swim lessons. The Y has also “eclipsed the 300 kid-per-week mark in summer camp programming,” Anderson emphasized.

All of the Y’s programs are made possible by dedicated staff, a local advisory board, and community volunteers. “Time, talent, or treasure, we’re always looking for additional support,” Anderson said. For information about volunteer opportunities or other ways to support for the Elmhurst YMCA, contact randerson@ymcachicago.org.