YMCA Radio-Thon a Success

Funding raising efforts net $110,000 for facility

Jake Palmateer, Malone Telegram

             A radio-thon held Saturday to raise money for the Malone YMCA was deemed a success by organizers as over $100,000 was pulled in to help the project proceed.

            The event broadcast on the WICY airwaves included a mid-day live report from the historic Malone landmark that YMCA supporters say will be open in September.

            With around a hundred separate donors speaking out with their pocketbooks and wallets, YMCA supporters said the drive to provide a facility that would enhance the quality of life in the Malone area is in full gear.

            “I think the community spoke loud and clear on Saturday,” Kevin Nichols, co-chairman for the YMCA fund raising committee.

            Nichols said a total of $110,000 was raised by the time the 12-hour radio-thon ended on Saturday evening.  This included a $10,000 donation from the Malone Kiwanis Club received late last week and a surprise $25,000 donation from John and Olga Mills.  Donors, YMCA activists and others also toured the facility throughout the day and more tours and events are planned for this summer.

            “This is a big kick-off,” Nichols said.  “It was a substantial win I think.

            The radio-thon was anchored by WICY personality Scott Dalton and Paul Walbridge, who handles radio sports broadcasts and is a Malone town councilor as well.  The fund raiser featured many local officials and personalities who spoke out in either taped messages or live on the air about the potential benefits of a Malone YMCA.

            Cash collected from the radio-thon efforts as well as future fund raising projects and activities will go towards the $300,000 needed for the renovation and repair of the armory building.  Some of those renovations include the construction of a women’s bathroom, shower and locker room area, kitchen improvements, repairs to the armory gymnasium floor, configuration of new office and storage space, creation of a walk-a-round area around the gym, roof repairs and eventual plans to install a racquetball and handball court in the armory garage building.

            Construction-renovation work is expected to start sometime in July and YMCA organizers are hoping to hose a grand opening on Sept. 18.

            “We had an awesome day,” YMCA Membership Committee Co-chairperson Stephanie Bannon said.  “I am estatic.”

            Although proponents of a Malone YMCA have often touted the health benefits of athletic programs the facility plans to host, Bannon said there is so much more the former Armory could play to hose.

            “It’s not just about physical fitness,” Bannon said.

Some of the other opportunities, she explained, include arts and crafts, a theater group and computer education classes.

            “It looks promising that Malone may be on its way up soon,” Bannon said.

            But even as YMCA supporters look to the near future to see the fruits of their efforts, they also hope to keep an eye on the past by preserving armory-related historical documents and artifacts in a special room at the facility.

            Fingerprint cards and other records of World War II veterans- including the relatives of some YMCA volunteers- have recently been found in the attic of the building.  And although most of the armory was stripped bare of items of historical importance, an effort is underway to have some of the memorabilia returned to where itw as kept for so many years.

            YMCA supporters are anticipating that they will need $162,000 for operational costs annually and much of this is expected to come through memberships and fees.  They say the facility will not be using public funds or tax dollars.

            “We’re (now) going to start on our membership drive,” Bannon said.

            As of June 1 membership meeting is planned for Gallagher’s Restaurant in Malone, she said.