YMCA Coming to Maryvale

John F. Long founded Maryvale in the 1950’s as Arizona’s first master-planned community. Mass produced, affordable homes designed for new post war families changed the landscape of West Phoenix.

Today’s Maryvale is still a place for new families but the demographics have changed dramatically over the last 50 years.

° The population is almost 200,000 residents and growing.
° Families make up 80 percent of households.
° Children make up 40 percent of population.
° Hispanics/Latinos now make up 70 percent of the population.
° Up to 40 percent of Maryvale adults have less than a 9^th grade education.

To help meet the challenges facing Maryvale, the Valley of the Sun YMCA and Community leaders began efforts to fund to build a full-service facility in Maryvale. The Valley of the Sun YMCA has a 107-year history of helping build stronger children, families and communities.

After several years of preparation and a $3 million challenge grant offered by valley resident and Maryvale supporter, Foster Friess, the effort has recently accelerated. Foster and Dick Snell, former Chairman and CEO of APS, serve as co-honorary chairs for the Futures for Families campaign to secure the $8.5 million required for land acquisition and construction.

A site has been identified at 67^th Avenue and Indian School Road and plans are in the works for a 33,000 square foot state of the art facility that will have a complete range of YMCA programs and services. The Maryvale YMCA will anchor a planned full-service 18-acre community campus.

And now, after 4 years of combined efforts of community organizations and leaders, the YMCA has reached its campaign goal of $9.2 million! “This is a dream come true" says Pastor Eli Marez. "It was 4 years ago that we stood on those 19.6 acres of nothing and we prayed and believed that God would do something incredible for this community" he says.

The dedication of local community leaders such as the police commander, the local school superintendent and the neighborhood association leaders, have made it possible for this to become a reality for Maryvale. The YMCA's Grand Opening is scheduled for April 5^th, 2008 and the community is invited to celebrate with food and music.

Many thanks to Greg O'Brien, CEO of the Valley of the Sun YMCA for his extraordinary leadership and also to his campaign team led by Amy Thurston and Sam Ridley who have invested many hours of tireless efforts to raise the $9.2 million needed to make this happen! And there is much more to come!!