It has been our pleasure to work with the volunteers and staff of the Champaign County YMCA as they revitalize their efforts to build a new Y for their community.

The entire project has been a lesson in leadership. In 2009, the Board of Directors stepped aside and a new board and CEO took over leadership of the Y. With that new leadership came a new focus and determination to raise the funds to move the Y forward.

One of the first decisions made was to partner with Larkins Place. That partnership has created new opportunities for people of all abilities to grow healthier in spirit, mind and body. The new YMCA will be an innovator nation-wide in serving people with disabilities and their families.

With the new energy and focus came also several extraordinary lead gifts, including a $5 million gift from board member Rick Stephens and his wife Jeanene. That momentum allowed the Y to break ground on their new facility in November 2010.

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The Donor By Design Team has been pleased to work with this YMCA since 2009. Along with helping to develop their case for support, we created a campaign microsite to keep their community updated on the progress of the new Y. The site includes nine testimonial videos we produced for their campaign.

The campaign is well on its way to completion and the new Y is scheduled to open in 2012.