AMHERST - YMCA officials have yet to decide how to spend $25,000 won last year through a national competition that brought TSN to town in late August.
"The money is still there and will be used as seed money to tackle something bigger," YMCA chief executive officer Trina Clarke said. "We have to determine what that is. We've identified a number of things that need to be done and we're working toward finalizing that."
The YMCA won the money after claiming a head-to-head vote in July with the Micmac Amateur Aquatic Club in Dartmouth, garnering the largest amount of votes in Canada at more than 168,000. Along with the $25,000 from Kraft Canada, the YMCA played host to an hour-long broadcast of SportsCentre and appearances by TSN personalities Dan O'Toole and Jay Onrait.
Clarke said some minor repairs have been completed at the facility knowing the money was there including work on the pool deck. She said the biggest things the YMCA needs to tackle, such as the roof and gym floor will cost much more than $25,000. It's possible the money could be used as part of a capital campaign or on equipment. Whatever happens, the donation and what transpired last summer will be recognized within the facility.
Overall, the YMCA is in much better shape than it was a year ago when the facility's board of directors announced it would have to close the pool because its business model was unsustainable.
The pool did close for several weeks before reopening thanks to the establishment of a community pool reserve and a new partnership with the Municipality of Cumberland and the Town of Amherst.
"We're in much better shape. Our membership is up, there are lots of new programs that are really well attended and all the equipment is being used extensively," said Clarke. "We're absolutely determined to finish the year with a balanced budget and whatever we get in terms of a surplus is money we can use as seed money for specific projects."
dcole@amherstdaily.com
No plans yet for TSN money
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Published on
February 9, 2010
- Published on February 24, 2010
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Darrell Cole
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