About the Y

Carley Amys-Roe
Sally Bauer
Bryn Bridley
Zaniea Brown, Youth Board Member
Reed Hagberg
Diane Ibrahim
David Jacobsen
Kevin Johnson
Hope Langston, Vice Chair
Edy McLaughlin, Youth Board Member
Dan Neuger, Board Chair
Patrick O'Neill
Nan Rodgers
Adrian Thomas

 

If you are interested in serving as a YMCA Board Member or YMCA Committee Member, please fill out and submit the Application

 

Jesse Brockway, Building & Maintenance Director

Simon Dickerson, Aquatics & Wellness Coordinator

Suzanne Donkers, Member Experience Director

Julie Duncan, Member Services Lead

Izzy Hessian, Youth Development Coordinator

Anne Kirchberg, Aquatics & Wellness Program Director

Michelle Oaxaca, Youth Development Promise Fellow

Tyler Powell, CEO

Megan Van Den Bosch, Membership & Marketing Lead

Rachel Vantries, Program & Development Coordinator

Heidi Wilson, Youth Development Director

 

Guided by the YMCA of the USA, a group of Northfield community members joined together in the spring of 2005 to form the Northfield Area Family YMCA. Initially known as the “Y Northfield Committee,” this enthusiastic group led a community-wide effort to launch the YMCA you see today including offices, a Health and Wellness Center in the Northfield Retirement Community, and programs running in over twenty different locations around town.

2005

• Presented Northfield as a potential site for a new YMCA to national YMCA representatives.
• Conducted a small scale feasibility test to measure the will of the community to develop and sustain a YMCA.
• Obtained 501(c)3 and provisional charter status as an independent YMCA (as opposed to a branch of another established YMCA).

2006

• Organized and successfully completed a Founders Campaign to raise over $400,000 of seed money to cover the organizational set-up including hiring an experienced YMCA Executive Director, establishing a board of directors, and starting programs.
• Opened a storefront office in the Nutting Block building on Division Street.

2007

• Launched several programs, ranging from preschoolers in the park to tennis and golf camps, flag football, basketball, Youth in Government, etc.
• Organized events including Healthy Kids Day, the Corporate Challenge and the Fall Classic 5K Run. Recipient of proceeds from the Jingle Bell 5K Run.
• Market Research – Sustainability – The YMCA hired a national market-research firm to conduct an independent, objective survey of 300 households in our area in 2007.  The goal was to understand if a YMCA facility would be sustainable by attracting enough members to support its operation costs.  Results were highly favorable, indicating:
  • 76% would like to see a YMCA in Northfield.
  • 60% expressed interest in joining a Y, 75% of which were family members.
  • 69% were interested in affordable swilling lessons, 62% expressed interest in year-round lap swimming.
  • 82% were interested in youth sport activities (for all kids regardless of skill or physically or financial ability).
  • 81% would participate in family gym nights.
  • 89% said YMCAs are a place for families.
  • Hired Virginia Kaczmarek as Executive Director in December.

2008

• Moved administrative offices to the top level of the Northfield Armory.
• Implemented a volunteer-led Annual Campaign, which gathered $19,000 of community support to provide aid for scholarships and critical programs.
• Launched summer camp programs including Y Navigators and Wee Camp.
• Significantly expanded its program offerings, adding more programs for families and elementary and secondary age youth.
• Opened a Health and Wellness Center, which provides group fitness classes, strength and cardio equipment and a child watch area for YMCA members and non-members alike.
• Established collaborations with other local non-profits such as Just Food Coop, Northfield Hospital, Northfield Public Schools and Northfield Retirement Community to provide healthy initiatives in the Northfield Community.
• Organized events including the Daddy Daughter Dance, Healthy Kids Day and Fall Classic 5K Run.

2009

• Delayed final feasibility study due to economic downturn, which created the need to launch a Bridge Campaign to support operational costs for 2009 and 2010.  Y volunteers raised over $200,000.
• Raised more than $22,000 for the Annual Campaign.
• Continued to build community partnerships.
• Carleton College Prairie and Wood program became a YMCA day camp.
• Organized events including the Daddy Daughter Dance, Healthy Kids Day and Fall Classic 5K Run.

2010

•  Moved administrative offices temporarily to Hwy 3
• Market Research – Financial Support – The YMCA hired a national market-research firm to conduct an independent, objective survey of 67 key leaders in our community in early 2010.  The goal was to understand the level of financial support we can expect to receive toward a proposed $8 million dollar YMCA facility.  Results were encouraging and other key information was gathered such as the names of potential lead donors and volunteers to ensure a successful Capital Campaign.
• Site Selection Committee proposed the top three locations to be considered for a YMCA facility.  These locations were included in the survey and the high school property was identified as the preferred location.  An official proposal to build on this site was shared with the Northfield School Board in June.  After much analysis and gathering of community input, the School Board voted down this proposal in October.
• YMCA board voted to move forward with plans for the Capital Campaign.  Hired Triangle 2 (T2) as its consultant and began planning throughout the summer.
• YMCA of the USA unveiled a new logo and focus “for youth development, for healthy living, for social responsibility.”  The Northfield YMCA will phase this into their marketing over the next two years.
• Organized events including the Daddy Daughter Dance, Healthy Kids Day and Fall Classic 5K Run.
• Volunteers organized and presented the first “Y Kids Tri” in August.  Hundreds of kids participated.
• Hosted first “Scoop” event, a presentation to community leaders about the progress and future plans for the YMCA.  Approximately 75 people attended.
• Began the initial phase of the Capital Campaign, collecting over $2.6 million dollars of pledges by year-end.
• Raised more than $23,000 for the Annual Campaign.
• Moved administrative offices again – just upstairs from the office we occupied in 2011 on Hwy 3

2011

• Purchased property for the new Y facility located behind Target and adjacent to Char Carlson Park.
• Obtained a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the City of Northfield.
• A group of high school students in the DECA club created and installed the “Future Home of the Northfield Area Family YMCA” sign on the new property.  A land marking ceremony was held on November 20^th and community leaders Brett Reese, Mary Rossing (Mayor), Joel Leer and Will Healy addressed the crowd, sharing their support for the new Y.
• Increased Capital Campaign pledges to $4 million dollars.
• Raised more than $24,000 for the Annual Campaign.
• Organized events including the Daddy Daughter Dance, Healthy Kids Day, Y Kids Tri and Fall Classic 5K Run.

2012

• Increased Capital Campaign pledges to $4.3 million.  Hired a local fundraising consultant to lead the completion of the campaign.
•  Raised more than $24,000 for the Annual Campaign.
• Organized events including the Daddy Daughter Dance, Healthy Kids Day, Y Kids Tri and Fall Classic 5K Run.
• Partnered with 5^th Bridge on the Jingle Bell Run.  All proceeds went to the Y.

2013

•  Increased Capital Campaign pledges to $5.2 million by November 5, 2013 (anticipating this to be higher by year end).
•  Hired BWBR as the architect and PCL as the contractor for the new Y Facility.
•  Groundbreaking Celebration for the new Y facility on November 5th.
•  Raised over $24,000 for the Annual Campaign.
•  Organized events including the Daddy Daughter Dance, Healthy Kids Day and Y Kids Tri.

2014

• Increased Capital Campaign pledges to $7.3 million by mid March, 2014.
• Began construction on the addition of a full-size gymnasium, indoor walking track and family special needs locker room.
• Increased Capital Campaign pledges to $8.4 million.  Goal is $9.3 million.
• Opened doors to charter members on Sept 3, 2014.  More than 770 charter memberships were sold before opening day.
• All amenities of the new Y community center are ready for use on Sept 3rd except for the indoor track and gymnasium, as they were the second phase to add into the construction project.  Anticipated opening date for these two amenities is late September / early October 2014.
• Grand opening celebration on October 12, 2014 from 2-6PM.

2015

• Exceeded expectations with over 4,800 members (September, 2015), 4,000 community member visits and providing 788 financials scholarships (September, 2015) to ensure everyone who wants to participate at the Y can.
• First Year - surpassed expectations in participation (cash flow positive)

2018

• Through a proactive plan and the guiance of dedicated volunteers on the finance committee, the Northfield YMCA was able ot pay off the debt of the new facility
• The Northfield Area Family YMCA established an Endowment Fund

2019

• On April 15, Krista Danner was named as the new CEO of the Northfield Area Family YMCA.
• The Annual Campaign raised $86,000
• The Northfield Area Family YMCA celebrated its 5 year anniversary of its new facility on Sunday September 29th. 

2020

• This was the year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  The Northfield Area Family YMCA temporarily closed its doors on Tuesday, March 17th in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. 
• The Northfield Area Family YMCA collaborated with the NPS district to be a Tier 2 Emergency Childcare location in April.
• The NAFY purchased a new Minibus and Van under the Transportation cooperative with HCI called BUS for US.
• The NAFY collaborated with 11 other organizations in the area to support the need of food scarcity due to the pandemic in the Faribault Area.
• The Northfield Area Family YMCA was allowed to open Monday, June 15th with reduced capacity and strict protocols in place.  
• The Northfield Area Family YMCA once again had to temporarily close its doors on Nov. 20th due to increased numbers of the virus throughout the state.  The Y was able to open again at reduced capacity on Dec. 19th.  All members were required to wear masks while in the facility.    
• The Annual Campaign raised was $78,600
• Total Contributed Income raised was $216,000