Downey YMCA turns to community to raise money

Ron Kolar speaks after the announcement that the new YMCA building will be named in his honor. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

DOWNEY - Still $6 million shy towards the construction of its new facility, the Downey YMCA is now looking to the community to help get them the rest of the way.

To meet the project’s needs, Downey YMCA is currently working on a $20 million fundraising campaign. To date, they have raised around $14 million in grants and donations.

At a kick-off event at the Embassy Suites last week, the Y encouraged others around the community to contribute and spread the word, so that the organization could raise the remaining $6 million.

Financial Development Chairman Steve Roberson said that “there’s so much generosity in the city of Downey.”

“We started the campaign to raise money for the new Y in 2022, and now we’re toward the end of 2023, but every day we seem to get a little closer and a little closer,” said Roberson.

Included in the funds currently raised is around $800,000 collectively from the Downey Y’s Board of Managers, a $3 million grant from former Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, a pledge of up to $3 million from Congressman Robert Garcia, $1 million from the Larry and Helen Hoag Foundation, $250,000 from both of Downey’s Kiwanis clubs, as well as other organizations.

Roberson called the kick-off “the start of the community campaign.”

“We’re going to begin to go out into the community and ask for people to help us, either help us raise money or help us get to people that could help us raise money,” said Roberson.

According to Roberson, the Downey Y hopes to reach their goal by “early to mid-next year.”

He finished his pitch by saying “The Y does so much for people here in our community.”

“From swimming lessons, to dance, to Karate, to after-school care…The YMCA does a lot of stuff for a lot of people,” said Roberson.

Victor Dominguez, President and CEO of YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles, said it was “a great start” for the Downey YMCA, but added that “We’ve got work to do.”

“I know within a short time, we will complete this and we will celebrate the grand opening of a beautiful new Y for the city of Downey,” said Dominguez.

The evening’s event also served as an opportunity to announce that the facility would be named The Kolar Family YMCA, after lead contributor Ron Kolar.

Kolar, who admitted to being “a bit embarrassed” after the announcement, said that “The Y has been good to me.”

“The Y has been very special; Downey’s also been very good to me,” said Kolar.

Mauricio Nunez, Chair of the Downey YMCA Board, said that the Y would “return to serve more than 15,000 members of the community.”

“This project is for the community, and it’s going to take the community to get it done,” said Nunez. “This is a call of action to all of us here, to go out there, talk about it, spread the word, get involved, donate in whichever way you can.”

Located at the site of the former building, the new 20,000 square foot facility will be designed to include an outdoor basketball court, pickleball courts, a child activity center, indoor pool, men’s, women’s, and family locker rooms, state-of-the-art fitness center, holistic health community space, and dedicated parking with electric vehicle charging stations and a secured entrance. The existing gym will be retained, retrofitted, and upgraded.

Those interested are encouraged to reach out to Steve Roberson at SteveCRoberson@aol.com.