The Bloomington-Normal YMCA and Easterseals are launching the public phase of a capital campaign to build a new facility.
The two would share their new home on the OSF St. Joseph Medical Center campus on East Washington Street in Bloomington, just west of Veteran’s Parkway.
YMCA CEO B.J. Wilken said the campaign is 85 percent toward its $16 million goal. He said a team of 26 volunteers will be soliciting donations from the community to help get them across the finish line.
“This is really the time when we are going to be much more pronounced and visual with the reporting of how much we are raising,” Wilken said. “
Wilken said the target is to reach the $16 million mark by the end of the year.
“We are hopeful we are going to do that and naturally we would love to be able to do that much sooner,” Wilken said. “Before any dirt is turned over, we really need to achieve that $16 million goal.”
The campaign aims to collect $1 million during its community phase by securing gifts from 200 to 300 donors, Wilken said.
He added the campaign will seek to secure larger gifts from “leadership” donors to raise the remainder.
The campaign hopes to raise $250,000 in a benefit concert Fiona Wayis hosting Friday at the Castle Theater in Bloomington.
The YMCA and Easterseals kicked off the campaign last Aprilafter announcing a gift of six acres of land at the OSF Healthcare site to build the facility.
The agencies said they envision a a full-size gymnasium, health and wellness center, teen and senior program center, an indoor pool and warm water therapy pool, and consultation and therapy space for Easterseals’ client families and their children.
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