The Hodding Carter YMCA announced on Tuesday that it is ending its gymnastics program.
Below is a letter written by YMCA director Bob Williams explaining the decision.
"It is with regret that I make this announcement. For those of you following recent news about our Y Gymnastics program, this is really not news to any of you. Y staff and a parents group worked throughout the summer to raise funds necessary to keep the program alive. It is disappointing, sad, and painful information I must share. The efforts to achieve the established goal has fallen short. The Y Gymnastics program is closing effective immediately.
The Y has been a community organization for close to 100 years. There has been some form of gymnastics offered for well over half of that time. There are many wonderful stories that are a part of this portion of the Y's service to the area. The latest chapter to save the program has been unsuccessful. However, this failure is not due to the efforts of Missy Coppage, our Gymnastics Director, or the parents and other volunteers who worked to save the program. These individuals made time to donate or pledge a gift, seek support from others, tell their story, make calls, write letters, send emails along with many other activities in hopes of providing our area a gymnastics program. The Y as a whole is appreciative of your efforts and each of you are owed a very big Thank You.
Internally and publicly for a number of years, Y volunteers, staff and community members have discussed ideas, integrated changes, offered alternatives to not only meet the fiscal needs of the Y but the needs of specific programs. The overall Y operations budget can no longer support programs that run large operating deficits. Gymnastics has not been singled out. In March our Y leadership closed the School-Age Child Care program. Too many factors have worked against our efforts to achieve financial stability. We are addressing each challenge with the desire of being able to continue providing services and programs that provide a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
To those of you who supported this pledge drive, Thank you. If you have already made a contribution to the Y on behalf of the gymnastics fund drive, please email me in order to process a refund. My email is bwilliams@suddenlinkmail.com . Some of you have already notified the Y that you wish for your donation to stay with the Y to address other needs. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the Y. However, we will not keep donations we have received from donors who desire a refund. Please notify me of your refund request by September 15th.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns."
