Community leaders, partners, supporters, and residents gathered today to celebrate the groundbreaking of the expanded Midtown YMCA, marking an important milestone in a shared effort to create more opportunities for children, families, and older adults across New Hanover County.
The $15 million expansion represents years of collaboration among nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and private partners who share a common vision: ensuring more people have access to programs and spaces that support health, wellness, youth development, and community connection.
In 2023, The Endowment awarded a $4 million grant to the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina to help transform the Midtown YMCA into a full-service community resource. Together with investments from New Hanover County, federal and state partners, local foundations, healthcare organizations, businesses, and generous individual donors, this project reflects what is possible when a community works together toward a common goal.
When complete, the expanded facility will include a new indoor aquatics center, additional classrooms for childcare and youth programming, expanded fitness and recreation spaces, multi-sport courts, and welcoming gathering places designed to serve residents of all ages. The expansion will increase opportunities for children to learn life-saving water safety skills, families to access affordable childcare and recreation, and older adults to stay active and connected.
The YMCA estimates the expanded facility will serve thousands of additional members, significantly increase childcare capacity, and provide free water safety and swim lessons for every second-grade student in New Hanover County Schools.
Today’s groundbreaking is more than the start of construction, it is a celebration of what can happen when partners come together around a shared vision. No single organization could accomplish this work alone. The expansion has been made possible through the collective leadership, investment, and commitment of The Endowment, New Hanover County, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of North Carolina, Novant Health, the Bruce B. Cameron Foundation, Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, the Cannon Foundation, the Champ McDowell Davis Foundation, and many generous individual donors. Together, these partners are creating opportunities that will strengthen the health and well-being of New Hanover County for generations to come.
As construction begins, the Midtown YMCA stands as an example of what can be accomplished when partners come together around a shared commitment to improving quality of life for everyone who calls New Hanover County home.
Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO, The Endowment shares remarks:
“Thank you, Dick, Jenny, and Chris, for having me and The Endowment here today, and to the YMCA team congratulations on this wonderful achievement.
The Endowment is pleased to have been part of the vision being realized today and expanding this great campus from 16,000 to nearly 48,000 square feet.
This groundbreaking is happening because the YMCA, local leaders, state representatives, federal partners, and the philanthropy of individuals and organizations all came together around a shared goal: the health and well-being of our community. The Endowment is proud that our $4 million grant helped propel this project forward.
Y? Because here, more children will play and learn confidence and water safety in a brand-new indoor aquatics center, where adults and seniors will also find fitness and community. In pools, on courts, and in exercise studios, families and friends will build healthy habits together. New childcare classrooms will give working parents peace of mind, while our youngest learners launch their educational journeys, activate their imaginations, and form bonds that will last a lifetime. In your gathering spaces, our seniors will stay active and connected. In sum, there is something here for everyone.
And in short, therefore, The Endowment is proud to stand with our founders and residents, investing in the well-being and the belonging of our New Hanover County community for this generation and for decades to come. I wish you a swift, smooth and strong execution of this project.
Thank you.”
Jeremy Hardy, Executive Director, Midtown YMCA and Endowment CAC Member shares remarks:
My name is Jeremy Hardy I’m the Executive Director of Midtown
I have the great honor to cast some vision for the future of Midtown and do a blessing.
Being new to the YMCA movement, it’s honestly been a whirlwind since I started. It’s amazing how quickly we’ve arrived at this day. And if I’m honest, it’s a little bittersweet because the older I get, the more I’ve learned to slow down and appreciate moments like this instead of always looking ahead to the next milestone.
Before I go any further, I want to say thank you. Thank you to Dick, Meghan, Sarah, and the countless people across the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina who have welcomed me, believed in me, and allowed me to be a part of this incredible project.
I’d also like to recognize our Midtown staff who have worked so hard in what we have called the “Little Engine that Could” in our small current branch and of course our Midtown Advisory Board. They volunteer countless hours to help make this branch stronger and to ensure we’re serving our community well.
Our Newly appointed Chair!!, Kim Rosov, along with Bill Bukowski, Tyler Grimes, Phillip Hughes, Corby Johnson, Rick Reichow, Kevin Thompson, Mel To’oto’o, Stan To’oto’o, and Nicole Whiteside — thank you for your leadership and commitment.
Today we’re celebrating more than a construction project. We’re celebrating a vision.
Our current 17,000-square-foot YMCA will soon become nearly 48,000 square feet.
Our projections show this branch growing to serve more than 6,000 members.
But when I think about the future of Midtown, I don’t first think about square footage or membership numbers.
I think about the people.
I think about the family who walks through our doors for the very first time and immediately feels welcomed.
I think about a child who discovers confidence through sports or learns what it means to become a leader through one of our youth programs.
I think about older adults who become healthier and stronger so they can spend more years enjoying their grandchildren.
I think about neighbors meeting on the pickleball courts, someone reaching a personal fitness goal with one of our trainers
I think about someone who never thought they could learn to swim finally gaining that confidence in our new eight-lane pool.
Most of all, I think about the thousands of people who will leave this building and make Wilmington a stronger community because of what they experienced.
When I first joined the YMCA, I quickly realized it’s about so much more than what the common person thinks of a Y. It’s about helping people grow with our mission in spirit, mind, and body. If we do that well, we’ve done our job.
To me, the Midtown YMCA is much more than a gym, a youth center, or a place to swim.
It’s a place where people find community.
When people become healthier in spirit, mind, and body, families become stronger. Neighborhoods become stronger. And ultimately, our city becomes stronger.
As Executive Director, that’s my vision for Midtown.
I don’t want us to simply build a bigger YMCA.
I want us to build a stronger community.
A place where every single person who walks through our doors knows they belong… where they’re challenged to grow… and where they leave inspired to go back into Wilmington and make a difference.
Because at the end of the day, this building isn’t the mission.
The people are.
Thank you all for believing in this vision, for investing in our community, and for celebrating this exciting day with us.
