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The Mid-Delmarva Family YMCA was founded
in 1967, when a group of individuals started
an Indian Guide program and set up an office
on East Main Street. The first
facility came a year later in 1968, when the
YMCA leased the old Montgomery Ward building
and renovated it with volunteers as a place
where programs could be held. This
operation presented financial problems for
membership and program fees were unable to
support the lease and operational expenses
and the Y was forced to move back to simply
an office space. In 1971, Bill Riordan
became the first benefactor for development
of a YMCA by contributing $100,000. He
purchased five acres of land and constructed
10 tennis courts on South Schumaker Drive.
His purchase also included a trailer to be
used as the YMCA office. Then in 1972,
the Guerrieri Family donated 4.5 acres a
joining the tennis courts and Harrell
Granger chaired the first capital campaign
raising $174,000. This money paid for
the construction of the YMCA facility
including two indoor tennis courts, locker
rooms and a small gym. Late in 1972,
another capital campaign to build an indoor
pool was launched and chaired by Tom
Hershey. The campaign proved
successful by raising $321,000 and the pool
opened in 1974. The YMCA continued to
struggle financially and in 1981 the
financial institutions were forced to
foreclose on the property. This
struggle became a turning point for the YMCA
because the community rallied to save the
organization. Through the hastily
organized efforts of Frank Morris and the
Greater Salisbury Committee, the YMCA was
able to repurchase the main facility.
Sadly, the outdoor tennis courts and
surrounding land was sold separately.
In 1985, the Y hired a new CEO and a very
successful Annual Support Campaign was
launched with Walt Brittingham as chair.
Along with co-chairs, Pete Patrick and Stu
Barr, the campaign raised $51,198.
Membership grew and programs expanded and in
1987 Richard Henson challenged the community
with a $1,000,000 gift if the community
could match it. The community
surpassed the challenge and in 1989 a new
and renovated facility opened with a
membership of 3,187. The success of
the Y in Salisbury prompted an interest and
a request from Pocomoke City in starting a
YMCA. In 1991, an informational
organization meeting was held with nearly
100 residents attending. Programs were
initiated and a Founder's Campaign was run
in 1993 which raised $140,000. The
money helped hire and pay Sheldon Booze as
its first branch director. Thanks to
the generosity of Klein Leister, in 1994 the
Lower Shore Family Branch was opened as a
storefront operation on Market Street in
Pocomoke City. The Mid-Delmarva Family
continued to grow with over 5,000 members in
Salisbury and in 1996 another capital
campaign was begun for expansion of the
facility. Part of the money raised in
the capital campaign went towards starting
an endowment fund to insure the Y's future.
Don Mabe chaired this campaign which raised
$1,550,000. The YMCA continued to grow
in Pocomoke City as well and in 1998 they
were ready to launch a capital campaign to
build a full facility branch to serve their
region. Terry Blades served as chair
of this campaign and through the challenges
brought from Richard Henson and Charles and
Martha Fulton, it raised $2,200,000.
This combined with a gift of 106 acres by
the Worcester County Commissioners and a
$375,000 Bond Bill from the State of
Maryland made the dream become a reality.
One name not mentioned in this short
history is Frank Perdue. The YMCA must
recognize that he and his company were a
huge part of each and every campaign the
YMCA has initiated. Whether those
campaigns were held in Salisbury or Pocomoke
City, the Perdue Family and company have
helped the YMCA grow.
The themes of our previous capital campaigns
were:
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"A Covenant with Tomorrow"
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"Building Futures for the Next Generations"
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"Making Dreams a Reality"
These short charges can sum up our future
for if the YMCA will continue to be
successful in serving our communities then
the past promises must be relived and new
visions established - never forgetting where
we have been.
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