Kent-based Oberto Brands announced on Thursday its commitment of a $100,000 gift to help build a Kent YMCA.
This funding expands the YMCA’s reach and ability, in partnership with the city of Kent, to ultimately serve more than 22,000 people and provide opportunities for all, according to a YMCA of Greater Seattle media release. The YMCA will be able to create and expand critical programming involving families in healthy activities, improving student academic achievement, reducing childhood obesity, helping adults manage chronic diseases, providing resources for all community members and much more.
Oberto Brands is a family-owned business that produces all natural jerky, pepperoni and other smoked meats. Constantino Oberto founded the company in 1918 in Seattle. It is now headquartered in Kent.
The YMCA plans to build a $25 million, two-story building on the East Hill near Southeast 248th Street and 104th Avenue Southeast in the middle of Morrill Meadows Park. The city will provide the land for the expected 60,000-square-foot facility.
By expanding the YMCA’s service area to Kent, a gap in services for seniors, families, and teens will be filled with a community gathering space. The new YMCA is still in the planning and fundraising phases and will be located at Morrill Meadows Park.
Highlights of the facility will include a state-of-the-art aquatics center, wellness and group exercise classes, indoor and outdoor recreation space within Morrill Meadows Park and dedicated community gathering spaces.
“People from the Kent community have been working on this project for years,” said Nathan Phillips, a South King County regional executive for the YMCA. “This support from Oberto Brands helps to move this project forward and we thank them for their tremendous commitment.”
While the YMCA will raise $12.5 million for the project, the local community must raise the other $12.5 million, according to YMCA officials. The Morford family donated $1 million last year to build the new facility and the King County Council last year approved $1 million for the YMCA as part of its 2017-18 budget.
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