During the community phase of the CLC YMCA’s capital campaign, an anonymous donor came forward and committed to match any donations up to $25,000 made through the end of the 2016 year. The generous match brought in $50,000 toward its phase one goal of $6 million. To date the Y has raised $5.2 million.

“We are grateful to this donor who helped us go from $25,000 to $50,000 with a very generous match,” said CLC YMCA CEO Meagan Hamblett. “We will continue to fundraise for Phase One and look forward to the groundbreaking ceremony for new construction and renovation in the spring of 2017 with a completion timeline of spring 2018. Requests to individual donors continue to happen behind-the-scenes and our volunteers and staff are working diligently toward the goal.”

Community support is still going strong. Local restaurants are supporting the Y’s capital campaign by donating their returnable bottles to one of the three Bonus Redemption Centers (Mills Rd., Newcastle; Hilltop Stop, Bus. Rte., Damariscotta; and Corner Variety & Pizza, Bremen Road, Waldoboro). Any community member can participate by taking their returns to one of the drop offs or at the Y’s recycling bin outside the building. A big thank you to Best Thai, Damariscotta River Grill, Fernald's, King Eiders, LincolnWellness, Metcalf's, Moody's Diner, Mediterranean Kitchen, Penalty Box, Publick House, Reunion Station, and 1812 Farm for their support.

The Y is also asking the community to support its surprise giveaways the entire month of January by purchasing a raffle ticket. A raffle ticket will be drawn every day this month and a gift will be given to the owner of the selected ticket. After each drawing, the winning ticket goes back in the pot for the next drawing. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Y.

Local builders will come together this spring to build a shed that will be raffled off, with proceeds benefitting the capital campaign. Now is the time to visualize that new shed to store your gardening or sports equipment. More information will be available shortly.

June 9 is the save-the-date for the Strawberry Moon Over the Bay Soiree. This event will be the talk of the town as the community gathers to listen to a variety of outstanding musicians, delicious food from around the world, and a live auction of one-of-a kind artwork created that night by local artists. Tickets will be available at the Y in the coming months.

Dennis Anderson, board chair, CLC YMCA, “It takes a village to build and renovate a YMCA and we are thankful for the people of this great community who came forward to support the Y’s campaign.”

To learn more about the Y’s Capital Campaign and how to make a donation, visit www.clcymca.org/ and click on Donate to Capital Campaign button on the home page.