Fundraising for the Regional Rec Centre in Owen Sound is past its first milestone.
A news conference was held at the Family YMCA on Monday to announce that 1.25 million dollars has been raised to date.
Fundraising Campaign Co-chair Sonya Mount says it’s a significant achievement and represents 25 per cent of the Y’s 5 million dollar goal.
She says the fundraising team was only put together last September and the campaign just got into full swing in January.
Mount says already over 80 donors have made gifts and pledges, some over a period of 5 years.
There have been some major gifts, such as the 311 thousand dollars from the Better Pool Committee, and pledges of 300 thousand and 150 thousand from donors who wish to remain anonymous.
Mount says they’re hoping to reach their final target of 5 million by the middle of next March and she is confident they will be able to do so.
She says the rec centre project has a tremendous amount of community support.
Co-chair Tom Rice adds they have a fantastic team of 50 volunteers working on the campaign.
He says they are working behind the scenes to identify and contact businesses, organizations, and individuals to gain their support.
Rice says the volunteers are also developing events such as a golf tournament at the end of June, while a community campaign kick off will go this fall.
Construction of the 38.6 million dollar regional rec centre at Victoria Park began in March.