OUR GOALS

Step One: Enhancing Local YMCAs
Step Two: Developing a New Wellness Center
Funding the Center
Staffing the Center
Offering Specialized Programs and Services

Step One: Enhancing Local YMCAs
Utilized by thousands of Fox Cities residents, YMCAs are one of the most relied-on choices for exercise. The organization’s leadership is partnering with the Steering Committee and is dedicated to enhancing their facilities to make them available for everyone’s use.

As a part of the initiative, the YMCA of the Fox Cities will commit to:

• adding new machines and fitness equipment
• making key facility modifications
• training staff to assist with workouts and provide assistance in transferring members on and off equipment

YMCA leaders have also agreed to work with the Steering Committee to assess and strategize as future expansions and developments occur.

Step Two: Developing a New Wellness Center
With a full public/private collaboration, we can develop something all people living with a disability can rely on - a universal wellness center that brings together much-needed resources, organizations and services in one centralized location. In addition to fitness and pool areas, the hope is to incorporate services related to adaptive clothing, home modification and more.

By retrofitting an existing space in the Fox Cities area - anything from an empty grocery store to mini-mall - the idea behind this concept is simple: supplying the ease and convenience of everything in one place, while also offering full accessibility, professional expertise and properly trained staff.

Funding the Center
In-depth planning and budgeting needs to take place, but initial ideas for funding the wellness center include:

• Public support for the capital expense and construction of the facility with the possibility of an operating endowment
• Operating expenses covered through leasing fees, services, etc.
• Revenue-generating sources to allow inclusiveness by making fitness membership fees affordable to all

Staffing the Center
The Steering Committee hopes to secure a hospital or medical center affiliation and envisions a multi-layered staff:

• medically trained professionals including a physical therapist, physical therapist assistant and others to assist with transfers, program instruction and equipment usage
• volunteers to include physical therapists, general attendants and other staff
• “shared employees” representing community non-profit organizations

Offering Specialized Programs and Services
Preliminary research shows the integral piece of the center is a multi-faceted resource center - a common area that would connect all spaces with a wellness library and education center. Other main needs include an exercise area, a pool for warm-water therapy and a variety of health and wellness-related programs and services.