Christmas came Wednesday for the YMCA of Washington County.

YMCA CEO Amy Schulte was presented a $1 million check by Washington County Riverboat Foundation Board President Shawn Ellingson, Secretary Cathy Rich, and Executive Director Patty Koller, as part of the $3.5 million grant the foundation pledged in 2018 toward phase one of the Y’s Washington branch project. The grant was planned to give $500,000 annually for a seven-year commitment, but with COVID-19’s closure of the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in 2020 where the foundation receives its funds, the foundation board decided to make a more robust approach, paying $1 million in 2020, and $1 million earlier this year over two payments. Ellingson says after their COVID-19 relief, spring small, and fall large grant cycles this year, the foundation chose to pay the final $1 million this week, “[We] looked at our finances and we were in a position that we felt comfortable paying off this grant. And that enabled us to give a million-dollar check today to the Y to finish off our $3.5 million pledge to them.”

Schulte says it was a fantastic surprise to receive the final check, “So this will enable us to our construction loan that we have on the building that was leveraged against our pledge payments. We’ll be able to pay that off earlier and save a significant amount of interest. That’ll be really important for us as we’re already starting the fundraising for phase two. We can really start concentrating our focus on that.”

The YMCA began their phase two fundraising campaign earlier this year, which has so far raised $1.35 million toward the estimated $5.5 million indoor aquatic center addition to the current Washington branch. They also received a $200,000 donation from Washington residents Rachel Nicola and Dave Stoufer for the project Wednesday.

YMCA of Washington County CEO Amy Schulte and Rachel Nicola. Photo courtesy of the Y.