3364119

YMCAs Sign Management Agreement

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About five weeks ago, leadership teams of the YMCA organizations in both the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area and the Niles-Buchanan region set out to pursue suggestions, ideas, concepts, and management solutions that might be beneficial to both teams. As a result of that study, the two institutions will enter into a Management Agreement for a deeper dive beginning at the first of June.

The Niles-Buchanan and the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCAs will enter into that Management Agreement beginning June 1, 2016 for a six month period. The Boards of Directors of both YMCAs reached the agreement after the results of a recent study conducted by both YMCAs and YMCA of the USA. The study was initiated after Mike Ahern, CEO of the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA, announced his retirement earlier this year effective the end of May. Mark Weber, CEO of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, will provide leadership to the collaboration efforts.

The purpose of this Management Agreement is for both Boards to further explore the sharing of resources and services to accomplish and strengthen the YMCA Mission and best serve the youth and families in the respective communities. Each YMCA will be able to focus on its unique strengths and use the synergies of talent and expertise to increase the impact of both YMCAs.

The agreement announced today will be in effect until the end of January 2017. At that time, both Boards will determine the next steps.

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Mark Weber, CEO of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA says, “This is exciting for both Y’s in Berrien County. Each organization has valuable leadership teams and this will give each Y an opportunity to learn each other’s best practices. It provides many collaborative connections, including joint grant writing which can open up and bring more outside funding to our local communities. It allows us to research the streamlining costs to put more of our resources into both Y’s programming.” 

Bob Kenagy is Chief Volunteer Officer with the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA. He tells us, “With the announcement of Mike’s retirement, we began thinking about our next steps and it just made sense for us to explore these options with our neighboring YMCA. We share a common Mission and our service area proximity and mutual partnerships make this an exciting opportunity for both YMCAs.”

The YMCA strengthens the foundation of the entire community through fitness programs, youth camps, swimming lessons, and team sports for people of all ages, incomes, and abilities. They are more than just a place to work out; at the YMCA, help is offered to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all while remaining true to the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

A volunteer board of directors provides leadership to each Association, members of the national organization – the YMCA of the USA. The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. For more information: www.nb-ymca.org, www.bhsjymca.org, and www.ymca.net

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