“The Ventura Family YMCA is more than a gym, it’s a place of community.”
The Ventura Family YMCA opened its doors on September 30, 1887 in a house on the corner of Santa Clara and Oak Street. The Ventura Family YMCA was then known as the YMCA of Ventura County. In the 1940s the Ventura Y relocated to a log cabin across from the old Mound School and in 1952 moved again after purchasing the old Mound School. In 1981, the Y bought their current building on Telegraph Road, allowing for the expansion of its fitness and wellness programs.
In 1988 a 3,000 square foot natatorium was added with two heated indoor pools allowing an aquatics program to flourish and serve 5,000 children annually. Today, the Ventura Family YMCA serves 6,000 facility members and provides childcare to over 300 children in its after-school programs. With continuous membership and program growth the Y is once again researching expansion options to ensure it can meet the community needs.
“The Ventura Family YMCA is more than a gym, it’s a place of community and at the Y, strengthening community is our cause,” explains Amy Bailey Jurewicz, Executive Director of the Ventura Family YMCA. “As the needs of the community have shifted dramatically over the past 130 years, our mission has shifted as well. Although much has changed since the Y opened in 1887, the commitment to the cause has never wavered. The Y truly offers something for everyone; a wide variety of health and wellness classes, and scholarships for those who need them. “
To celebrate the 130th year, the Y is offering a gift to the community; join the Ventura Family YMCA by September 30 and get the first month free!
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Channel Islands YMCA serves over 46,000 individuals and provides over $1.3 million in financial assistance to families in need for child care, YMCA memberships, away and day camps, youth sports, and teen after-school programs. For more information about the Ventura Family YMCA, visit http://www.ciymca.org/ventura/ or call 642-2131.
