History of the Hilliker YMCA

In August 1992, a group of community leaders began an effort to bring a community center to Logan County. After two and half years of extensive research, they decided this organization should be a YMCA because of the deep history of the YMCA and its mission and values. This effort began with a core set of programs aimed at our local youth and quickly expanded to include adult fitness programs. The Logan County Family YMCA was incorporated in 1996 and operated as a storefront for three years. After three years of successful programming, the Board of Trustees embarked on the next phase in our history – building a full service facility. What remains the largest fund raising effort in Logan County history, the $4.1 million dollar campaign resulted in the construction of the 40,000 square foot facility located on Sloan Boulevard. The building was named after the YMCA’s largest contributors, Don M. & Margaret Hilliker. The grand opening was held in September 2000 and since that time; membership, building usage, and programming have continued to grow.

The Hilliker YMCA has established a foundation and developed a Heritage Club to enable community members to include the Don M. & Margaret Hilliker YMCA in their long-range financial planning. The Heritage Club fund allows community members to earmark a portion of their assets to the YMCA through a variety of gift programs. The program is six years old and has yet to contribute any money to the operations of the Hilliker YMCA; however, 23 members of the Heritage Club have already been identified. This is important because on a national average, endowment funds, in combination with other fundraising efforts, contribute just over 20% to operating income for local YMCA’s. This is obviously a long-term solution to supplement income.

The Hilliker YMCA has made a significant impact in the community with:

Membership that has grown to over 2,000 units or more than 5,000 individuals.

In the year 2009, more than 100,000 visits to the facility occurred.

The YMCA offers more than 55 different programs aimed at young and old, skilled and unskilled, novice and experienced users. Programs offered include swim lessons, summer day camps, aerobics, aquatic exercise, yoga, youth sports, physical fitness programs, and much more. All programs incorporate the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

The Hilliker YMCA employs over 70 full and part-time employees. Staff assists with fitness assessments, coached workouts, swim instruction, aerobic exercise and community events.

The YMCA operates the Safe Haven program, funded through the United Way of Logan County, whereby area youth may participate in after school-supervised activities.