The Aurora YMCA Founders Committee met last week and decided to suspend pursuit of a program here.

The decision comes in the wake of about 18 months of activity in deciding if there was enough interest for a YMCA program and enough financial commitment.

The Founders Committee had the task of raising $330,000 to cover initial operating fees.
“Some promises of big money didn’t come through,” said Jeramie Grosenbacher, chairman of the committee.

“From the YMCA’s perspective, the financial campaign is the final test of a community’s ability to sustain a Y,” said Brad Toft, chief executive officer for the Ozarks Regional YMCA.

Grosenbacher said the committee had success with smaller gifts, but had nothing over $25,000.
Toft noted that some communities have taken in the range of 10 years to get things up and going.
Karen Bader, a member of the committee noted the word “recession” is scaring some people about making financial commitments.

As members of the group talked of commitment to the community, they realized none of them are native to the city, but have grown to call it “home” over the years.

The committee will meet again  in June of 2010 to evaluate the situation.