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Tony Barthuly, Chief of Police (12.05.2007)

Association: YMCA and Boys & Girls Club

The Story: I was fortunate to be a young boy when the present YMCA was built. I can recall the excitement and great memories that I have from the YMCA experience. I enjoyed the bean feeds and youth basketball opportunities. I spent a lot of time at the YMCA - because it was the place to go. I ended up working at the YMCA while I was attending and again I got to see others grow up at the YMCA. Seeing young basketball players turn into successful high school, college and even a pro players. Then, I was able to see my two children enjoy the YMCA...through swimming lessons and other activities. I strongly support the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club partnership! As the Chief of Police, this partnership gives our young community members a safe environment to learn, play, grow and build healthy relationships. We should be proud to see such a great partnership take place in our community. Be Safe, Tony Barhtuly Chief of Police

Erin Heiling (11.29.2007)

Association: YMCA

The Story: I grew up in a small Indiana town that was quite a distance from the nearest YMCA. My father was a teacher and also ran the Boys Club in our town, modeling his servant’s heart to me from an early age. When I was 9, my dad accepted his first position as an elementary school principal, so we moved to another town 20 minutes away. The nearest YMCA was still 15 minutes north of our town on the southside of Indianapolis, so dad tried for many years to encourage the development of a community center in our town. His dream eventually came to fruition. When I moved to Fond du Lac 30+ years later, I was looking for a career that would allow me to make a difference in the lives of others. Within 6 months of moving here, I lost my dad to cancer, and within 6 more months, I was working at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA as the membership and marketing director. It did not take long for me to learn about the dream of housing our Fond du Lac Family YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club under the same roof. I knew I wanted to be a part of that dream! I didn’t take swim lessons or attend a dance at the Y, but I believe that a plan was in place many years ago and several states away, and that plan brought a girl from Indiana here to Fond du Lac to begin her own Y story.

Amy Ruppert (11.29.2007)

Association: YMCA

The Story: The Fond du Lac Family YMCA is part of our family, four years and counting… Four years ago, our family came to the Fond du Lac YMCA, enrolling three infant children into the Childcare Program. It was the best decision I made, as the organization has become a positive and powerful part of mine and my children’s lives. Is my last statement a bit dramatic? “It’s only daycare,” you say? Not so. The YMCA Childcare Program is as exceptional as its staff. Here, you will not only find safe, child and youth friendly classrooms that are organized around lesson plans that include fun activities, learning opportunities and free play, but also compassionate, positive, and energized directors, teachers, and support staff. These wonderful people work tirelessly to ensure that each child feels welcome, is a part of the classroom community and has their social, emotional, cognitive and educational needs met. As a parent, this type of care is priceless and I can’t even begin to express to them, the gratitude I feel. The YMCA organization, especially the people, continues to be a blessing for our family. We are active participants in the full YMCA experience as we frequently utilize the free family membership, a generous benefit for Childcare enrollment. We would not have been able to financially afford such an opportunity otherwise. Allowing us access to community activities, fitness classes, swimming lessons, gym classes and much more through our membership, has given us positive family and individual recreation time. Involvement in all the YMCA has to offer, even when school age and out of Childcare, will be essential to my children’s growth and development as well-rounded, individuals. I am a huge supporter of the Fond du Lac Family YMCA (Childcare and all!) and am excited about the expansion project and partnerships which are so vital to this community, its families, but especially our youth. Support the Fond du Lac Family YMCA! Amy Ruppert, Parent of: Malique, Miles and Anjolina

Amy Huempfner (11.21.2007)

Association: YMCA

The Story: Three days after we were blessed with the birth of our second son, we received the news that I had cancer. Months after my treatments were complete and I had been given a "remission" diagnosis, I still found myself with a weak and tired body...and spirit. I joined the Y and became enrolled in the 12 wk. program. Aside from the great benefit to my body, the Y provided me with a routine, the permission to focus on me a little bit, and a wonderful place to bring my boys. My husband quickly saw the Y turning into "our home away from home". The relationships I formed with the wonderful staff in turn allowed me to be considered for the FdL YMCA's HR person last March. (I now find myself spending a little more of my Y time in an office and not on a cross-trainer, but I am working on that!) I truly consider it a privilege to be among the YMCA family, both as a member and an employee.

Mykenzie, Boys & Girls Club Member (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: I like to come to the Club because I have time to finish my homework. I get to know other kids and I love the teachers.

Carisma, Boys & Girls Club Member (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: I like the Club because the staff are nice and it’s not just a place to play, it’s a place to get your homework done. And when you do your homework, you get rewards.

Boys & Girls Club Parent (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: The Afterschool Program allows me to work full-time while my children are well cared for. They have supportive staff who helps them with homework.

Boys & Girls Club Parent (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: The Club keeps my boys active and gives them a safe place to play and make friends afterschool and during the summer. Everyone at the Franklin building is so friendly and treat my kids like they are part of their family

Deb Teidt (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: I'm the proud parent of a young man who has been involved for more than three years in the afterschool program in our community. During this time, my son has greatly improved his social skills, has made many new friends and takes pride in his accomplishments. He has learned so much as a result of the afterschool partnership of the Boys & Girls Club, School District, 4-H and many others who all work so well together.

Boys & Girls Club Parent (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: The Boys & Girls Club provides an opportunity for kids to have a safe place to go afterschool as an alternative to being left home or caught up in crime in the community.

Denise Retzleff (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: The Boys & Girls Club is important for kids to have a safe place to go when parents work. The kids have fun. They get help with homework and have the opportunity to try lots of new things because there is collaboration with many other community agencies.

Parent (11.15.2007)

Association: Boys & Girls Club

The Story: The Boys & Girls Club gives my sons a SAFE place to play and learn. They also help them out with their homework. I didn't have a Boys & Girls Club when I was a kid.

Joanne K. Schneider (11.14.2007)

Association: YMCA and Boys & Girls Club

The Story: When I saw this web site and viewed some of the stories, I could not help but to think back to my childrens pre-school days and our wonderful memories of Miss Mary and her staff at the YMCA. When the time came to visit all the centers in town to choose a pre-school I could not help but be drawn to the Y and the "Building Strong Families" philosophy. Once I saw Miss Mary in action with all of the children, I knew it was the place for us. My two youngest sons now 8 and 11 went to the YMCA pre-school for 2 years each. Miss Mary not only taught children their ABC's and 123's, but she taught love, respect and how to find the good in everybody and everything. They were all about building strong kids and families in every aspect of life. About two years ago I was out on our deck about to swat a wasp with the newspaper & my youngest son came running yelling, "STOP MOMMY! Don't kill that, Miss Mary says everything has the right to live and God put all of us on this earth for a purpose." He was absolutely right and the wasp lived. :) Now a couple years later I had the honor of being asked to join the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors. They also are about building strong kids and family and teaching respect and love and how to look at the glass half full. I am very proud to be associated with these two fine organizations who truly care about our community and the children and families in it. As the FdL United Way would say, "Community Matters" and I am proud to be a part of this fine community and the wonderful agencies within it. J

Mark Hopper (11.12.2007)

Association: YMCA

The Story: After hearing all the stories from my Dad about how the YMCA saved him and kept him off the streets during the depression. It gave him a place to go and made him stronger and more coordinated when he entered the service. I feel like I was born at the Y, but definetly was raised in the YMCA. After the service my Dad returned to be the adult physical edcuation director at the YMCA in 1950, so we started our family tradition at a very early age, and are continuing it with our children and grandchildren. My early memories of riding our bikes to the downtown location on 1st street, are very vivid. We would spend every Saturday at the Y, swimming, playing basketball and table games, breaking for lunch and comaraderie. The downtown location also served as a temporary boarding facility for men who needed a helping hand or a fresh start. Much like todays YMCA mission statement of "Building Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities." Times may change, but needs don't.

Dan Hebel (11.12.2007)

Association: YMCA and Boys & Girls Club

The Story: I have been involved in the YMCA for most of my life. Growing up here in FDL, I spent many of my younger childhood days at the YMCA at Day Care and the Winnie the Pooh program. My father was the Director of Youth Programs at the time, and being able to see him everyday while at Day Care was something special. He also helped me get involved in the Summer Camps and Trips that the YMCA offered each year. I have many lasting memories of time I spent at Camp, as well as in the youth areas and gyms around the YMCA. It is very humbling for me to sit in meetings at the YMCA because those meetings are held in a room that used to be my dad's office where I used to frequent as a five year old. A smile comes to my face each and every time I think about being in that room 20 years ago, and here I am, poised to make as big of a difference as those who did in years past. As an adult in the community now, I still utilize the YMCA and it's programs, and in my position as Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Club, I am excited to see how the collaboration of these two organizations can provide children of the present and future to experience the great things that I did over 20 years ago. I look forward to how my kids, as well as ALL other kids in the community, will be able to enjoy this new, vibrant facility and all of the programs it will offer everyday. Let's make this final push a historic one, and make this facility a cornerstone of the downtown community!!!

Greg Giles (11.09.2007)

Association: YMCA

The Story: I grew up in Fond du Lac until 5th grade, I loved playing sports and anything related to the Green Bay Packers. You wonder how the two come together. One day I found out that Dave Roller (a Green Bay Packer at the time) was going to visit kids at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA. I never set foot in that building until that day. I don't remember any birthday gift I received that year or even what my phone number was growing up, but I remember every moment of that day at the YMCA. I wanted to so badly become a member of the YMCA once I realize they had gyms and swimming pools. I eventually got to meet Dave Roller and that was thrilling. Many years later I shared this story with the local Boys and Girls Club Teen Director who in returned showed up at my office door two days later with a newspaper clipping from that day showing Dave Roller addressing the crowd of kids at the YMCA and in the front row wide eyed and excited was me. Today I am the CEO of that YMCA and every time I walk into the gym I remember the first Green Bay Packer I ever met... at the YMCA. How cool it that.

Ben Giles (11.06.2007)

Association: YMCA

The Story: In every community I lived the one place I always felt at home with my friends is the YMCA. Since I love to play basketball and be around my friends in a safe place the YMCA has a natural place to connect. I grew up playing basketball since I was 5 years old and now that I am in eighth grade and my years of practice are being put to the test for my school's team. I will always enjoy spending time at the YMCA with friends.

Marty (11.06.2007)

Association: YMCA

The Story: I have been a YMCA member for many years, but only within the past few years have realized how much my activity here has improved the quality of my life. As a person 50+, I realize how important a regular physical exercise schedule is to my spirit, mind, and body. I have lowered my blood pressure, I maintain a relatively healthy weight, and I am inspired by the dedication of others (many older than me) who wouldn't miss their workout for anything! I know, first hand, that the YMCA is for anyone and everyone who wants to participate.

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