By TRACY FURNIVALL
Executive Director, Baker Youth Club

The Baker Youth Club Board of Directors announces the purchase and renovation of the old YMCA property located on Smith Street in Warsaw. The deal has now been in the works for over a year and will soon be a reality for the organization. Executive Director Tracy Fumivall says “BYC is extremely excited about the growth of our programs over the last 5 years.”

The current facility was constructed in 2006 and opened the doors for the children in Jan. 2007.

“The construction of the building was made possible by overwhelming support and investments from this community” comments Furnivall.

The goal of this project is to sell our current facility and with the sale, invest those proceeds into the purchase and renovation of the YMCA. This opportunity allows BYC to move into a bigger facility. With this purchase, we can better address and serve the needs of the community by continuing to grow our grade school program and to develop a middle/high school program.

“The growth of BYC over the past five years has been incredible!” says Furnivall. In 2011 BYC was averaging approximately 70-80 children per day. Today the average is 120 per day.

“The growth is contributed to the fact that we provide transportation, 90- 100 children bused daily, certified teachers and/or teacher aids supporting children academically, 70 children through the homework rooms daily, and serve free after school juices, snacks and dinner” comments Program Director Tamara Drake.

“With the growth of our programs we have a need for more space” says Furnivall. “It’s hard to believe and sad to think about selling what this community built for the kids, BYC, and Robert Coach Lichtenwalter but reality is we cannot be as effective in the limited space we are in,” comments Fumivall.

To continue honoring Coach Lichtenwalter and to serve the youth of Kosciusko County, BYC will take the name “Lichtenwalter Center – Home of Baker Youth Club” to the Smith Street property.

BYC plans to fill in both pools to create an activity room, open up sight lines for better supervision, upgrade security, and create areas that will separate grade school and middle/high school students. The plans for renovation are extensive and will be covered by the sale of our current building, and a Dekko matching grant.

As we look to forward to the next chapter in the history of Baker Youth Club, we remember how fortunate we are to live in such a great and giving community. With your investment, you will be ensuring another 88 years of serving the youth of Kosciusko County.

For more information regarding this project, our injuries regarding the current facility, please feel free to contact Tracy Furnivall at (574) 267-8771.