SPOTLIGHT

The T. Boone Pickens Foundation focuses grants to organizations that operate in its core giving categories (see “About TBPF”). The current partner spotlight is an update on the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, the largest human care organization in Dallas.

The YMCA has experienced a year of transformation since reopening the T. Boone Pickens last November. The structural renewal brought changes to the lives of the Downtown community, part of a revitalization of Dallas not only for the residents but also the corporate community. Membership has increased 18 percent increase since this time last year.

“One can only hope that every project produces the kind of results we have realized with the transformation of the T. Boone Pickens YMCA,” says Gordon Echtenkamp, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. “The facility changes are impressive, but I am more pleased with the amazing sense of community that exists in this building, and throughout this downtown community, and the energy and the presence created by the new look of the YMCA.”

With the renovations and additional group exercise space, participation in wellness classes has nearly tripled, officials say. New classes — including such offerings as Hula dancing, yoga, and an explosion of Zumba classes — have blossomed. Fit Camps are continuing to expand.

“Fitness, wellness, and quality-of-life issues are an important part of my philanthropic focus,” says Pickens, who contributed $5 million, the largest gift the Dallas YMCA has ever received, to the renovation campaign. “Good health does not just happen. We think this money is well spent.”

While health and wellness has been part of the Y’s mission for more than 125 years, the T. Boone Pickens YMCA has instituted new programs that support special populations. Last fall, it started LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a cancer recovery wellness program provided through a partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation. In October, a fourth group of cancer survivors is participating in a 12-week wellness enhancement program. A second group of children and their families also started the MEND 7-13 program last month. MEND is a 12-month, evidence-based, community-centered family weight-management program that serves overweight or obese children ages 7-13 and their parents.

The Y on November 10 is again hosting its Key Leaders event, designed seven years ago to connect top community and business leaders with the major accomplishments and priorities of the YMCA. Crowds at the event, whose keynote speakers have included Garrett Boone, chairman emeritus of The Container Store; Doug Brooks, CEO/chairman of Brinker International, Stephen Jones, chief operating officer for the Dallas Cowboys; Todd Wagner, co-owner and co-founder of the Wagner/Cuban Companies; Texas senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; and Richard Fischer, president/CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, have grown from 70 at its inception to nearly 350 last year. More than 400 business and community leaders are expected to hear T. Boone Pickens speak this year at the Fairmont Hotel downtown.

The Y’s support of the corporate community continues to be a priority. It is hosting quarterly luncheons for Human Resource Directors aimed at providing networking opportunities, supplying health and wellness education, and introducing them to resources the YMCA can provide the downtown companies.

For more information, visit www.ymcadallas.org.