Exec, wife make $5 million donation toward new YMCA in Champaign
CHAMPAIGN – Horizon Hobby Chairman Rick Stephens and his wife Jeanene have made a $5 million gift toward construction of a new Champaign County YMCA in southwest Champaign.
With that "lead gift" in hand, the YMCA hopes to raise a total of $15 million to $20 million for the new facility, YMCA Chief Executive Officer Mark Johnson said Tuesday.
The facility – to be located just west of the Interstate 57 interchange with Curtis Road – would house both the YMCA and Larkin's Place, which seeks to make recreational opportunities available to all, including those with disabilities.
Johnson said the building would be next to Zahnd Park, on 11 acres now owned by the Carle Foundation.
It would replace the YMCA's aging home at 500 W. Church St., C, as well as leased space at 707 N. Country Fair Drive, C.
Johnson called the donation "obviously a pretty significant gift," while Amy Armstrong, founder of Larkin's Place, said "the generosity is overwhelming."
Johnson said Rick and Jeanene Stephens have agreed to serve on the Y's Campaign Leadership Cabinet, which will contact potential donors over the next several months.
More in Wednesday's News-Gazette.
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