Project is in planning phase
By: John Tredrea
The Hopewell Valley YMCA, which hopes to build a community center in Hopewell Township, raised $70,000 toward that goal at a recent fundraiser.
The YMCA held its sixth annual Golf and Tennis Benefit at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club on Sept. 26.
"The initiative for a new YMCA home requires the dedication, hard work and financial resources of an energized community," said Lawrence Krampf, chairman of the Hopewell Valley YMCA Executive Golf and Tennis Committee and CEO of Princeton Communications Group, a sponsor of the event. "And this community of ours has shown its enthusiasm through its participation."
The Hopewell Valley YMCA has been working for several years on the task of raising enough money to build a new community center in Hopewell Township. The group does not have a defined timeline for completion of its fundraising efforts, or construction of a new building.
"With the help of small businesses, corporate generosity, family and friends, we will meet the demand to build a YMCA community center," Mr. Krampf added. "We are already in the planning and development stage and are looking forward to building a center to support the community’s needs."
Phil Volpe, president of the Hopewell Valley YMCA, said: "Despite the fact that we have no community center we can call our own, our YMCA programs from basketball and swim lessons to adult fitness classes and after-school care attract hundreds of youths and seniors throughout the region."
Mr. Volpe hailed the success of the golf and tennis benefit.
"It continues to be met with great enthusiasm as we develop plans to bring this community a new YMCA," Mr. Volpe said. "By supporting these efforts, people can have a direct impact on everyone that lives, plays and works in Hopewell Valley for the next 50 years."
The YMCA currently operates out of an administrative office in Pennington and uses various facilities for its programs. For more information, contact the YMCA by calling 737-3048.

