Fifth and Sixth grade athletes will make history this week armed with their shin guards and soccer balls, as the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Meijer Athletic Fields are christened with their first sports match.
The first game to be played on the new will take place on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 6:00pm. Two combined fifth and sixth grade teams will face off in the facilities first ever soccer match. The coaches for the teams are Greg Bennett and Aaron Gage, who are both volunteers in the Y’s soccer program. The fields are located on the new YMCA property at 3700 Silver Lake Road in Garfield Township.
The fields were built during the summer of 2009 and provide space for the Y’s soccer, football, and lacrosse programs.
“This historic event would not be possible without the generous gifts of donors who have helped us raise more than $5.7 million dollars for the New Y from more than 250 donors including Meijer whose generosity we honor in the naming of these new fields,” said Tom Van Deinse, CEO of the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA. “We need another $6.3 million to begin construction on the tennis, aquatics, and fitness centers.”
The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA works every day to better our region, and solve issues that community members are concerned about. At the Y we offer programs that help kids reach their potential, that help families and individuals achieve better health outcomes, and that encourage every member of the region to get involved and make their community a better place. This is a goal that we have strived towards for decades, and our aim is to bring more services to as many people as possible in the key areas of: Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. Come join us!
