The publication is reproduced in full below:
CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF THE DOWNRIVER FAMILY YMCA
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HON. DEBBIE DINGELL
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the anniversary of the Downriver Family YMCA located in Southgate, Michigan. Their 80 years of service to our community and its families is worthy of commendation.
In Metro Detroit, the YMCA has been serving families for over 168 years. The YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children with a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living, and fostering a sense of social responsibility.
With simple beginnings as an organization established in 1941 by W.F. Newell at a house on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte, Michigan, the Downriver Family YMCA has grown to be an exceptional center of wellness, community, and education. In 1943, The YMCA outgrew their small house and moved to a property at Chestnut and Biddle. This new Downriver YMCA represented the first ``family'' YMCA branch including boys and girls as well as men and women. Sixteen years later, they made the big move to their new home in Southgate at Fort Street and Eureka, partnering with the YWCA. Together they built two new pools and improved their offerings constantly to continue to serve the bustling area of Downriver. On May 11, 2003, to meet the growing needs of the community the YMCA and the City of Southgate held the grand opening for their brand-new building, The Southgate Fun and Fitness Center.
Serving over 15,000 members, the Downriver Family YMCA is the largest branch in Metro Detroit. This organization has supported generations of Downriver families from childhood well into their senior years. Providing after-school programs, summer camps, food drives, active living classes, and activities for seniors, the Downriver Family YMCA's commitment to the promotion of health and wellness has impacted the lives of thousands of Michiganders of all ages as they enter their eighth decade of service to the people of Downriver.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the Downriver Family YMCA's 80 years of service to our community. The Downriver Family YMCA has been a constant in the lives of the Downriver area's children and families for decades. I extend my gratitude to the entire Downriver Family YMCA team and wish them continued success in service and healthy living for years to come.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 99
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