In December 2016, Bill Kirk, a YMCA Corporate Board Member and long-time supporter of the YMCA, pledged a gift of $300,000 to the Botetourt capital campaign if the Botetourt community could also raise $300,000 by June of this year.

The challenge gift meant that each dollar pledged to the campaign between December and June would be doubled by Kirk’s generosity.

”Every community needs a Y and every child should have access to the programs that the Y will offer, regardless of their ability to pay for them,” said Kirk, CEO of Associated Asphalt, a Roanoke-based company. “I have been a member, board member and board officer for the YMCA for many years, and I have seen first-hand the benefit that the Y brings to a community.”

After learning the match had been overwhelmingly met by early March, Bill and Shireen Kirk offered an additional gift of $150,000 if the Botetourt YMCA Campaign reaches $8,850,000 by August 1.

This gift would take the campaign to the $9 million mark.

The Botetourt Family YMCA wants to raise $10 million for the planned 43,000-square-foot facility that will be located on a parcel at Daleville Town Center. The Y will have an eight-lane lap pool that will accommodate swim teams, a warm water recreation and therapy pool, multiple exercise studios, spaces for children and teens to play, social space and more.

“We are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Kirk and their passion for the YMCA,” said Mark Johnson, President and CEO YMCA of Roanoke Valley. “It is our hope that the Botetourt community will work together to help us achieve this next milestone so we can move forward with breaking ground on the new Y in late summer.”

In March, the Botetourt Family YMCA opened a campaign office located at 1215 Roanoke Road, Suite 101, Daleville, to close out the final months of the community campaign. Financial pledges will be accepted at this location or can be made by contacting Dale Parris, Director of Development, at dparris@ymcaroanoke.org or at 540-527-9622, ext. 3112, or online at www.ymcaroanoke.org/give.

The YMCA of Roanoke Valley was founded in 1883 and includes Kirk Family YMCA, Salem Family YMCA, YMCA Express at Gainsboro, Rockbridge Family YMCA, Y After School and Y Summer Camp. The YMCA focuses on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility in its mission throughout the Valley.

For more information on the YMCA, visit www.ymcaroanoke.org.