Tag Archive for: #hendersonfamilyymca

Henderson Family YMCA Haithcock Membership Scholarship Application Open Through Apr. 19

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The Henderson Family YMCA is accepting applications now through Apr. 19 for the Willard Irvin Haithcock Membership Scholarship, which was established in memory of a man who truly enjoyed the Y.

The scholarship, set up to provide one family membership and one individual membership, honors Haithcock’s legacy of kindness and commitment to wellness.

YMCA members probably remember seeing Haithcock at the Y – he liked to stick to a routine and that included making time for daily visits.

His son, Heath, said his father wasn’t really into exercise and fitness, but those visits to the Y gave him a way to reduce stress and remain physically active as he transitioned to retirement.

When he died in 2021, his family wanted a way to keep their Dad’s joy for the Y alive, so they created the scholarship.

In an interview with WIZS in 2025, his son, Heath, said his father had instilled in him to treat others the way he wanted to be treated. Willard treated everybody equally, his son said. “That’s what the Y does,” Heath said. “The YMCA is all about inclusion.”

Find the application at www.hendersonymca.org.

Henderson Family YMCA Invites Community To Volunteer At Jan. 19 ‘Rise Against Hunger’ Event

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The Henderson Family YMCA invites the community to participate in a special event as part of the Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 19.

Volunteers are needed to pack meals for the Y’s annual Rise Against Hunger event that will take place at Vance-Granville Community College.

Find out all the details and sign up at https://www.hendersonymca.org/

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YMCA Continues Local Progress; Increases Local Impact

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Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Henderson Family YMCA’s construction project marks the beginning of what Board Chair Vanessa Jones called “the beginning of progress.”

About 100 people were present to witness the groundbreaking, braving the breezy, cool conditions as they gathered at the rear of the former Social Services building, set for demolition soon after Thanksgiving to make way for the new 38,000-square-foot building.

“We’re really excited about this project for our community,” said Bert Long, vice president of H.G. Reynolds, the local firm in charge of the project, which also will include a new outdoor pool with a retractable cover and improved outdoor walking track.

Interim CEO David Caudle said crews will begin work soon to tear down the former DSS building to make way for the expansion that lies ahead. Taking advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Y will be closed from Tuesday, Nov. 25 through Thanksgiving Day. to reconfigure the parking lot in preparation for the new facility. The Y will re-open on Friday, Nov. 28. The Y will remain open during the project, but the outdoor track will be closed from Tuesday, Nov. 25 until renovations there are completed.

The project includes a new wellness facility that will house a full basketball gym, an upper-level walking track, updated weight and cardio areas, and a studio room for classes like Silver Sneakers, step, yoga and more.

The outdoor improvements will include a retractable-dome pool suitable for swim meets, as well as a new playground, multi-purpose sports field and an updated outdoor track.

David Carver, chairman of Henderson Vance Healthcare, Inc., recounted the path thus far, more than three years in the making.

With the purchase of the Social Services building “was really the spark, the momentum to make the journey easier,” Carver said. Thanks to a $1 million gift from local physician Dr. Khanh Vu and wife Elmira Choopani in 2022, the Y was able to purchase the building that formerly housed the county’s Social Services offices.

“This is a big deal,” Carver said, adding that the project will enable the YMCA to expand services and programs for everyone from youth to seniors.

In remarks to those gathered, Triangle North Healthcare Board President Terri Hedrick said the facilities expansion also means an expansion of services and programs for the community to use and enjoy.

Carver said, “Our foundation couldn’t do anything better to touch peoples’ lives…Be proud. You should be – this is yours to be enjoyed.”

Learn more at hendersonymca.org.

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Community Invited To Attend Henderson Family YMCA Groundbreaking Ceremony Nov. 18 At 2 P.M.

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The community is invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. as the Henderson Family YMCA begins a project that will transform and renovate the facilities inside and out.

The plans include a new wellness facility that will have a full-size basketball gym, an upper-level walking track and smaller studios for classes.

Outdoor improvements include a retractable-dome pool suitable for swim meets, as well as a new playground, multi-purposed sports field and an updated outdoor track.

Interim CEO David Caudle said the event will be held outside and will include remarks from YMCA leaders and from community partners before the ceremonial groundbreaking takes place.

The Henderson Family YMCA is located at 380 Ruin Creek Rd. The groundbreaking will take place behind the former Social Services building that is located beside the Y building.

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Exciting Times Ahead; Henderson Family YMCA Growing

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With a goal of $120,000, the Henderson Family YMCA’s annual campaign is underway, and sights are set on a new wellness facility and improvements to outdoor facilities for youth and adult programs.

Tommy Marrow chairs the 2025 Campaign; he’s also vice chair of the YMCA board of directors. In a letter announcing the campaign, Marrow stated the goal is “ambitious,” but also achievable with the support of people in the community who believe in the Y’s mission to provide programs for the community.

“With over 5,000 individuals engaged in our programs and using our facilities, we are thrilled to see our YMCA thriving and our programs operating at full capacity once again,” Marrow said.

H.G. Reynolds, Inc. is set to begin construction in late fall, with completion expected by late 2026.

A new wellness facility will include a full basketball gym, an upper-level walking track, updated weight and cardio areas, and a studio room for classes like Silver Sneakers, step, yoga and more.

The outdoor improvements will include a retractable-dome pool suitable for swim meets, as well as a new playground, multi-purpose sports field and an updated outdoor track.

The YMCA hopes to secure long-term funding through a USDA Rural Development Loan and Grant, along with support from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation and Henderson-Vance Healthcare, Inc.

Funding from the annual campaign helps the local Y plug the gap between what membership and program fees bring in and what it actually costs to run all the programs the Y offers.

A donation of $100, for example, provides three swim lessons at the Y. A donation of $250 provides one month of after school care, and mentoring for a child. And a $582 gift translates into a year’s adult membership with full access to fitness, pool, Y amenities and staff assistance.

Learn more at hendersonymca.org.

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David Caudle Named Interim CEO At Henderson Family YMCA

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The Henderson Family YMCA Board has named David W. Caudle, Jr. as interim CEO, effective Oct 1. Caudle has served as chief operations officer at the Henderson Family YMCA for the past eight months. With more than18 years of experience, he has served in various leadership roles at Wilson Family YMCA, Fayetteville Family YMCA and Hartley Drive Family YMCA, according to information from Vanessa Jones, Henderson Family YMCA board chair.

Caudle, who has strong roots in Henderson and Vance County is a graduate of Northern Vance High School. While in high school, he developed interest in weights and fitness at the Henderson Family YMCA where he served as a camp counselor and lifeguard.

Caudle holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science and Fitness from North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, where he graduated  magna cum laude and was a member Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He has an associate’s degree from N.C. State University.

During the span of his career, Caudle has served on fitness boards, and has completed several leadership programs and specific YMCA certifications. His current role of managing day-to-day operations, experience in leadership and management of special YMCA programs and events positions him to spearhead the Henderson Family YMCA during this next phase of expansion as we prepare to better serve our community.

The Henderson Family YMCA board looks forward to working closely with Caudle as he adapts to this new role to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.

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YMCA Executive Director Paul Ross Leaving After 11 Years

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— information courtesy of the Henderson Family YMCA

The Henderson Family YMCA on Thursday announced the resignation of Paul Ross as Chief Executive Officer, effective this fall. After 11 years of dedicated service to the YMCA, Ross has accepted the position of Executive Director with the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation.

During his tenure, Ross guided the YMCA through growth, expanded community programming, and strengthened partnerships. Under his leadership, the YMCA has deepened its impact across Vance County and the surrounding region, furthering its mission to build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

“Paul’s vision and leadership have positioned the Henderson Family YMCA for a bright future,” said Vanessa Jones, Chair of the YMCA Board of Directors. “He has led with dedication, strengthening our programs, expanding partnerships, and ensuring the Y remained a cornerstone of health and wellness in this community. While we will certainly miss his leadership here, we celebrate his transition to Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, where he will continue to advance the same goals of improving health and quality of life across our region.”

Jones also highlighted the alignment between the two organizations: “The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, which focuses on improving health and wellness across our region, has already committed support for the YMCA’s upcoming campus expansion and renovation. This project will enhance our facilities, expand services, and ensure the YMCA remains a vital hub for the community for generations to come. The collaboration between our organizations highlights the shared mission we pursue.”

The YMCA Board of Directors has begun the process of planning for a smooth transition in leadership. In the meantime, staff and volunteers remain committed to delivering the high-quality programs and services the community expects and deserves.

 

Food Bank Teaming Up With Schools, Henderson Family YMCA For Summer Food Distribution During July

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The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is partnering with Vance County Schools and the Henderson Family YMCA to provide food to children during the summer.

Two food distribution sites will be set up throughout the month of July – Wednesdays at Vance County Middle School and Fridays at the Henderson Family YMCA – to provide a week’s worth of shelf-stable breakfast and lunch items for any child 18 years and under who resides in Vance County.

The Wednesday dates are July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Vance County Middle School, located at 293 Warrenton Rd.

The Friday dates are July 11, July 18 and July 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Y, located at 380 Ruin Creek Rd.

Participants may visit one site per week; the program is open to any child in Vance County.

Along with the food items, children and families will be able to pick up other items and get connected with other community resources.

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TownTalk: Willard Haithcock Membership Scholarship

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Willard Haithcock wasn’t a gregarious person, according to his son Heath. He was quiet and soft-spoken, to tell you the truth. But he loved a good routine, you could count on him being at the Henderson Family YMCA at pretty much the same time every day of the week.

“You could set your watch by him,” he said of his dad, whom he described as the quintessential family man who provided for his wife and children

When Haithcock died in 2021, it made perfect sense to his family to establish scholarships in his memory to give others a chance to enjoy the benefits of the Y that he himself had enjoyed so much.

“My dad was not one to draw attention to himself,” Heath said on Monday’s TownTalk. But as the family considered how to best honor their loved one, a scholarship to the YMCA was what leapt to their minds.

“We wanted his life to stand for something,” Heath said, admitting that if his Dad could weigh in on the matter, he’d most likely call the idea the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard.

His dad instilled in him to treat others the way he wanted to be treated. He taught by example – Willard treated everybody equally, his son said.

“That’s what the Y does,” Heath said. And the family chose to create one scholarship for an individual membership and one for a family membership, he said, because “they YMCA is all about inclusion.”

“He really wasn’t that into fitness,” Heath said. But those daily visits to the YMCA gave his father an outlet to reduce stress, get in a little physical activity and embrace a side of his personality that he may not have demonstrated in his business life.

“It became part of his routine…he was very regimented and routine-oriented,” he said.

He became a mainstay at the Y and Heath said the Y became one of the joys of his Dad’s life.

Sadly, Willard didn’t get to enjoy the benefits of retirement for very long. He died just a couple of years after he sold his business.

“It’s a shame he couldn’t have spent more time doing what he enjoyed,” Heath said.

There is no doubt that he would have stuck to his routine and been a 7-day a week YMCA gym rat.

“It was great that he had that venue and that outlet…to be his true self,” Heath said.

The deadline to submit an application for the scholarships is coming up this Sunday, Apr. 20. Find the application at https://www.hendersonymca.org/.

 

 

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Henderson Family YMCA Willard Haithcock Membership Scholarship Applications Due Apr. 20

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The Henderson Family YMCA is accepting applications for the Willard Haithcock Membership Scholarships, established by his family to honor his legacy.

The scholarships support individuals and families who demonstrate a need for YMCA membership and can benefit from its mission to build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, according to information from the Y’s Marketing and Communications Director Christina Miceli.

The application deadline is Sunday, Apr. 20 and the winners will be announced May 1.

Visit: https://hendersonymca.org/ to read more about eligibility criteria and to complete the application.