Tag Archive for: #ymca

TownTalk: David Caudle Named CEO Of Henderson Family YMCA

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David Caudle has been named CEO of the Henderson Family YMCA, effective Feb. 1, 2026. Caudle had been interim CEO since October 2025. He joined the Henderson Family YMCA in January 2025 as chief financial officer and brings close to 20 years of experience of working with YMCA organizations.

But Caudle is quite familiar with the local facility. He was 12 when it opened, and his father, Woody Caudle, was its CEO. He retired in 2013.

“I’m ready,” Caudle said on Monday’s segment of TownTalk. “I do think it’s going to be a challenge – I’m up for it.”

The Y has embarked on a major renovation project, which included demolition of the former Social Services building that sat adjacent to the current Y property. When complete, the renovation and new building will have a positive impact on the community, Caudle said.

“I saw it happen in Wilson with new construction,” he said. “I think the community is going to be really excited about what’s to come.”

Caudle said his first job as a teenager was lifeguarding at the Y pool. He also was a camp counselor. When he went off to college to pursue fitness and wellness studies – associate’s degree at N.C. State University and a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and Fitness Management at N.C. A&T State University. He has held several leadership roles in YMCA organizations in the state, including in Wilson and Fayetteville.

A lot will be changing over the next couple of years as construction inside and out is completed. There is one thing, however, that hasn’t changed: the CEO’s desk. “I actually sit at the desk that my dad sat at,” Caudle said.

He has it facing a different direction in the office, but it’s the same desk.

Perhaps it gives the newest Caudle CEO a new perspective of what’s in store at the Y.

 

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YMCA

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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YMCA

2017 Polar Express 5K

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On December 9th, the Henderson Family YMCA will hold its annual Polar Express 5k event, benefiting Girls on the Run and the YMCA STRIDE programs.

Race start time is 10 a.m.  Registration begins at 9 a.m.  The course will be at Satterwhite Point on Kerr Lake.  The entrance will be closed at 9:50 a.m.  The address is 6254 Satterwhite Point Road.

Entry Fee for adults is $20 pre-race and $30 on race day.  Children 13 years and under may register pre-race for $10 and on race day for $20.

The race will start and finish in the last parking lot on Satterwhite Point, down from the community building “Glass House.”

For more information, contact the Henderson Family YMCA on Ruin Creek Road, online at hendersonymca.org or call 252-438-2144.

Girls on the Run

Over a period of 10-12 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade participate in an after-school program like no other. Designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength, the Girls on the Run curriculum inspires girls to define their lives on their own terms. Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence and celebrate all that makes them unique. The Girls on the Run lessons encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at this age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. Physical activity is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of each season, the girls participate in a Girls on the Run 5k event. Completing the 5k gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.  For more information go to www.GOTR.org

STRIDE

STRIDE is a fun afterschool character development program for boys. The boys look forward to time with their friends and making new friends. Throughout the program, the focus is on doing one’s personal best, not competing with each other. Each STRIDE team meets twice a week for 10-12 weeks. Trained volunteer coaches start each session with an introduction of the day’s character-building lesson, followed by a warm-up, group discussion, running workout and interactive games. In each session, the boys build the stamina, techniques and confidence to run a 5K. Boys who demonstrate excellent character are rewarded with a STRIDE dog tag at the end of the lesson. At the conclusion of the ten-week session, the boys celebrate by participating in a 5K with their coaches, parents and running partners. STRIDE gives boys the opportunity to share and explore issues that they face in school, at sports, in the community and at home. They learn the importance of being a good friend, working as a team, saying no to drugs and making good decisions. We want to help boys become young men who KNOW what is right, CARE what is right and DO what is right. For more information go to www.ymcastride.org

(The YMCA is an advertising client of WIZS.)

Get M.A.D. and Make A Difference

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The local Henderson Family YMCA wants you to get M.A.D. in March and Make A Difference in the life of a child.  Per information below from the YMCA, you can help and participate in a number of ways.

Ryan Beckham Davis, daughter of Kim Davis, our Youth Programs Director, LOVED camp at the Henderson Family YMCA!  She began participating in Y Programs as soon as she could at age 4.  For two years Ryan was involved in girls basketball, spring soccer, T-ball, fall soccer, swimming lessons and after school and summer day camp.  Unfortunately, Ryan’s life was cut way too short in 2004 in an ATV accident.  The YMCA staff wanted to honor Ryan’s life and began the Ryan Davis Memorial Endowment Fund in 2005. The Endowment funds scholarships for Summer Day Camp and applications are made available to the public every year prior to the beginning of camp.  The recipients are selected by an anonymous committee.  Since the Endowment began, over 65 children have had the opportunity to experience the Best Summer Ever at Camp Splash-n-Dash.

To fund the endowment each year, the Y holds an event to raise money in memory of Ryan.  There have been Spin-a-thons, Fitness Frenzy’s and Zumbathon’s to name a few.  This year we are asking the entire membership and community to join us in getting M.A.D…making a difference in the life of a child by participating in any or all of the following activities:

March 1-31 – COIN drive (containers will be placed throughout the building)
March 6-10 – Membership Special (In lieu of joining fee make a donation of $50 for individual or $62.50 for family to the endowment)
March 11 – Basketball Shootout beginning at Noon (‘shooters’ are asked to represent their businesses and organizations & get their ‘FAN CLUB’ to help sponsor them for $100 and see who the best ‘shooter’ is in our area)
March 17 – Bake Sale (baked goods individually wrapped ready for sale are welcome)
March 18 – Pickleball Tournament beginning at 9:00 A.M. – $10 for members and $20 for non-members to participate.
March 25 – M.A.D. Move-a-thon – Matilda and various Zumba Instructors will lead classes from 8:00 – 11:00 A.M. in the Gym while Willie, Chris and Rob will lead an Outdoor Madness on the field from 9:00 – 11:00 A.M. – $10 for members and $20 for non-members
March 31 – Flick-n-Float in the pool at 6:30 P.M. Join us for an age appropriate movie for families while floating in the pool. $5/person.

To participate in the activities during GOING M.A.D. IN MARCH, please register at Member Services. We will have buttons for staff to wear to help promote the campaign. Our goal is $10,000 in March to help send 10 or more deserving children to the best summer ever at SPLASH-N-DASH!

Volunteers are needed! If you know of anyone that would like to help with any of the activities, please let Julia know or offer a volunteer application because all volunteers must apply and have background checks.  We can get our membership excited about all of it if we let our enthusiasm lead the way so GET M.A.D. IN MARCH and Make A Difference in the life of a child!