Waushara County YMCA nears finish line: $10 million raised, $1.2 million to go

The people of Waushara County have always known how to come together. After years of planning and months of fundraising, the Waushara Community YMCA has reached 92% of its total goal, with more than $10 million raised from local donations, grants, and pledges.
Now, the final push begins.
An additional $1.2 million is needed to fully outfit the highly anticipated pool and make it operational. The YMCA facility will be located at the site of the old Waushara County Courthouse, making it a central gathering point for residents from every corner of the county. The pool’s foundation, shell, and utilities will be included in Phase One construction, which begins July 1, 2025. That decision helps reduce costs and minimizes disruptions to downtown Wautoma.
In addition to the pool, Phase One includes a licensed childcare center, a gym with a walking track, dedicated wellness and fitness spaces, and areas for classes and community meetings. Telehealth services will also be available, helping rural residents access care that’s often out of reach. The new space offers a place for kids learning to swim, grandparents getting the exercise they need, and families finding connection in a place built to bring people together.
“This is the single most impactful occurrence to take place in Waushara County in many years,” says Marc Bickford, a longtime resident of Waushara County and President-Elect of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.

To keep access affordable and long-term operations sustainable, the Friends of the Waushara Community YMCA Fund has been established at the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin. That fund will support Phase Two of the project, completing the pool to make it fully operational and providing future support to help cover annual maintenance costs.
Support for the YMCA has come from across the community, starting with a lead gift from the DeMars Family Fund at the Community Foundation. The project also received $4.25 million in funding from the Evers administration and a $300,000 matching grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation. Crucial strategic guidance throughout the process from the Stevens Point Area YMCA, helped move the project from idea to blueprint.
“The Stevens Point Area YMCA Board of Directors is excited to support this transformational effort in Waushara County. By aligning resources with our YMCA’s, we can impact more lives, more efficiently. Our ultimate goal is to address community need and create fuller lives for our friends and
neighbors. This Project will accomplish that goal.” shares Dan Mahoney, Board Chair for the YMCA. He continues, “The tremendous work of the Waushara County community has been remarkable in what has been achieved so far. We have come so far and are so close to fully realizing the vision the community has shared they would like to see. We look forward to walking this path together in strengthening the foundations of our communities.”
Fundraising continues, and community support remains essential to bring the project across the finish line.
To help close the $1.2 million gap for a fully operational YMCA and pool, donations can be made to the Friends of the Waushara Community YMCA Fund online at https://tinyurl.com/wausharaYMCA or by contacting the Community Foundation at 715-342-4454 or foundation@cfcwi.org.