YMCA of Three Rivers Enhances Community Programs Thanks to $174,500 OTF Grant
22 August 2025
News
Fergus, ON – On Thursday, local MPP Joseph Racinsky met with the team at the YMCA of Three Rivers to celebrate a $174,500 Resilient Communities Fund grant they received from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant supported enhancements to the YMCA of Three Rivers’ organizational capacity.
“Sustainability is important for any organization, and this grant will help provide exactly that. This investment of over $174,000 will help the YMCA of Three Rivers provide great service for years to come,” said Joseph Racinsky, MPP for Wellington—Halton Hills.
Awarded in January 2024, the OTF grant is enabling the YMCA of Three Rivers to develop significant major and planned giving programs. This initiative is a direct response to the demand for the YMCA’s services, which has led to extensive waitlists for critical community programs. For instance, the Diabetes Fit program has a 25-person waitlist for each of its six sessions, and the Moving Black Lives Forward program for Black youth has a 20-person waitlist for each of its six sessions. The demand for swimming lessons has been so high that waitlists have been discontinued after exceeding 100 people.
The project funded the hiring of major and planned giving strategists and the implementation of a new fundraising CRM system. These tools will help the YMCA better connect with donors and work towards closing a significant fundraising gap, as similar-sized Canadian YMCAs raise between $500,000 and $1,200,000 more annually.
“This funding is a game-changer for our community,” said Mike Ennis, CEO of the YMCA of Three Rivers. “It will allow us to build a sustainable future and ensure we can continue to offer and expand the programs that so many people rely on.”
The YMCA of Three Rivers is a community-focused charity that provides a wide range of programs and services in health and wellness, childcare, and camping. The organization is committed to creating accessible and safe spaces for everyone.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
For further media inquiries, contact:
Aaron Miller
Manager, Marketing and Communications
YMCA of Three Rivers
aaron.miller@ytr.ymca.ca
226-339-8974