Making a Difference
by Dolores and Willis Armbrust
Nearly 40 years ago,
Dolores and Willis
Armbrust began taking their two children to the YMCA
facility that was close by their neighborhood.
Unfortunately, the particular facility that the family
frequented wasn’t equipped with a swimming pool at the time.
Dolores explained that she quickly grew tired of having
to drive their children across town to a Keystone
neighborhood pool for recreational swimming and lessons.
Instead of complaining about it, she and her husband decided
to do something about it and began helping the organization
raise funds for a swimming pool. "I just thought it was so
vital that every child be given the opportunity to swim, "
Dolores said.
And that was just the beginning.
That passion to provide every child and family with safe
and fun recreational activities and programs prompted the
Armbrusts to continue volunteering for the YMCA. Over the
years, they have donated their time, talents, and money to
several other capitol campaigns. Their most recent and,
perhaps most important, accomplishment is the brand new
Armbrust Family YMCA facility that is being built on the
southwest corner of 168th and Q streets.
And to think; it all started with a barn ...
Although the Armbrust Family YMCA has been described as a
lifelong dream of the couple, their efforts to provide a
safe place for children to gather started years before they
began helping the YMCA.
While their children, Scott and Amy, attended Millard
High School, a group of Scott’s friends who didn’t make the
high school’s basketball team began gathering at the
Armbrust farm, namely the barn, to shoot hoops. The boys
dubbed themselves the ‘Barn Boys’ and met on a regular basis
over the span of a few years.
"At the time we didn’t realize how important it was for
the boys to have a place to go," Dolores said. She said it
wasn’t until years later that they realized they had made a
difference in the boys’ lives by providing a place for them
to gather and have good, clean, wholesome fun.
It was the barn boys that ultimately made the Armbrusts
realize that their growing corner of Omaha needed a place
for children and families to gather to play, exercise, and
learn. "All kids need a safe haven," Dolores said.
Actions speak louder than words
According to Jolene Becher, executive director of the
Armbrust Family YMCA and director of association program
development, this project would have never even been
conceived without the Armbrusts’ desire to help. "The
Armbrusts donated eight acres of land and a lead gift to the
YMCA of Greater Omaha to get the project started," Becher
said.
Their generosity inspired other donors and made gaining
community support fairly easy. "It’s an easy sell," Dolores
said. "It’s a great organization that’s worthy of the
community’s support."
Location, location, location
The Armbrusts believe that the location of the new YMCA
is ideal. "There are several schools and churches in the
area and it is very much a family-oriented community,"
Willis said. "It’s important to have a family organization
like the YMCA in such a growing community."
If it weren’t for the Armbrusts donating the land that is
being used as the site for the Armbrust Family YMCA, this
southwest corner of Omaha would have to drive to the
facility on 132nd and Center or the one in
Papillion.
"We believe there needs to be these types of facilities
available to all families and children," Dolores said. She
said that the area surrounding 168th and Q was
desperately in need of this type of opportunity.
New facility to offer new features
The $7.3 million facility is on target to open in
December with some new features. "In addition to a wellness
center, gyms, community rooms, child care room, and swimming
pool, the Armbrust Family YMCA will be dedicated to the
purpose of building strong kids, strong families, and strong
communities," Becher said. "We will offer activities and
programs for people of all ages, incomes, genders, and
abilities."
Becher said she believes this new facility will have a
positive impact on the community. "Our goal is to provide
families, teens, and youth with opportunities to grow
through the YMCA’s mission and character development
programs," she said. "Today’s families are busier than ever.
Despite the hectic pace, it’s important for families to have
fun together. The YMCA is committed to building strong
families by offering programs and services for them."
A desire to help stems from respect for the
organization’s mission
The Armbrusts have dedicated so much of their time and
resources to the YMCA for one, very simple reason. They
strongly believe in the mission of the organization. "The
YMCA Is a good, Christian, family organization," Dolores
said. She explained that this really sums up why they have
chosen to assist the YMCA with this project and others in
the past.
They view their ability to help as a blessing and a
positive experience. "We are blessed that we were in the
right place at the right time," she said.
Becher said she is excited to have the opportunity to
lead the Armbrust Family YMCA and make the Armbrusts’ dream
of helping Omaha families a reality. "My goal is to provide
a supportive environment for youth, teens, adults, and
families in pursuit of health and well-being in spirit,
mind, and body," she said. |
