North Valley YMCA May Close Unless It Can Raise $140,000

The North Valley branch of the YMCA, which fell into a financial hole last year, probably will be forced to close its doors in Mission Hills unless $140,000 in private donations can be raised within the next eight weeks, YMCA officials said.

The YMCA branch ended its 1986 fiscal year last Saturday $40,000 in the red, a deficit YMCA officials attributed to rising insurance costs and a drop in contributions.

YMCAs in Los Angeles are expected to generate more than 20% of their annual operating budgets through private donations, with fees charged for the various programs making up most of the rest.

Budget of $700,000

Last year, the North Valley branch, which has an annual budget of $700,000, generated only about 10% of its operating costs through fund raising, according to Robert Stewart, chairman of the branch’s board of directors.

Contributing to the problem, Stewart said, is a rise in the cost of liability insurance from $16,000 to $62,000 in the past three years.

Executives from the YMCA’s corporate office in Los Angeles are providing management and financial advice to the Mission Hills facility, but say the branch is not eligible for a corporate bailout because it is not located in what they call a “disadvantaged” community. The North Valley branch serves Granada Hills, Mission Hills, San Fernando, Pacoima, Sylmar and parts of Northridge.

10 ‘Disadvantaged’ Branches

Of the 24 YMCA branches in the city, 10 are in areas designated as disadvantaged, and therefore receive financial assistance from YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the corporate body of the branches, according to its director of operations, Larry Rosen.

“We’re very limited in the amount of dollars we have to throw around,” Rosen said. “To throw that money at Granada Hills, we would have to take it from East Los Angeles or Watts.”

Melinda Sprague, vice president of branch operations for YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, said the YMCA in Mission Hills must raise $140,000--double last year’s total--by April 21, when the YMCA’s formal fund-raising season ends. Otherwise, it risks closure.

“I think they can raise it,” she said. “There are people in the community that really love and treasure the Y. You have to make them aware of the need.”

Rosen said YMCA corporate executives are committed to operating some programs in the North Valley area even if financial hardship forces closure of the branch building at 10925 Columbus Ave.

Will Seek Community Aid

Directors of the North Valley YMCA have scheduled a meeting 3 p.m. Sunday at the facility to make a community appeal for money and volunteers to aid in a fund-raising campaign.

The North Valley branch, which first began operating in the early 1940s in San Fernando, moved to its one-story building in Mission Hills about 20 years ago, Stewart said. The facility has meeting rooms and a gymnasium, but most of the Y’s programs take place at locations outside of the building.

Executive Director Furloughed

In a cost-cutting action in December, Stewart said, the Y’s board laid off its executive director, who was paid about $30,000 a year. Cutbacks were also made in the custodial and clerical staff, he said.

Closing the doors of the Mission Hills facility would be “a last resort,” Stewart said.

“It would be very disappointing if it came to that. I spent 13 years with my own kids on the programs there and I would like to see somebody else spend the next 13 years or more with their kids there.”