Bunches of brightly-colored balloons decorating tables in the gym/auditorium and the appetizing scent of country cooking, courtesy of Nannie’s Fine Dining, signaled it was a special evening for the Greenville Area YMCA.

The YMCA banquet on Tuesday night was both an opportunity to say &uot;thank you&uot; for a job well done by the community, and a chance to seek further support for the Y’s ongoing Capital Campaign, said local Y director Amanda Phillips.

A ‘thank you’ to community

&uot;We do want to give a big ‘thank you’ to all those who had a hand in fixing up the rooms, donating supplies and everything else this community did for us – that’s one big reason for the dinner tonight,&uot; she explained.

The other reason, she said, is the ongoing need for donations to the Y’s Capital Campaign to complete paying for the new facility and grounds, located on the former Greenville Academy campus.

Funds still needed

&uot;Yes, we are seeking additional donations so we can pay off our final costs. We’ve gotten wonderful support from the community so far and we still need it. And I think we’ll get it,&uot; Phillips said prior to the dinner.

She said they also hoped to remind everyone during the course of the evening of the many pluses offered to the public through the YMCA’s new facility and programs.

A ‘wonderful evening’

While the turnout number-wise proved something of a disappointment, there turned out to be a good reason for the lower-than-expected attendance, Phillips said on Friday.

&uot;We found out many people didn’t receive their invitations in the mail, even though we mailed them out on April 28. Unfortunately they found out about the dinner only after the fact.&uot;

Still, Phillips said, all in all it proved to be a &uot;wonderful evening.&uot;

&uot;We had some great testimonies given by folks, including a parent and a child we scholarship to the Y, about what the YMCA means to them. It was very moving,&uot; Phillips said.

CEO of the Montgomery Area YMCA, Bob McGaughey, was on hand for Tuesday’s banquet and praised the event, Phillips said.

&uot;Bob told me in his view, considering it was the first time we had held such an event, that it went wonderfully,&uot; said Phillips.

Phillips sees the Y’s Capital Campaign as a true community-wide effort for an institution that benefits the entire county.

&uot;We want to encourage everyone to support the Capital Campaign. After all, this is a place in Butler County where everyone is welcome, no matter what their race, color or background may be. So we also need support from throughout the community,&uot; the Y director stressed.

Kids Day next weekend

In other Y news, a Kids’ Day is planned for 9 a.m. to noon next Saturday, May 21 at the Greenville Area Y.

&uot;Miss Greater Greenville, Christen Clarke, is helping us with this and it will be wonderful, action-packed day for local children,&uot; said Phillips.

Clarke, whose Miss Alabama platform focuses on promoting physical fitness and healthy living for youngsters, was in town this Tuesday promoting the upcoming event at local schools and businesses, said Miss GG director Sue Arnold.

&uot;Christen called me and said they made a lot of progress and saw a lot of people. She is very excited about the event,&uot; said Arnold.

Activities planned for the morning include a short Fun Run, a moonwalk and giant slide for the kids to enjoy along, with other games.

&uot;Christen says several vendors will be setting up a booth at the Y on Saturday. Just Julie’s is doing a low-fat smoothies booth and Super Foods and Subway are donating sandwiches and fruit,&uot; said Arnold.

A healthy lunch and snacks along with plenty of outdoor activities will all be a part of the day, said Phillips.

&uot;This is a chance for kids to get out, get active and let them see what fun they can have. A sedentary lifestyle is not healthy and that’s the way a lot of us live these days,&uot; she added.

While the target group for this event are not yet old enough to use the equipment in the Y’s fitness center, Phillips hopes Kids’ Day will teach them how to get out, have fun and be healthy. &uot;We want them to see fitness can be fun,&uot; she said.

Kids’ Day is free and is open to non-members along with Y members, Phillips said. For more information on the ongoing Capital Campaign or the upcoming Kids’ Day, contact the YMCA at 382-0550.