MINNEAPOLIS, June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The General Boards of the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul and the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis announced today that the two organizations intend to fully integrate and form one new YMCA to serve the greater Twin Cities region and western Wisconsin communities.

The new YMCA—the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities—is expected to be operating by January 1, 2012. This change will not affect Y memberships and no Y locations or camps will be closed.

The YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities will immediately become one of the top five largest Ys in the nation, with assets of more than $260 million, an annual budget of more than $110 million and more than 225,000 members and participants.

“We are an association of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility,” said Kathryn Mitchell Ramstad, Chief Volunteer Officer and Chair of the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis General Board.

The Y operates 22 full-facility YMCAs, six community program sites including the North Community Youth and Teen Enrichment Center and University YMCA, seven overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care, preschool and school-age care locations across 13 counties.

The two Y Associations are strong, financially healthy nonprofit organizations of equal size. This integration is an evolution of 15 years of successful shared services between the Ys of Minneapolis and St. Paul with nearly 90 percent of administrative and “back-room” operations already being combined.

The main objectives of integrating the two organizations—both with rich and valued histories of more than 150 years—is to allow the Y to further expand their shared cause-driven mission to strengthen the foundation of communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The integration will create tremendous opportunities for the Y to have a greater impact on and serve more people than ever before.

“We believe that lasting personal and social change happens best when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. That’s why, at the Y, strengthening community is our cause. Every day we work side-by-side with our neighbors in hundreds of communities across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive,” said Steve Meads, Chief Volunteer Officer and Chair of the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul General Board.

Thanks to the St. Paul and Minneapolis Y’s donors, policy-making volunteers and program volunteers, everyone is welcome and no one is turned away from the YMCA for inability to pay. More than 47,000 people (individuals, kids and families) receive scholarships and financial assistance totaling $6,974,000 annually, assuring that parents have a safe environment in which their children can learn practical and social skills and develop positive values.

This integration will position the Y to even more effectively address critical community needs. It will allow the Y to better serve the needs of current members and participants, and to expand into new service areas that currently do not have a Y presence.

The YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities will have one senior management team, one General Board and one Chief Executive Officer. Harold Mezile, President/CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis, and Tom Brinsko, President/CEO of the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul, wholeheartedly endorse the decision and have been asked by the General Boards to lead the integration. At the appropriate point in the process, both will enter Y retirement after 38 years and 36 years within the Y movement, respectively. A national search will be conducted for the new CEO with an expected placement by June, 2012.

“Tom and I are both excited, proud and thrilled to help bring our Ys to this moment that has both local and national significance in our Y movement,” said Harold Mezile, President/CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis, who has led the Minneapolis Y since January, 1995.

In 1856, 155 years ago, the St. Paul YMCA was organized; a decade later the Minneapolis YMCA first opened its doors.

“Our two organizations—sharing a common mission to help people reach their full potential in spirit, mind and body—will now share a totally combined effort to continue and expand that mission,” said Tom Brinsko, President/CEO of the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul since December, 1995.

Over the next days and weeks the two YMCAs will communicate with their members and participants, donors, community partners, vendors and others associated with the organization.

Donors to the two organizations have been informed and assured that, as always, contributed dollars to the Y will be designated to the donor’s intent. Endowment gifts and payouts will remain dedicated to the branch, camp, program or activity as directed by the donor.

The decision to integrate came about after five years of study which included a highly-respected national consulting firm and key leadership from the two General Boards. A final vote of the General Boards ratifying full integration will take place this fall. General Membership Meetings will be held in

December to approve the integration.

About the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul and the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis.

The YMCA of Greater Saint Paul and the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis are leading nonprofits dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established in 1856 in St. Paul, 155 years ago, and a decade later in Minneapolis, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across 13 counties of the greater Twin Cities metro region and western Wisconsin communities. The 28 Y locations and program sites, seven overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage nearly a quarter million men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit our website at www.ymcatwincities.org.

SOURCE YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis; YMCA of Greater Saint Paul