WORTHINGTON -- Each time someone walks into any one of five Worthington homes Saturday, the Worthington Area YMCA will benefit.
Johnson Builders and Realtors, in a joint effort with the YMCA, will raise money for a new Y with a special open house event from noon to 3:30 p.m. For every person 18 and older who comes to view five selected Johnson homes, the YMCA Capital Campaign will receive $5 per person, per home viewed. The fund-raising effort has a cap of $5,000.
"Steve Johnson told me he would love to write that check," said Andy Johnson, the Worthington Area YMCA's executive director. "The best part is that this promotion will not cost you anything."
Steve Johnson, who is not related to Andy Johnson, said his business has been a strong supporter of the planned new YMCA, which would be located on the campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College. He's hopeful that the Johnson Builders and Realtors collaboration with the Y will lead to similar efforts within the community.
"We're obviously trying to sell homes while trying support the YMCA financially," Steve Johnson said. "But maybe other organizations and businesses might see this and say, 'Hey, maybe we can do something like this in some unique way as a fund-raiser for the YMCA.' It creates a win-win situation."
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"This was Johnson's idea," Andy Johnson said of Johnson Builders. "They're in the business of selling homes and realized the YMCA was the hot topic in town. We thought maybe something like this would spur other businesses and corporations to find a way to support the campaign and generate awareness about it. Not everybody has the means to write a check, and this is kind of a new way to do that."
The homes that will be shown as part of the open house fund-raiser are located at 406 Olander St., 717 Dugdale Ave., 529 Lake Ave., 24149 Palm Ave., and 1740 Donavon Drive.
The Worthington Area YMCA is kicking off the second phase of its capital campaign for a new Y today, and Andy Johnson said the goal for this phase of fund raising is $200,000 over a four-week period, weather permitting. This phase involves visiting with individuals on potential gifts of between $1,000 and $10,000.
Nearly $2.4 million has been raised for the new facility thus far; the total goal is $2.9 million. The lead gift phase for the new Y is still ongoing, Andy Johnson added.
It appears Mother Nature will cooperate with Saturday's open houses, with dry conditions forecast and high temperatures possibly in the low 40s.
"We're hopeful there will be plenty of groups of four to five people who come out and walk through all of the open houses," Steve Johnson said.
To see pictures of the homes featured in the open house fund-raiser, please see page B10.
