And joining me today on Weekend Focus is my special guest, Julie Markle. She's the Advancement Director for the YMCA. Julie, how are you today? I'm doing well, Paul.
Thanks for having me. Hey, thanks for being here. I apologize. I was a little under the weather this morning, so we're doing this by phone.
I know you were supposed to be in the studio, but thanks for working with me here this morning. And it still all works out just fine. We'll get all the information out. I know we have a Family Fund Day coming up on Saturday, October 21st.
You're going to highlight more on that coming up in just a few minutes and also talk about some other events that you have there. But first, Julie, let me ask you, what is the YMCA in case any of our listeners out there aren't familiar with the YMCA and what it is that you guys do there The YMCA is a nonprofit organization. We are a program based Y, which means that we solely focus on programs for our youth as in sports or camps. But we also are a gym as well.
We do have a fitness center and we do have a indoor pool. And we are the Communities Events Center. Perfect. And tell me again, where are you guys located?
We're located on 55 Lunas Avenue in Mgrove. Perfect. And Julie, while I'm talking to you, if anybody has any questions, is there a number? Do they can call or maybe check you guys out on social media?
Sure. We have all the following. We can be reached at 304-242-8086. They can also find us online at www.wheelingymca.org.
And we are also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter under Wheeling YMCA. Perfect. Well, lots of ways people can reach out to you guys. And Julie, before we wrap the interview up a little bit later on, I'll have you go over those contact information again, just in case anyone missed it.
Now, when we're talking about Family Fund Day, this sounds like a pretty exciting event, Julie. Now, that's on Saturday, October 21st. Why don't you tell us more about what Family Fund Day is and what will entail there? Absolutely.
We started Family Fund Day a few years ago, and essentially what it is, is a whole day for the community to come out, and not only visit the YMCA and get familiar with our facility, but also enjoy the day together as a family. We have special events the entire day. We'll be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It's three-entry all day. So whether or not you want to participate in activities, you can at least come and get a daily pass, do a good fitness class in the morning, go for a swim in the pool, get a nice workout in. If the families do want to come, we do have special events lined up from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
We have a photo booth in Y-cash grab. Now, the Y-cash grab is like a money machine, except you're going in there and you're collecting Y-box. That sounds fun, Joey. Yeah, any amount of money that you get can be used towards programs or a membership.
I like that. Yeah, it's pretty fun, and the kids have a blast. They're in there for a minute, and money's going around all in their hair, and they have a good time. It sounds like it.
What else do you have going on that day, Joey? Right after that, we have inflatable set up. JK10 Grandtos will be there. There's an obstacle course, a bounce house, and a big double slide will be there from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. And then it also has a face thing, so it could be there 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Perfect, and I have to ask you when it comes to the inflatable, is Joey, can adults go down those two?
Absolutely. Absolutely. So I'm in my late 30s, but I could be one of the kids, and come on down and have a good time. It sounds like you guys have a fun field day.
There are lots of things going on. Yeah, it's definitely family oriented. We will have the Mike refreshments. We'll have hot dogs, drinks, chips.
That sort of thing. The first families that come to visit between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. will receive a YMCA key chain with earbuds.
So this is pretty cool because working at a gym, so many people come and they either lost their earbuds or entangled up in their keys. So what this is, it has two little flops on it and it has a YMCA logo on it, so you can wrap and keep ahold of your earbuds without them getting tangled, and then they're on your keys, so you always have them. Problem solved, right? I like that.
I like that. And again, Joey, it seems like any more, we don't have a lot of things in the community, we don't hear a lot about things that the entire family can take part in. That's what you're talking to us about on October 21st, their family fun day. Everybody gives them, you know, no excuse to stay in the house.
Come on out to everybody in a mom, dad, grandparents, kids, aunts, uncles, everybody, brothers, sisters. We want them all down here. Sure, and rain or shine, the event's still going on because the beauty of it is, it's inside. So even if it's not the weather, it's still something for the family to do all day.
We actually just confirmed less than an hour ago another vendor that we're going to have, and this is pretty neat. It's called Dyno-Rohio. And what that is, is a dinosaur show, that animatronic baby animals are going to be there T-Rex and a little triceratops, and they're going to be there on display so kids can actually walk up, learn about each different dinosaur, and even take their pictures with them. Wow.
And they'll also have a fossil display too. That sounds really neat, Joey. I think the kids, they're faces are going to really light up, and that would have to be exciting to be able to see that. And let me ask you, Joey, when we're talking about the YMCA, such as the family fun events coming up, how is it, you said it's free admission?
How was that made possible? Well, this is a day too that we're also going to offer a special membership prize. Like I said, we're a program based YMCA. So we're not just a gym.
We offer plenty of activities for the families throughout the year with the youth sports or swim lessons. So we want to make this day affordable for the families and generate just overall well-being health and active lifestyle for the whole family. And that starts at an early age. So we do it once a year.
We have wonderful vendors that usually give us discounts on even doing either time to help us generate this. But we really just want to display in the community that the YMCA is for a family. Absolutely. And this is a great way to showcase what you guys are about, what you have to offer, and like you said, get everybody in the community together and have a good time.
And I think that's so important. And you hit the nail on head there, Joey. It starts at a young age to get active, involved in the family. And you set that tone early in life.
And the kids will carry that and become adults and bring their family to events and things like that. So you're really right. It does. It starts when you're young.
Definitely. And they see the little kids. They're attentive at a young age. They see what their big siblings are doing.
They see what their parents are doing. So the sooner the better. Absolutely. And again, we're talking with Julie Markle today on Weekend Focus.
She's the Advancement Director for the YMCA. And Julie, give us a note. Remember we're going to show you gave us your contact phone number and how people can reach you on the web. How can they do that?
We'll have you give that number in that web address again. Our phone number is 304-242-80-8C. Our website is www.rearmyca.org. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under the YMCA.
Perfect. And Julia, October 21st, the Family Fund Day coming up there from 7 AM to 5 PM. Talk to us a little bit about some other events. Anything else you want to talk about?
What's going on there at the YMCA? Any other events you want to highlight or take the time to mention? Maybe some more upcoming things. We're going to have a Girl's Backfall Week for first and second, and third and fourth grade.
The deadline to register for that is this Friday, October 13. The games will be Tuesdays and Thursday evening starting October 26. Perfect. And we got you loud and clear that time, Julia.
I appreciate you for going over that again there. And again, give that phone number out if anybody's interested in learning more. Maybe if somebody wants to donate money and monetarily, can they do that? Do you guys accept donations?
Absolutely. We accept donations year round. People can either visit us in person, or there is actually a donate button on our website. And our phone number is 304-242-8086.
Julia, I appreciate you taking time to highlight some things going on. Again, I'll have you run down again when the Family Fund Day is coming up and when and where and what times where people need to be if you want to highlight that again for us. I'd appreciate that. Sure.
Our Family Fund Day is Saturday, October 21, from 7 AM to 5 PM. It's free entry all day to the facility, and most of the programs that we have going on. Now, the dinosaur show will be $2 per person, and ages to and under are free. But everything else from the soda booth, the YCASH grab, inflatables, and face paintings, those are all free.
Well, that YCASH grab. I bet the kids are really kind of touched on it earlier. I'd love to see the kids in that, because I know they're going to have a ball with that. Oh, it's fun to watch, because as soon as they answer there, and their hair's blown up on their face, they're trying to grab it as fast as they can.
Fast and furious. So much fun. Oh, I bet it is. And Julia, I promise this will be the last time I'll ask you to give that phone number out.
OK. They can be reached at 304-242-8086. Well, that's one of the perks that I'm always about being a guest on Weekend Focus. Julia, I ask people many times.
I tell them, I get the look off from the N Studio guest. I'll ask several times for that phone number. Because I always say the listeners, maybe if they're not, where they can jot something down, say it several times. So they have a chance to get the numbers down and the websites and everything.
So I appreciate you highlighting all of that. Anything else you'd like to add this morning? I think that's all. If anybody has any questions, certainly they can call us at that number.
Or all of our information regarding the youth support programs or special events is located on our website. Perfect. Well, Julie, it's been a joy to meet you today. Even if it was over the phone next time, I hope to get to meet you and meet you in person.
Thanks for working with us. Because like I said, a little under the weather this morning. But thanks for taking time out and joining me today to highlight and talk about the YMCA. I can't wait to do this again and hear all of all the good things you guys do and continue to do throughout the community.
So thank you so much. Well, thank you so much for having us, Paul. We really appreciate it.