Exeter Car Dealers Donate $250K for New YMCA

The Exeter Area New Car Dealers Association this week donated $250,000 for a new YMCA building in Exeter. 

The money will help the Southern District YMCA build a new community center at the old Exeter Area Junior High School on Linden Street.


YMCA Executive Director Rob McGregor said the donation will "change lives."

"Whether it’s providing a place to go for a latch-key child who has no one home after school, or giving a chance for one of our older residents to get out of the house and come socialize with other people in the community, our YMCA will play a real and significant role in the lives area residents," McGregor said in a statement. "With this award, the Exeter Area New Car Dealers Association will have an enduring impact on the health and wellness of this community for generations to come."

The car dealers presented the YMCA with the donation during a ceremony at the Portsmouth Country Club on Tuesday. Gov. Maggie Hassan, an Exeter resident, was in attendance.

It was the single largest donation in the Southern District YMCA's 40-year history, the group said.

"We are honored to be able to kick-start this fundraising effort," said Larry Foss of the Exeter Area New Car Dealers. "To us, this is an investment in the people of our community. Our association carefully weighed a variety of projects around the Exeter community. Once we saw the final plans for the new YMCA and the business and fundraising models, our members felt this was the right fit for us. As local business owners, we have an interest in the well-being of local residents. We all benefit from a project like this one."

Ground-breaking on the new YMCA is scheduled for the spring of 2014. Officials said it will be a community center with a pool, gym, and indoor track. There will also be room for child care, youth, and senior services, among other features.