J Magazine Winter 2019

THE FINAL WORD
Collaboration
key to success
Downtown
ERIC
MANN
PHONE
(904) 265-1775
owntown Jacksonville and its surrounding
neighborhoods are clearly
D
on the verge of a great resurgence.
New companies and restaurants are moving
in, developers are breathing new life into
historic properties and our elected officials
and community leaders are focused on driving
investment in the urban core.
While there has been no magic pill to single-handedly
reinvigorate Downtown Jacksonville, community
collaboration among public, private and civic organizations
has been key to transforming Downtown into
a hub of business, culture and entertainment. No one
organization can do everything, but when organizations
come together and do what they do best, we can move
our city forward.
For more than 110 years, the First Coast YMCA has
played a vital role in helping people live their healthiest
lives. Our mission started in Downtown Jacksonville in
1908 with just 12 members on the corner of Laura and
Duval streets.
Now we have 13 membership facilities, one resident
camp, one charter elementary school, 40 school-based
child care sites, two facilities for people with development
disabilities and two youth development campuses
on the First Coast.
But while the Y’s footprint has expanded geographically,
our commitment to Downtown Jacksonville and
its surrounding neighborhoods remains steadfast.
We firmly believe a strong and successful urban core
must have direct access to community programs and
resources that promote a healthy lifestyle. This is why our
flagship branch, the Winston Family YMCA — formerly
the Yates YMCA — is located not even a mile from Downtown
and was designed as a total wellness destination.
This advanced the Y’s mission and brought critical
youth development and healthy living programs into
downtown and its neighboring communities of Riverside,
Springfield and Brooklyn.
The Winston Family Y is a prime example of how
the First Coast Y collaborated with like-minded health
care organizations to advance our mission. Through key
partnerships with Brooks Rehabilitation, Baptist Health
and Florida Blue, the Winston Y’s Luther and Blanche
Coggin Family Healthy Living Center was the first onestop
place in the area to meet a spectrum of health and
wellness needs, such as chronic illness and diabetes in
the community.
Its success has opened the door to new opportunities
across the region, including partnerships with Baptist
Health with new YMCA’s in North Jacksonville and
Nocatee; Flagler Health+ with a new Y near World Golf
Village; and with UF Health at the new Y at Wildlight in
Nassau County.
Just as Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods
are expanding, so must the Winston Y in order
to meet the needs of our growing community and
continue providing quality, impactful programs and
services for all.
Since opening its doors in 2016, the Winston Y’s
membership base has exceeded growth expectations
by five years. Last year, we announced a new capital
campaign to expand Winston’s facility by adding an
8,000 square-foot third floor rooftop wellness area —
the first of its kind on the First Coast — in addition to
expanding our current KidZone and adding a new,
multi-generational space for teens and active older
adults.
As a nonprofit, the Y relies on gifts of time, talent
and treasure to deliver on our promise to strengthen
the community. Our long-term success depends
on the enthusiastic support of our volunteer board
leaders, the passionate servant leadership of our
staff and the generosity of those who give to our
cause.
With 2020 on the horizon, the First Coast Y is excited
about moving forward with our campaign to expand the
Winston Y. We can’t do it alone.
Donations to this project will ensure we can better
serve our neighbors in Downtown Jacksonville and
across Northeast Florida for generations to come.
To learn more about how you can become involved,
call (904) 265-1775 or visit this website, FCYMCA.org/
give.
ERIC MANN is president and CEO, of YMCA of Florida’s First
Coast. He lives on the Southside.
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J MAGAZINE | WINTER 2019