Not long ago, no one felt a Y could succeed in a town of less than 20,000 people, but Dave Rogers, Grand River's executive director, and his staff, proved them wrong.

In the late 1980's, an economic development committee formed by business and civic leaders determined that a YMCA would improve the quality of life through recreation for kids and seniors. One of those leaders, Ed Douglas, chairman of Citizens Bank & Trust, helped form a board, went to the national YMCA and asked them how to accomplish it.

Vickie Hennessey, YMCA USA Field Consultant, supported the development of the Grand River YMCA and other western Missouri Y's. Mayor Jerry Wilford, Ed Douglas, Dr. David Neal, and others traveled to Y clusters in Missouri and Kansas to get advice. The Hedrick Foundation, a local charitable trust, gave a seed donation of half a million dollars. Five months later, the community had exceeded its goal and raised $3.1 million. Eight hundred gold-plated bricks in the donor's names now line a wall in the Y's central corridor.

The Hedrick Foundation donated a parcel of land atop a hill and across from a popular park on the north side of town. In 12 months, a beautiful brick structure was ready; and, in the first week, the Y attracted 2,400 members! In terms of membership units, Grand River was Missouri's largest Y by the end of its first year of operation.