SSM Health is giving $175,000 to support programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac Family YMCA.
Of that total, $100,000 will benefit their join capital campaign “Our Future Together, Reimagined,” which will fund a major expansion and renovation of the shared community center, originally established through a groundbreaking partnership in 2010. The remaining $75,000 will help specific programs at both service locations.
The Boys & Girls Club is dedicated to empowering all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens through academic, social, and emotional support.
The Club provides afterschool programs, as well as full-day programs on non-school days and in the summer for youth ages six to 18. In the most recent completed year, the team served more than 1,500 unduplicated youth in afterschool and summer programs.
“We are proudly a unique organization that offers a broad range of services that no other non-profits in our community are able to provide,” according to Dan Hebel, Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac chief executive officer. “Some may provide bits and pieces, but we address all major areas of need under one roof, making us an important part of the fabric of the youth-serving community.”
The SSM Health gift is helping the Fond du Lac Family YMCA ensure that services remain accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances. This is done through scholarships for children to attend enrichment programs, offer affordable memberships for families, and maintain state-of-the-art facilities that serve as a hub for community well-being.
Community members also benefit from such programs as Livestrong at the YMCA (cancer survivors and their families), Healthy Living Program, Parkinson’s Exercise Class, Balanced Health Series Seminars, and more.
“All these opportunities continue our long-term mission to strengthen communities, educate and nurture children, and promote healthy living in spirit, mind, and body,” according to JJ Raflik, Fond du Lac Family YMCA executive director. “We are successful when all children, adults, and families are healthy, confident, and connected.”
SSM Health is making this investment to empower children and adults alike in our community to live a healthier and happier life.
“These programs are important to both children and adults because they address critical needs in education, health, and community well-being,” says Bill Boyd, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital vice president of Operations. “Through structured activities and mentorship, children develop confidence, resilience, and interpersonal skills – essential for becoming responsible, caring citizens. These programs foster a sense of belonging and community, helping adults and families build relationships and support networks.”
In 2024, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $568,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.
SSM Health leaders – Elle Yeates, Laura Nakielski, Bill Boyd (second from right), and Dr. Brent Meier (right), present a $175,000 gift to JJ Raflik, Fond du Lac Family YMCA executive director, and Dan Hebel, Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac chief executive officer.