The Martinsville-Henry County YMCA announced they received a $500,000 gift from Clay Campbell and sibling Sarah Fain to build the new Lester Family YMCA. Campbell and Fain are grandchildren of H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway. Campbell currently serves as President, NASCAR Mid-Atlantic Region.
“This new YMCA will have a tremendous impact on so many residents throughout Martinsville and Henry County,” commented Clay Campbell. “Sarah and I are pleased to be able to support such an important community project. This new YMCA will benefit every age group, from our youngest preschool children to our oldest senior population.”
The new YMCA will be located at the 7-acre site near the intersection of Memorial Boulevard and Fayette Street. The former shopping center site will be strategically located to the Albert Harris Elementary School, the Fayette Historic District, Uptown Martinsville, and the new Five Points Neighborhood. The proposed facility will include a large fitness center, three full-court gymnasiums, indoor aquatic center, indoor elevated walking track, and multiple group exercise and community rooms. An Early Learning Center and many outdoor amenities are also part of the plans.
“On behalf of the YMCA, and the entire community, we are extremely grateful to Clay and Sarah for their early leadership support of our new facility,” said Dru Rothrock, Capital Campaign Committee Member. “It is very fitting that we will recognize their gift with the naming of the new indoor running track.”
The YMCA began the quiet leadership phase of a major capital campaign in September. To date, the YMCA has raised over $4.5 million from local community leaders in addition to Harvest Foundation’s $12 million gift.
