Press Releases

Mayor Bill White helps YMCA break ground for the new Tellepsen Family YMCA

Houston (December 1, 2008) – Mayor Bill White helps the YMCA break ground on the new Tellepsen Family YMCA which will occupy approximately 120,000 square feet including a teen center and child watch area, women’s wellness center, community meeting space, chapel, group exercise rooms, racquetball and much more. The new facility will allows the YMCA of Greater Houston to serve thousands of children, young adults, men, women, seniors, families in Downtown Houston. The facility, located at the corner of Pease and Milam, will replace the current building on Louisiana.

Ground will be broken on the new facility on January 7, with an anticipated opening in 2010. The new building will be constructed while the current one is still in use. Once the new building is completed, we will close the doors at 1600 Louisiana and open at 808 Pease. There will be no interruption in member, program or facility services.

“We are overwhelmingly grateful to the Tellepsen family and friends, for their wonderful generosity. The commitments made by the Tellepsen family, private donors and our members, will have a far-reaching impact on future generations for many years to come,” said Clark Baker, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston. The Tellepsen Family YMCA downtown will blend proud traditions and dynamic plans, creating a state-of-the-art facility at its new location on 808 Pease.

The YMCA’s future never looked brighter, more exciting, or more important, he continued, adding, “we are excited about this new path and the opportunity set before us to transform the lives of downtown workers, residents and families by serving as a gathering place—a destination for wellness, spiritual growth and personal development.”

First organized in 1886, the YMCA of Greater Houston’s mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The YMCA seeks to serve those of all faiths, or none.

In the greater Houston area, 38 YMCA facilities and hundreds of program sites provide character enrichment and fun activities for people of all ages, cultures and abilities. Last year, more than 700,000 people in Houston were served through values-based Y programs such as child development and education, older youth and teen programming, health enhancement, wellness, camping, sports and recreation, community development, wellness, fellowship, refugee resettlement and affordable housing.

Locally, the YMCA utilizes the skills of nearly 6,000 staff members and 14,000 volunteers. Limited financial assistance is made available through the YMCA to individuals and families who substantiate need. To learn more, call 713-659-5566 or visit us on the web at www.ymcahouston.org.

The YMCA of Greater Houston is a non-profit organization funded by the United Way.