Local Couple Honored with Building Dedication

Ferdinand- On Monday October 24, the Tri-County YMCA held a building dedication ceremony honoring  the long term support of Clem and Mary Lange. 

Clem and Mary were instrumental in the start up of the YMCA. Mary served on the initial committee investigating the option of bringing a YMCA facility to Ferdinand. In 2003 the  Tri-County YMCA was chartered and opened to members in 2004 on the campus of the  Sisters of St. Benedict. In 2009 the Imagine your Y capital campaign was launched culminating the building of the current facility at 131 E 16th St in Ferdinand. Clem and  Mary’s leadership gift was vital to that project. The y quickly outgrew the new space and  another capital campaign was launched in 2019. The Re-Imagine your Y campaign was  completed in 2021 and added a much needed 12,000 square feet to the current facility.  Again Clem and Mary provided the leadership gift to get the project started. 

Currently the YMCA has over 3100 members and serves Dubois, Perry and Spencer  counties. 3 Summer Camp locations serve Tell City, Jasper and Ferdinand. 5 After School  sites serve Holy Trinity, Jasper Elementary, Ferdinand Elementary, Pine Ridge Elementary and recently added Dubois Elementary. A Wellness Center is housed at Heritage Hills  Middle school and a Program center was recently formed to be serve Perry County.The Y  has programs and amenities to serve people of all ages. 

The YMCA facility in Ferdinand will from here forward be know as the Clem and Mary Lange  YMCA. 

At the ceremony held with the Lange family in attendance, Executive Director said “I often  get asked “how does a town the size of Ferdinand (2200 population) have a YMCA. My  answer always starts with Clem and Mary Lange. It takes a LOT of community engagement  to have a YMCA. But without the leadership of Clem and Mary, I truly believe that we would  not be standing here today.  

Mary Lange stated: “Clem and I give from the heart, we are proud to support the YMCA and  its efforts. Clem would be so proud if he were here today” 

For more info stop by the YMCA at 131 E 16th St in Ferdinand or visit our website www.tricountyymca.org or like us on Facebook.