The Sarasota Family YMCA is celebrating 60 years of service. For the past thirty years Carl Weinrich has led the Sarasota Family YMCA from a fledgling fitness facility to a leader of social programs and fitness for Sarasota, surrounding counties and the state. The following is an interview with Carl.

The Sarasota Family YMCA is celebrating its 60th anniversary. You have been with the Y for the past 30 years. How has the Y grown and changed?
It has grown in waves with each 10 years marking a new phase. The first 10 years was a period of financial recovery, rebuilding core programs and services and rebuilding the Board so that it could raise money and develop physical plants.

The second 10 years were marked with building and expansion of facilities. As the community grew and needs changed we responded with social services such as programs for expelled students and a runaway shelter.

I guess the last 10 years have been the most rewarding for me. We have been able to expand our social services division by filling service gaps to help parents deal with teen issues while building our core youth development and fitness programs. We have become the model for the State for community based foster care. To see Governor Bush take our model statewide was a very rewarding experience; where it now impacts 40,000+ kids per year in the State of Florida. That feels good.

What are some of the projects currently in progress?
We have two major projects afoot at the C.J. Lofino Family Complex that is home to the Evalyn Sadlier Jones Branch, the Climbing Tower, and the Selby Aquatics Center. We are building a splash park and teen center and, of course, additional parking.

The Josephine Lofino Splash Park will provide countless hours of joy for families in a park setting with covered picnic area, Splash Park and interactive activities. Additionally, a high-energy teen focused facility including pool tables, foosball, computers, computer games, dance floor, fitness area and more, is under construction. The Welch Family Teen Center will be a safe place for teens to grow and learn.

These two projects will complete the C.J. Lofino Family Complex and add an array of services for families from the very young to our more senior members.

What do you see on the horizon for the Sarasota Family YMCA; say within the next ten years?
As the community evolves and expands to the east, we need to be poised to fulfill the community's needs. Serving families east of I-75 with state-of-the-art programs and facilities is a priority. A high priority item is to ensure programs and services for the next generation. The Foundation plays a key role in our future; we must grow the endowment. Doing so will allow us to refine our social services programs and take excellence in community based care, youth development and fitness to another whole level.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
From the beginning the success of the Y has been a partnership; a partnership forged with caring and concerned community leaders such as Frank Berlin, Sr., Harry Sudakoff, Rudi Lazarus, Peg Buzelli, Selby Foundation, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and many individual donors. That strength in community leadership and community partnership continues today. I'm proud to say I have been part of the growth and change of the Y over the past 30 years. Can you imagine the positive force we can be in the next 30 years? I want to thank our volunteer leadership and donors. You make it happen.