Meet Some of Our Foundation Donors

Walter S. Crump

Walter Crump was a ham. He loved to tease and joke and enjoyed when his picture or name appeared in Marjorie North’s Herald Tribune newspaper column. But behind all of his laughter was a serious commitment to Sarasota’s youth.

Crump joined the YMCA Foundation Board in 1998 and put his good humor straight to work raising funds for YMCA programs like youth sports and education. But Crump’s biggest gift came posthumously. In June 2007 Crump’s estate presented the YMCA Foundation with more than $1 million.

“He was a wonderful guy who really understood what we do,” said Karin Gustafson, President of the YMCA Foundation. “He was a wonderful trustee with a wonderful legacy.”

As a child growing up in Durham, North Carolina, Crump himself benefited from local YMCA programs. Those warm childhood memories along with him and his late wife, Julie’s, commitment to local youth propelled Crump during his tenure on the Foundation board.

The majority of Crump’s donation is being set aside for the YMCA’s “2010: Gift for the Next Generation Endowment Campaign.” An additional fund of more than $170,000 is being used to fund active YMCA programs.

Mr. Crump was also a board member of the local hospital in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, where the Crumps spent part of the year. Crump was retired from L. G. Balfour Co., Chicago, where he was Midwest market manager. He died Sept. 2, 2006.

Paul Welch

“I Want to Give Back What Was Given to Me”


“As a young teen growing up in Detroit, Michigan I found myself getting in trouble and without direction. My life was at a crossroad and it could have gone one way or the other. It was at this time I met a very Young priest by the name of Fr. Dick Ward, the founder of the St. Roberts Youth Group in Detroit. Fr. Ward took me under his wing and got me involved in his youth group.

The youth group offered a fun, positive environment for teens. I quickly became involved in planning parties, sports activities, dances, dinners, game nights and more. The youth center offered me a safe place to “hang out” with the other teens and be a part of something positive. I will always be grateful to Fr. Ward and the St. Roberts Youth Group for being such a positive influence at a very crucial time in my life. It is because of this that I want to give back what was given to me.

Teens today are the most at risk group in our society due to lack of supervised recreation. They face daily peer pressure, exposure to drugs, alcohol, etc. My intention for the Welch Family Teen Center is that it be a safe haven for our teens to call their own while at the same time help them foster a healthy sense of self-esteem, comradeship, and sense of value and belonging in the Sarasota community.” Paul E. Welch

Thanks to the support of Mr. Welch and others the Welch Family Teen Center recently opened. The Teen Center offers kids a new place to “hang out” while offering the latest in technologies and games while promoting movement and encouraging character values of respect, truth, responsibility and caring.

Fr. Ward influenced Paul Welch at a critical time in his development. Fr. Ward’s teachings live on through the generosity and caring of Paul and his family. Who influenced your life and what legacy do you wish to leave? What do you want to give back?

Paul Bowman

He’s got a British accent that immediately catches your attention, a solid business mind and a drive to make life better for kids. This describes Paul Bowman the Chairman of the YMCA Foundation’s Board of Trustees. A retired VP of the giant International Johnson & Johnson Company, Paul was born in London, educated internationally, lived in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America, he and his beautiful wife Carina chose Sarasota as the place to retire. Paul enjoys golf, boating and music but it’s his interest in helping disadvantaged kids that drew his attention to the YMCA and specifically a program for homeless teenage girls.

A residential facility for girls ages 11-18, Bowman Ranch is a safe place for troubled girls who are not suitable placement in a traditional foster home. Often from abusive homes these girls focus on mending emotional scars and learn trust and caring. “From the first time I heard about the work of the Ranch I knew I wanted to become involved. These are young impressionable girls whose lives can be changed with proper care,” said Paul. He and Carina generously supported the expansion from 8 to 20 girls.

The girls live and grow in an environment based on the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. While living at the Ranch the girls are encouraged to learn about themselves through self-awareness, self-respect, and self-reliance while in a safe and caring setting. Residents build life management skills and emotional strength. Achieving these skills helps the girls successfully transition to a more permanent home.

Gary Olson

Gary is a community leader who, in retirement, has helped shape Sarasota by asking “what can I do to make it better?” For the YMCA Kalish house, a foster care facility for boys ages 11 -18, he has been a miracle worker for five years.
He became involved through his position on the mission committee for Church of the Palms Presbyterian after retiring to Sarasota after a career in video communication sales. His first act was to gather a group of volunteers to help the boys at Kalish House paint the long white fence around the Kalish House. Then he began to organize monthly events; he and a dedicated core of Church of the Palm volunteers were soon taking the boys fishing, to sporting events, museums and seasonal events.
When he learned of the problem of having all the boys ranging from ages 11 to 18 together in one house, Olson brainstormed the idea of expanding the house and over time found the financial resources to make it a reality. The addition separates the older boys from younger boys; an added counseling space, and the house is now a haven for four more boys. “It’s not just a desire to help and the drive to make things happen that impresses those around Olson,” according to Y staff, “it’s his steady and methodical organizational and leadership skills which have resulted in every event being hosted by an enthusiastic group of volunteers, often with their own children in tow.”