
DATE: Monday, August 18, 1997               TAG: 9708180077

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS 

        STAFF WRITER  

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:  125 lines

AT THE HUNTON YMCA, PRIDE IS EVERYWHERE

At the William A. Hunton YMCA, pride comes in many colors and textures: shiny white cinder blocks, smooth rust on the graffiti-free exterior, gold for the just-polished gymnasium floor.

Here, pride skips down the hall, pigtails bobbing, does step aerobics with gusto and whistles while it works.

When the Hunton YMCA holds its 123rd annual meeting Monday at Old Dominion University's Webb Center, attendees will hear how a community that cared pulled together to save the nation's oldest black independent YMCA during its first year under the leadership of former Portsmouth City Manager V. Wayne Orton.

The facility, whose finances and future have been shaky in recent years, is stable financially, has a greatly improved appearance and - with the help of grants and public donations - is starting new programs, Orton said. Hunton YMCA officials also are envisioning a second location near Norfolk State University.

Today, Orton, the president and CEO of the Hunton YMCA, paints a vastly different picture from the one that existed for the YMCA two years ago. Then, the dank, dark corners of the facility that serves three public housing neighborhoods were rife with roaches, and there was no air conditioning. The future looked bleak for the debt-ridden club that had been a fixture in the lives of generations of Norfolk's African Americans.

But a caring community first rallied to help the Hunton YMCA maintain independence from the more affluent and predominantly white YMCA of South Hampton Roads organization. In the past year, with Orton at the helm, the YMCA has pursued a more concerted, business-like approach to fund-raising and program development than before.

``We're doing a lot better,'' said Orton, while admitting that much remains to be done.

From the beginning of his leadership, Orton quickly set about raising the Hunton Y's visibility and re-educating the public about the facility's historical significance. He insisted on the use of the YMCA's official name - the William A. Hunton YMCA - because he wanted to remind people that Hunton, who headed the facility from 1888-1891, was the first paid black executive in YMCA history.

``That's important for folks to know for historical purposes,'' Orton said.

The YMCA's financial healing has resulted from a mixture of off-the-cuff solicitation and a systematic seeking of program funds.

``One of the first things I did when I came aboard last July,'' Orton recalled, ``was say, `Let's write everybody we know and ask for a donation.' We asked for a $100 donation. We got close to $10,000, and that was not an organized fund-raising effort, that was just writing people we know.''

About 200 letters went out. Several respondents sent $25 or $50, some mailed $100 or more. One individual contributed $2,500.

Why weren't these contributions coming in before?

``We didn't push hard enough and consistently enough to get them,'' Orton admitted. Hunton is now building a database of donors and potential donors. Come February, Orton said, the YMCA will mount ``a sophisticated, aggressive fund-raising campaign.''

Orton also will seek to build a much stronger donor support base in the coming year. Currently about 7 percent of the agency's support comes from private donations, including memberships and general support. ``I want to get to the point where donations amount to 50 percent,'' he said.

The YMCA's fiscal budget for 1996-97 - approximately $560,000 - was met partly by a United Way contribution that equaled about 30 percent of the total budget. Program fees brought in approximately 26 percent of the budget. The 1997- 98 budget is nearly $800,000.

Don Stevens, who has been employed as a car salesman, an advertising and political consultant and a hospital administrator, was hired in May at the YMCA as director of resource development and public relations. In addition to increasing the YMCA's visibility, Stevens, who shares Orton's office, said he hopes to help Orton develop an endowment program to augment private donations.

If Orton needed any indication of just how much the Hunton YMCA was out of sight, out of mind, for many potential supporters, he found out 1 1/2 months ago when the YMCA erected a sign at the corner of Charlotte Street and Tidewater Drive.

``Some people,'' Orton recalled, ``have said, `Hey, I didn't know that place was still there.' ''

Orton said he's aware that many people may shy away from venturing into Tidewater Gardens public housing to visit the Hunton YMCA for fear of their safety.

``But a lot of that perception is driven by things that are not true,'' he said. ``I'm not at all uncomfortable about being here; it's safe.''

He said the YMCA has experienced few problems during his tenure: ``A couple of windows were broken, there was graffiti on the building - but none since we painted - and a Coke machine was vandalized. In a 365-day period, I don't think that's bad. It's better than some shopping centers.''

Orton said that the Hunton YMCA will seek to grow by meeting community needs. For example, a day-care program for 2- and 3-year-olds will begin Sept. 2. Twelve toddlers will be accepted into the free program, which is funded by a $191,000 federal Housing and Urban Development grant.

This program will join several existing ones that have been retooled and streamlined - such as day care, before-school and after-school care, as well as a homework academy.

The latest program addition is health and fitness for men and women. A $41,000 donation by the Beasley Foundation enabled the YMCA to purchase new equipment, including step machines , treadmills, bikes, bench presses and free weights. Orton said that use of the YMCA's exercise space was previously ``at best occasional'' because the equipment was outdated, not working or both.

``Now this will be a revenue generator,'' he said.

The Hunton YMCA also has hired a fitness director, Nancy Mason, a graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in public health. She and Stevens are among eight new staffers who have been added during the year.

The YMCA is more ``user-friendly'' these days, Orton said. A second Hunton YMCA is a likelihood within five to seven years, Orton said. He thinks the Norfolk State University area would be ideal. And especially fitting, since the Hunton Y, during the Great Depression, was then located on Brambleton Avenue, and later became part of NSU. ILLUSTRATION: Hunton YMCA president and CEO V. Wayne Orton

GARY C. KNAPP

The Hunton YMCA plans to grow by meeting community needs, such as

offering a free day-care program for 2- and 3-year-olds. The cost

of day care, including a nap time for Anthony Edwards, is based now

on need.

DETAILS

What: William A. Hunton YMCA's 123rd annual meeting

Where: Luncheon at noon today in Old Dominion University's Webb

Center

Speaker: Rev. Calvin Butts, Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church

of New York

Cost: $15 donation