East Valley Family YMCA opens on ATSU’s Arizona campus

Creating an environment for healthy living through a unique wellness partnership

Valley of the Sun YMCA celebrated the grand opening of its East Valley Family YMCA (EVFY) on A.T. Still University’s Arizona campus with a VIP reception on October 23 and a grand opening for the general public on October 24.

More than 100 people, including Mesa dignitaries and ATSU leadership, attended Friday’s VIP invitation-only reception. Speakers included Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, East Valley YMCA Capital Campaign Chairman Ross Farnsworth, and ATSU Provost Craig M. Phelps, D.O., ’84. Speaking on behalf of the Valley of the Sun YMCA were President and CEO Greg O’Brien, Executive Vice President and COO George Scobas, and East Valley District Executive Director Damon Olsen.

During a speech on the generosity and dedication of the donors and supporters who helped make the EVFY a reality, it was announced for the first time that Farnsworth had pledged $1 million to the facility, giving him naming rights.

The public grand opening on Saturday featured tours of the state-of-the-art facility and a drawing for a 32” flat screen TV. YMCA team members distributed information about the YMCA’s programs and the benefits of membership and to sign up new members. ATSU faculty and staff, who enjoy free membership, signed up for family memberships at a discounted rate.

“We are excited to have the YMCA on ATSU’s campus,” said Dr. Phelps. “We are collaborating with the YMCA on a number of unique programs that will improve the health status of its members and the greater East Valley communities. This partnership with the YMCA also allows ATSU to continue working within the community to improve health professions education opportunities for East Valley residents, our students, and programs.”

The new facility, which is the seventh YMCA in the East Valley, encompasses 32,000 square feet and features amenities including a fitness center, teen center, gymnasium, 25-yard competitive lap/fitness pool, family adventure aquatic area, and lifestyle concierge who will assist members in determining their successful path to a healthier life. The EVFY, in partnership with ATSU, offers unique life-enhancing programs and fitness facilities to East Valley community members as well as to University students, faculty, and staff. Through a partnership that began in 2002, ATSU and EVFY have focused on creating innovative, wellness-oriented programs that will eventually be used in YMCAs across the Valley of the Sun.

“We feel the EVFY benefits tremendously by having access to ATSU’s top-notch educators and students who are dedicated to serving the community’s health and wellness needs,” said Olsen. “The ability to leverage the resources of the Arizona Health & Technology Park as well as Mesa’s ‘Power Road Knowledge Corridor’ will provide unprecedented growth possibilities to the EVFY and opportunities to our members.”

The EVFY, which began construction in August 2008, is the latest addition to the Arizona Health & Technology Park in Mesa, a 132-acre business park that currently includes ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, as well as HealthSouth’s 40-bed rehabilitation hospital, which opened in August 2009. Future plans for expansion of the Arizona Health & Technology Park include medical offices and health technology/biomedical research and development facilities.

“The University is very fortunate to have been able to partner with organizations within the Arizona Health & Technology Park that share our vision for keeping the community, students, faculty and staff focused on improving wellness,” said ATSU Assistant Provost Gary Cloud, Ph.D. “Healthy lifestyles matter to ATSU.”