Cook County YMCA--memberships, history and finances

When the planning was under way for the opening of the Cook County Community YMCA, there was a lot of discussion about what it would take for the YMCA to succeed. In a number of meetings the planning committee heard that the YMCA would be successful if 400 people became members.
 
The membership numbers far exceed that number. There are now 1,650 members, which includes children that are part of a family membership. Membership units, which are those family groups, as well as “Silver Sneakers” members who receive free or reduced membership, total 968.
 
Looking at those numbers, the Cook County YMCA should be meeting the original benchmark for success. Is that the case?
 
How does the county and city subsidies for the YMCA fit into the picture? WTIP’s Rhonda Silence sat down with Cook County YMCA Director Emily Marshall to ask those questions. Here’s that report.