Foundation invests

A $3 million capital campaign with the goal to expand the operations of The REC and offer the community an aquatic fitness venue is now underway, according to campaign co-chairmen Drew Griffin and Steve Benefiel.

A significant gift totaling $500,000 from the Joseph and Nila Hasler Foundation has kicked off the campaign. In addition to the initial donation, the Haslers also made a 10-year pledge of $35,000 annually to help offset the cost of maintenance and operation of the aquatic center.

The expansion is part of The REC’s strategic plan and has been discussed for some time, Benefiel emphasized, noting the project was put on hold when more immediate needs were presented during the pandemic.

The campaign is expected to span the next year with the immediate goal of matching the Haslers’ generous gift.

Benefiel noted that 50 years ago, in 1972, the combined Paris YMCA and The Hangar opened to serve the Paris community. At that time the facility included an indoor pool, allowing nearby Paris High School students to receive swim lessons and learn water safety. There were adult fitness swims and aerobic classes as well as swim lessons for children both after school and on Saturday mornings. A successful swim team was also established.

Once a crown jewel of the community, the pool became too costly to keep open when the YMCA began to struggle with finances. The pool closed before The REC was established.

Eventually, The Hangar, the longest-running youth center in Illinois, closed and that area became the Dimond Bros. Workout Center. The front gymnasium is now the North American Lighting Gymnasium. There are handball and pickleball courts.

Several members of the community advocating for an aquatic fitness center are concerned because many children do not know basic water safety and skills. At one time, the Edgar County Red Cross provided free lessons at the West Lake Beach but those were discontinued when that venue closed.

Joseph and Nila Hasler have made Paris their home for many years, raising three children — Dan, Doug and Nancy. He retired as the president of Cargill, formerly the Illinois Cereal Mills, and has been a longtime coach of many youth sports teams. She has been involved in many areas of the community and the First Christian Church.

“The generous commitment from the Haslers solid- ified the board’s decision to move forward,” he noted.

In an interview with The Prairie Press, Joe Hasler said he was motivated to embrace the project because the children of the community need it.
“Children of all ages need activities so they don’t run the streets at night,” he said, also noting children and adults should learn to swim and enjoy the water.

Details of how donors can make contributions are still being fine-tuned, Griffin said.

“The REC’s capital and sustainability committee hopes to have everything in place to receive donations of all types by the end of September,” said Griffin.

He anticipates multiple ways for individuals, families, businesses and industries to contribute to the campaign. Deferred gifts in addition to current giving are another way to support the effort in transforming The REC.