[BARNSTABLE COUNTY, 4/15/2025] –YMCA Cape Cod is proud to announce a transformative $2 million donation from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, a generous contribution that will support the construction of a new YMCA for the Upper Cape. This extraordinary gift brings the total amount raised for the campaign to over $28 million, surpassing the 75% mark toward the $35 million goal.
“The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation’s support of this project underscores the deep commitment to strengthening our community and providing future generations with the resources they need to thrive. We are so thankful to the Foundation for this gift. Their support will ensure the YMCA’s legacy of positive impact for many years to come,” said Stacie Peugh, President, and CEO of YMCA Cape Cod.
This donation is a significant milestone in the YMCA’s capital campaign, which aims to raise $35 million for the construction of a new YMCA for the Upper Cape. In addition to state-of-the-art fitness equipment, aquatics center, and group exercise spaces, the new facility will include space for the Community Health Center, helping people of all ages learn to lead healthier lives. The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation’s donation is pivotal in advancing the project, which is set to break ground as early as the fall of 2025.
“We have a multi-generational family connection to Falmouth and are honored to help bring this transformational facility to life,” said Debra Smith Knez, chair of the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation. “It will meet some of the most pressing needs in the community, especially for young people and seniors, and help improve health outcomes, enriching all of our lives.”
“We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation. Their commitment brings us closer to our goal and ensures that our community will have access to a world-class YMCA for decades to come,” said Dr. Bob Antonucci, Co-Chair of the Y’s capital campaign.
About the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation
The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation is committed to effecting permanent positive change in the lives of individuals and families across Greater Boston, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Today, two generations of the Smith family oversee the Foundation, stewarding approximately $18 million annually in grants aimed at improving human health, raising educational attainment, increasing economic security, and meeting community needs. For more information, visit www.rssff.org.
About the Y
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net