December 20 event celebrates community generosity and milestone in $42.5 million Heart of the Community campaign
[BARNSTABLE COUNTY, 11/6/2025] – YMCA Cape Cod is proud to announce that a ceremonial groundbreaking for The Don & Dottie Smith YMCA will take place on Saturday, December 20, 2025, marking a historic milestone in the organization’s decades-long effort to expand services and impact across the Upper Cape.
The new YMCA—named in honor of Don and Dottie Smith—will be located on Brick Kiln Road in Falmouth. The facility will serve as a year-round hub for health, wellness, youth development, and community connections for more than 10,000 people annually.
“This groundbreaking represents years of community building, vision, and generosity from donors, volunteers, and the community,” said Stacie Peugh, President & CEO of YMCA Cape Cod. “The Don & Dottie Smith YMCA will be ‘the heart of the community;’ a place where everyone belongs—a space that strengthens families, supports healthy living, and builds community spirit across the Upper Cape.”
The ceremony follows YMCA Cape Cod’s recent announcement that its Heart of the Community capital campaign goal has increased from $35 million to $42.5 million. The decision reflects both the overwhelming support of donors and the full scope and cost of the project. As construction planning progressed, updated cost estimates based on detailed drawings and inflation made it clear that additional resources were needed.
“Raising our goal to $42.5 million ensures this new Y will address community needs and be a vibrant, transformative connection for the Upper Cape community for decades to come,” Campaign Co-Chair Bob Antonucci said. “The increased goal ensures that The Don & Dottie Smith YMCA will open as a modern, sustainable, and inclusive community center designed to meet the region’s evolving needs.”
“The community support has resulted in a strong partnership in which the YMCA and Community Health Center are providing their expertise in programming and facilities management. The community is raising funds to establish a facility that will not be subject to long-term debt,” Campaign Co-Chair Eileen Miskell said. “Opening The Don & Dottie Smith YMCA without a mortgage is the best guarantee for a stable and sustainable organization that will be here to serve the community for generations.”
The 73,000-square-foot facility will include a gymnasium & track, wellness center, two pools – lap and instructional/therapy, multi-purpose rooms and exercise studios, youth and teen spaces, and outdoor recreation areas. A partnership with the Community Health Center of Cape Cod will bring integrated health and wellness services under one roof, making it a true “heart of the community.”
The ceremonial groundbreaking will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Brick Kiln Road site in Falmouth. Community members, donors, volunteers, and local officials are invited to attend this event. The program will include comments from campaign leaders and special guests, turning the soil, and light refreshments.
To learn more about the Heart of the Community campaign, make a gift, or explore naming opportunities, visit ymcacapecod.org/DDSYMCA or contact PJ Richardson, Chief Financial Development Officer, at 774-994-7656.
For more than 60 years, YMCA Cape Cod has served Cape Cod, promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The new Don & Dottie Smith YMCA represents the next step in that mission—expanding access to inclusive, high-impact programs that strengthen individuals, families, and the community as a whole.
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