Healthy Communities • Support the Y • YMCA Donors
David Braley Charitable Foundation gives $5 million to new YMCA in Vaughan
19 April 2022 - by Nicole Meredith
The YMCA of Greater Toronto is honoured to have received our largest one-time gift from a donor, ever: a transformational $5 million to our new YMCA in Vaughan from the David Braley Charitable Foundation.
David Braley was a beloved champion for sport, health, and community. He touched countless lives as a philanthropist, business owner, and Canadian Senator, and was even appointed to the Order of Canada for his contributions to the Canadian Football League. Through his dedication to community building and his leadership in sport, Mr. Braley made a profound mark on the communities he worked in.
As a charity striving to build vibrant communities where everyone has opportunities to reach their full potential, the YMCA of Greater Toronto is proud to honour the legacy of such an inspiring leader. The new YMCA this transformational gift supports will be a cornerstone of Vaughan’s new downtown. Beyond our YMCA Centre of Community, the complex will house a library, community spaces, offices, retail, and more. The Braley Foundation’s gift will have such a significant impact, we will be renaming this entire complex in honour: The David Braley Vaughan Centre.
The impact this transformational gift will make possible
Mr. Braley was passionate about giving back and providing supports to the people who need them most. This transformational $5 million gift is poised to do just that in the city of Vaughan.
Vaughan’s population has nearly doubled in the last three decades, and the emerging downtown is attracting even more businesses and families. Community facilities will be vital to support our growing population — especially as we recover from almost two years of lockdowns and accompanying isolation, job loss, disruptions to schooling, and many other setbacks.
With this generous gift, the new YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre is set to bring essential services and healthy infrastructure the community can rely on as we work to rebuild:
A safe community space to honour a true community builder
Long before COVID-19, experts were describing loneliness as a “pandemic” with devastating consequences for well-being.
After so many months of physical distancing and lockdowns, inclusion and belonging have deteriorated even further.
The Y has long been the place where neighbours gather to make new connections and find their “home-away-from-home.” Nurturing a sense of community and belonging was deeply important to Mr. Braley, who has long been celebrated for the way he brought people together and grew tight-knit communities from the ground up.
Today, as we prepare to open the doors to this new YMCA, we’re proud to honour Mr. Braley’s legacy by continuing this critical work. Our research shows that, when there’s a Y in their neighbourhood, people experience better well-being, better general and mental health, and a stronger sense of belonging. Thanks to the David Braley Foundation, Vaughan residents will soon be enjoying these positive outcomes, and rebuilding their sense of community and belonging as they access our safe, inclusive spaces and programs.
Get an inside look at the programs and amenities you can expect to see at the new YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre, and hear the latest updates on our opening plans, at YMCABraleyCentre.ca.
David Braley was a beloved champion for sport, health, and community. He touched countless lives as a philanthropist, business owner, and Canadian Senator, and was even appointed to the Order of Canada for his contributions to the Canadian Football League. Through his dedication to community building and his leadership in sport, Mr. Braley made a profound mark on the communities he worked in.
As a charity striving to build vibrant communities where everyone has opportunities to reach their full potential, the YMCA of Greater Toronto is proud to honour the legacy of such an inspiring leader. The new YMCA this transformational gift supports will be a cornerstone of Vaughan’s new downtown. Beyond our YMCA Centre of Community, the complex will house a library, community spaces, offices, retail, and more. The Braley Foundation’s gift will have such a significant impact, we will be renaming this entire complex in honour: The David Braley Vaughan Centre.
The impact this transformational gift will make possible
Mr. Braley was passionate about giving back and providing supports to the people who need them most. This transformational $5 million gift is poised to do just that in the city of Vaughan.
Vaughan’s population has nearly doubled in the last three decades, and the emerging downtown is attracting even more businesses and families. Community facilities will be vital to support our growing population — especially as we recover from almost two years of lockdowns and accompanying isolation, job loss, disruptions to schooling, and many other setbacks.
With this generous gift, the new YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre is set to bring essential services and healthy infrastructure the community can rely on as we work to rebuild:
- Child care programs that support kids’ development and help parents return to work.
- Newcomer settlement services to ensure Vaughan remains a successful and inviting home for all.
- Youth Leadership Development programs that will prepare the next generation for the job market.
- Day camps that build confidence in future trailblazers.
- Health & Fitness programs that build physical and mental well-being for people of all ages.
- Volunteer and employment opportunities that can help launch young people’s careers.
A safe community space to honour a true community builder
Long before COVID-19, experts were describing loneliness as a “pandemic” with devastating consequences for well-being.
After so many months of physical distancing and lockdowns, inclusion and belonging have deteriorated even further.
The Y has long been the place where neighbours gather to make new connections and find their “home-away-from-home.” Nurturing a sense of community and belonging was deeply important to Mr. Braley, who has long been celebrated for the way he brought people together and grew tight-knit communities from the ground up.
Today, as we prepare to open the doors to this new YMCA, we’re proud to honour Mr. Braley’s legacy by continuing this critical work. Our research shows that, when there’s a Y in their neighbourhood, people experience better well-being, better general and mental health, and a stronger sense of belonging. Thanks to the David Braley Foundation, Vaughan residents will soon be enjoying these positive outcomes, and rebuilding their sense of community and belonging as they access our safe, inclusive spaces and programs.
Get an inside look at the programs and amenities you can expect to see at the new YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre, and hear the latest updates on our opening plans, at YMCABraleyCentre.ca.
