The Westport Weston Family Y has hired Paul Bernetsky as chief development officer overseeing the “Building What Matters” capital campaign to construct a new Y facility at its 32-acre Mahackeno campus, Y officials announced.
Paul Bernetsky: will oversee capital campaign. Contributed photo
He will also oversee the Strong Kids Campaign, the nonprofit charitable organization’s annual fundraising effort, Y officials said.
“We’re delighted to have Paul join our Family Y at such a pivotal point in our history,” says Rob Reeves, Family Y CEO. “We’ve raised $10.7 million over the past 19 months and are on track to break ground late this fall on Phase I of our new home at Mahackeno.”
Reeves noted that the Y will still be be working with development consultants, Donor By Design, “and the rest of our team of dedicated staff and volunteers.”
“But now we’ll have a proven fundraising professional here every day working to keep our capital campaign moving forward and also to help grow our annual giving and endowment funds,”he said
Bernetsky, 51, has spent 25 years managing development campaigns and marketing programs for a variety of nonprofits, most recently St. Joseph High School in Trumbull.
He has also served as executive director for Youth for the Third Millennium (Mission Youth) Inc., growing the organization from 60 youth members to more than 10,000 over a 10-year span, according to Y officials. They also state he began his career with the Boy Scouts of America, Inc., serving as a senior district executive, then field director.
To date, the Y has raised $34.3 million, including proceeds from the sale of its downtown facility built in 1923. The cost of the first phase of the new Y is $37.5 million, and fund campaign leaders are reaching out to the Westport and Weston communities to raise the remaining $3.2 million.
According to Reeves, the new 54,000-square-foot, Adirondack style facility will feature two pools, a large, multi-purpose gymnasium, expansive Wellness Center, Child Watch/Kids’ Adventure Gym area, group fitness studios and other amenities of a modern, family-oriented Y. The new facility is scheduled to open in late 2014.
“I’m most fortunate to be given this opportunity, and I look forward to working with Y leaders, members and other supporters as together we build a new Y facility that will allow the Family Y to continue to serve the community for generations to come,” Bernetsky said.
