The Germantown Life Enrichment Center (GLEC) will soon launch its fundraising campaign to build toward what the organization calls a “desperately needed” renovation. 

Formerly a YMCA, GLEC left the national organization in 2011, taking on a new name. The YMCA began moving away from housing programs in the 1950s, with fewer and fewer locations offering rooms as the 20th century concluded. 

GLEC opted to maintain that tradition, offering transitional housing and support services in Germantown. The rest of the facility operates like a typical YMCA, offering programming for recreation, fitness, education, after school, and summer camp. 

Doron Taussig, GLEC’s board president, told the Local, “GLEC decided  they were invested in their transitional housing operation, and so they ceased being a YMCA. … We have 128 (housing units), mostly contracted to the city's office of Homeless Services and PHA [Philadelphia Housing Authority] that are housing for formerly homeless men.” 

Built in 1927, GLEC’s building is nearing 100 years old, and with that century mark comes a host of problems. The building's roof needs repairs, the HVAC system needs updating, and the building needs structural reinforcement. Additional funds are needed for staffing and sustainability. 

Taussig said, “It is badly in need of renovation. We're not gonna raise enough money to pay for a renovation with this fundraiser. We're trying to raise the money to kick off the process, like hiring somebody who does development to build a campaign that puts us in a position to make that renovation happen.” 

GLEC will hold a fundraiser and community awareness event at the Awbury Arboretum on June 10. Lemonade and snack stands around the neighborhood will also raise money ahead of the event this weekend, June 7-8. 

Dadball stands for GLEC

Over a decade before becoming GLEC’s board president, Taussig and a pickup basketball group of Mt. Airy dads started playing games at GLEC. 

Taussig said, “As winter approached, we wanted a place to go indoors, and we found GLEC. … I started playing pickup basketball there, and we had a regular game; we called it ‘Dadball.’ Over the years, a few of us ran a little program for kids to play basketball there, ‘Kidball,’ and then a few years ago, around 2020, I was asked to join the board.” 

Dadball members and their kids will work on the lemonade and snack stand fundraiser. 

Taussig said, “The kids of Dadball are going to be coming up with ideas the weekend before the big fundraiser for things to sell at stands on a nice spring day. Lemonade, cookies, each family is going to make its own call about what it is they want to sell just to help raise awareness and contribute to the effort.” 

Dedication to a Dadball member

In April, Dadball participant and board member Greg Anderson died suddenly at age 50 during a pickup basketball game at GLEC. Greg is survived by his wife Melanie and their three kids. 

Melanie told the Local, “I've been back to the building several times. I find it kind of peaceful and nice to be in a space where Greg took his last breath. … The gym means a lot to me on a number of different levels. The people at the front desk and the directors, everybody knew Greg, and it's just nice that people are feeling that loss too, and we're kind of coming together around it.” 

Anderson was deeply involved with efforts to revitalize GLEC, and board members hope to rename the gym after him. Taussig said, “We really love Greg and we want to honor him.” 

Dadball and the GLEC were very important to Greg, Melanie said, adding, “If you'd asked Greg when he was alive what the GLEC was, he'd be like, ‘Oh, that's where I play basketball,’ and he would have been very transactional about it, but I do think looking back, he had the most fun in that building. He loved playing Dadball.” 

Melanie plans to stay involved with fundraising for GLEC since her background includes working with nonprofits. She said she often exchanged fundraising ideas with Greg. 

Funding GLEC’s future

Taussig hopes to raise $100,000 for GLEC through the end of 2025. GThe organization’s main revenue stream comes through contracts from the Office of Homeless Services and the PHA. They also bring in some money through memberships to the gym and community center, however, since they aim for affordability, they don't generate much revenue. 

Taussig said, “Housing and affordable housing are really big issues in this city, and this is an institution that has a substantial number of housing units for people who need it. And it's established, it's an accepted member of its community, and the institution is good at what it does.” 

According to GLEC, 95% of residents in their housing program obtain permanent housing within a year.

For the recreational side of the GLEC, Taussig said, “This is a community center that helps bring people together in recreational activities that help them live happier and healthier lives.” 

With funding, the GLEC’s long-term renovation plan includes not only renovating the building and systems for housing, but also expanding the community center side to include expanded opportunities, from pickleball courts and batting cages to culinary arts training in their industrial kitchen.

For those interested in contributing, look for the Dadball lemonade and snack stands around Mt. Airy and Germantown this weekend. 

Melanie joked, “It's really something that I think that the city and the community should work to conserve, because it is providing a lot of services in a number of different ways, Dadball probably being the least important.”

Those interesting in donating to GLEC's fundraiser can click here.

Tommy Tucker can be reached at Tommy@chestnuthilllocal.com.