NORTHERN LIGHTS YMCA Board of Directors President Katie Maxon and Dickinson Center Director Jonathan Ringel, at left, accept a Capital Campaign donation of $125,000 from BOSS Snowplow President and General Manager Jody Christy, Executive Assistant Justina Blazier and Digital Marketing Specialist Katie Schinderle.

IRON MOUNTAIN — BOSS Snowplow and The Toro Company have contributed $125,000 to the upcoming Northern Lights YMCA-Dickinson Center fundraising campaign toward a major renovation project planned for 2019.

“BOSS and Toro are proud to be part of this community, and we believe in what a strong, vibrant and modern YMCA facility will do for the area. The YMCA is an important hub of activity in our community and a safe place for children and families to have healthy fun,” BOSS spokeswoman Jody Christy said. “We strongly support and believe in the mission of the Y and we’re proud to help their effort to expand and offer even more to the community in the years to come.”

The Northern Lights YMCA in late 2010 took over the old Crystal Lake Community Center building, 800 Crystal Lake Blvd., in a lease agreement with Dickinson County. Using a $500,000 Founders Campaign, the Y was able to bring that facility and pool back into operation, as well as purchase equipment for a new fitness center.

That spurred rapid growth in YMCA membership that continues, officials said. After starting with about 100 members, the facility now has more than 2,500 who log nearly 8,000 visits a month. The YMCA, in turn, offers more than 50 youth, aquatics, fitness and special event programs both to members and non-members. The organization also annually provides more than $100,000 in membership and programming assistance to the greater Dickinson County area.

But with all that use, portions of the building, now more than 40 years old, need updates and repairs, officials said.

So the YMCA in January formally intends to launch its most ambitious fundraising effort to “expand and remodel the current YMCA into a state-of-the-art center for the next generation,” according to a YMCA news release Thursday.

“We have some big and exciting plans, and we’ve been working very hard behind the scenes to get underway,” YMCA Center Director Jonathan Ringel said. “While we have a goal in mind that we will be sharing with the public in the coming weeks, our future Y will ultimately be whatever this community wants and supports.”

Ringel added, “To have companies like BOSS Snowplow and The Toro Company step up and be among the first to commit their support is such a blessing for us. These companies, like us here at the Y, believe in the future of this community. They understand the impact we make and the potential we have to do so much more. We are so, so grateful for their support as we continue our mission for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

The gift from BOSS Snowplow and The Toro Company will only help continue to build momentum, said Katie Maxon, president of the Northern Lights YMCA board of directors.

She anticipates other companies will step forward in the coming months.

“It does not surprise me in the least that they’d be among the first line to help make this project a reality,” Maxon said of BOSS Snowplow. “We are so thankful for their support and the support of The Toro Company.”

Based in Iron Mountain, BOSS Snowplow designs and manufactures plows for trucks, heavy equipment, UTVs and ATVs; salt and sand spreaders; and box plows for the snow and ice management. The Toro Company is a leading provider of turf, snow and ground equipment, and irrigation and outdoor lighting, with business in more than 90 countries.

For more information on the upcoming Capital Campaign or to pledge support, please contact the YMCA at 906-774-4076.