Eva and Jonathan Ringel were all smiles at last year’s YMCA Father-Daughter Dance. The annual dance in the YMCA gymnasium is among the biggest events of the year for the Y, attracting more than 80 father-daughter couples. This year’s dance is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

The Northern Lights YMCA of Dickinson County will launch a capital campaign Thursday to renovate and improve the existing Community Center building, including a complete rebuild of the pool. In anticipation of this kickoff and ensuing campaign, The Daily News will publish a four-part series detailing the history of the Community Center, the launch of the YMCA in Dickinson County, the growth of the YMCA and the plans for capital improvement.

IRON MOUNTAIN — The launch of the YMCA in Dickinson County within the Community Center building brought new life to an old facility.

When the Y officially opened at 800 Crystal Lake Blvd. in late 2010, the number of members still attached to the Community Center was about 100. In the first few months under Y operation, membership eclipsed 1,000.

“It was remarkable growth,” current Center Director Jonathan Ringel said. “There was so much excitement for what we were doing, what we were trying to build.”

Membership today is more than 2,600 strong and continues to grow. So do programming opportunities and special events.

YMCA membership today logs nearly 8,000 visits a month. More than 50 youth, aquatics, fitness and special event programming opportunities are available each session to members and non-members alike. And, the Y annually provides more than $100,000 in membership and programming assistance to the greater Dickinson County community.

YMCA special events — such as the Father-Daughter Dance, Northwoods Triathlon, Mountain Mud Sling, Color Run and others — have become yearly traditions in Dickinson County.

The YMCA annually teaches every third-grade student in the county how to swim at no cost — nearly 250 each year. And nearly 70 kids participate on the YMCA swim team through the Dickinson Center — a program record.

“Our third-grade swim lessons program has proven remarkably successful,” YMCA Aquatics Director John Leech said. “We target kids in the third grade because they have both the mental and physical capacity to learn in a large group setting.”

Participating schools include Woodland Elementary School in Kingsford, North Elementary School in Iron Mountain, Norway Elementary School, Bishop Baraga Catholic School in Iron Mountain, Holy Spirit Catholic School in Norway and North Dickinson Elementary School in Felch.

Summer Day Camp also saw record growth in 2017, with three dozen regular participants.

Along with the exponential membership growth, the Northern Lights YMCA Dickinson Center has formed several key community partnerships, from corporate wellness programs to outreach efforts.

“The community has welcomed and supported us wholeheartedly,” Center Director Jonathan Ringel said. “And in turn, we try to give back and support the community. Partnerships help build community, and that benefits all.”

YMCA community partnerships include Bay College, Light at the Inn rotating homeless shelter, Dickinson County Healthcare System – including the Rehab and Diabetes Clinics, Iron Mountain Public Schools, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Dickinson Area Partnership, Kingsford High School, Northpointe Behavioral Health, Dickinson Parkinson’s Support Group, Autism Support Group and Great Beginnings Early Childcare.

Corporate partnerships as just as numerous and include CCI Systems, Stewart Manufacturing, Iron Mountain Animal Hospital, Kubick Aviation, Lakeshore Systems, Champion Inc., Econofoods, Gallery of Floors, Bauman Engraving, The Daily News, Results Broadcasting and WLUC TV 6, among others.

Growing membership and program participation, along with the many community partnerships, illustrate the rapid success of the YMCA in Dickinson County.

Also not lost is the volunteer component to the Y. Each year, more than 100 community volunteers and supporters step up to work on the Y’s annual fundraising campaign. And hundreds more provide donations each year.

“Core to our mission is having the YMCA and its programs available to all,” Ringel noted. “We are very fortunate to live in a community in which that is understood and supported.”

Y officials expect membership will continue to grow in the coming years. As that base increases, so too, will programming and employment. After starting with a staff of less than five, the YMCA today employs more than 50 people in full-time, part-time and seasonal positions.

“You could say we’re busting at the seams,” Ringel said. “Which is a good problem to have and the reason we are now looking ahead to the future.”

Ron Deuter is director of membership/marketing for the Northern Lights YMCA-Dickinson Center and a former sports editor for The Daily News.