The Duneland Family YMCA is proud to announce a generous philanthropic investment from Mike and Helene Trout, whose gift carries forward a family legacy of generosity, leadership, and community commitment. Their support will be recognized through the naming of the flagpole and monument on the YMCA Healthy Living Campus (YHLC), honoring their lasting impact on the organization and its future.

“The Trout Family’s generous investment in the Healthy Living Campus is a testament to their longstanding commitment to our community and the YMCA,” said Duneland Family YMCA CEO Dave Kasarda. “Their gift will create a meaningful gathering place that welcomes visitors to the campus while serving as a lasting symbol of patriotism, service, and community pride. We are deeply grateful for their support and honored to recognize their family through the naming of the flagpole and monument.”

For Mike and Helene, this investment continues a family tradition of giving, service, and belief in the YMCA’s mission. Inspired by a similar act of generosity by Helene’s mother in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the Trout family saw this opportunity as a way to honor values that have shaped their family for generations.

The Duneland Family YMCA has long been woven into the fabric of the family’s own story. Mike served on the YMCA’s Board of Directors during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period of significant financial challenge when the organization still never wavered in its commitment to serving members and the broader community. That same spirit of service has been passed from one generation to the next. Today, their son, Jim, proudly serves on the Board, while their grandchildren have embraced the Y through its sports and youth programming. Their enduring connection shows how one generation’s generosity can inspire the next and strengthen the Duneland Family YMCA for years to come.

“The YMCA Healthy Living Campus is a game changer for our community. It has been uniquely developed to serve nearly every demographic, from infants to seniors, and it will be an asset that Duneland can be proud of for generations,” said Mike. “The Y has meant so much to our family over the years, and we are grateful to support this project in a meaningful way.”

A lasting legacy can begin with one act of giving. Learn more about supporting the YHLC by visiting www.dunelandymca.org/dunelandyhlc to discover how you can help strengthen the community for generations to come.