The YMCA of Coastal Georgia Corporate board announced today that long time President and CEO, Randy Bugos, has shared his plan to retire effective April 1, 2015, after 25 years of leading the local Y through a period of unprecedented growth.

“Randy’s leadership and vision has been instrumental to the wonderful growth and success that our local Y’s have experienced the last two and a half decades. The Y is now as strong as it has ever been and serves more people than any time in its 159 year history,” said David Mason, Chairman of the Board of directors for the local Association. “Our entire YMCA family and the communities we serve owe him heartfelt thanks for all that he has done and the legacy he leaves behind.”

When Bugos arrived in Savannah in 1989, there were two Y’s in Chatham County, one on Habersham Street and one on Wilmington Island. The operating budget was $900,000. Under his leadership, the Y now has 12 branches including 6 units in Chatham County in addition to branches serving Effingham, Bryan, Liberty, Macintosh and Glynn Counties. The annual operating budget is now over $20 million.

During his tenure, the Y on Habersham has undergone major renovations and additions. The old Island Y on Wilmington Island was sold, and a new larger Y was built on Whitemarsh Island. Money was raised, and new facilities were constructed in Pooler, Rincon, Hinesville, and Richmond Hill. Two years ago the Y acquired the YWCA facility in Brunswick. “All of these facilities will be around to serve future generations, they are a testament to the fact that YMCA’s make their communities a better place to live,” said Bugos. He was also quick to add that “the generosity of the businesses and individuals in these communities is what made all of this happen.”

Over the last twenty five years the local Y has raised close to fifteen million dollars to support the building and capital efforts of these facilities. In addition, a combined total of close to ten million dollars has been contributed through the Annual Campaign and special projects to support ongoing Y programs. “Savannah and the surrounding community really is a very philanthropic area. Our donors, supporters, and volunteers are the real heroes of this story,” added Bugos.

In addition to facility development the Y is one of the largest program providers in the Coastal Empire. Last year alone the Y served over 87,000 people and provided over three million dollars in subsidies and scholarship support to deserving youth and families. The largest program is child care where the Y has been the provider of before and after school care for Chatham and Effingham County since Bugos’ arrival. He said, “We have established a great partnership with the local school systems to provide care for thousands of children every day and our entire Y based child care programs are full to capacity, which speaks highly about the Y meeting this critical community need.”

In addition to child care the Y has expanded their other traditional programs that they are well known for like, fitness, youth sports, day camp and aquatics. But it is the nontraditional programs that the local Y has become involved in that bring a smile to the face of the retiring director. “We have been blessed to have been selected to be involved in a number of nontraditional Y programs supported by YUSA,” stated Bugos. “The Welcoming Hispanic Families initiative, our Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation program, The Healthy Savannah collaborative, the LIVESTRONG Cancer Survivor classes, Early Learning Readiness program for preschoolers, and the Diabetes Prevention Program are all services that the Y had not even thought of ten years ago; and they are thriving here in the Coastal Empire.”

Prior to the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, Bugos served as a Vice President with Central Florida YMCA in Orlando; and before that, he held leadership positions with the Tuscaloosa County YMCA in Alabama. He began his YMCA career as a Youth Director with the Greater Peoria YMCA in Illinois. He has also served as the Chairman of the State Alliance of Georgia YMCA’s as well as Chairman of the Georgia AYP chapter. He has been a member of the Downtown Rotary Club of Savannah for 25 years.

“We have appointed a search committee of board volunteers to work diligently on identifying our next President and CEO,” Mason commented. “Randy’s continued leadership during this transition will help ensure that the Y keeps its focus on the mission and commitment to providing quality services and programs to all who we serve.”