Press Room

West Michigan YFC is Expanding!
February 14, 2012

Holland, MI: West Michigan Youth for Christ (WMYFC) is pleased to announce an expansion of its YFC Store & Donation Center to a brand new, larger facility at 11124 Chicago Drive. This new location will provide over twice the amount of space to serve its growing number of customers. The YFC Store & Donation Center sells donated items of value, including cars, watercraft, antiques, tools, etc... The proceeds go directly towards reaching at-risk kids in West Michigan. Since its founding in 1996, the YFC Store & Donation Center has raised more than $350,000 to help serve kids in Holland and West Michigan.

Jack Wyrick, Founder & Director of the YFC Store & Donation Center, says “This new store will allow us to reach and impact the lives of even more kids in the days to come. It will allow us to take in more donations, display them in a better environment and attract more customers.”

The new store offers over 14,000 square feet, allowing ample space for the store and space to move the Zeeland YFC offices into as well. “This new location gives us greater visibility in the community and the ability to raise even more funds to reach the hurting kids of our community”, says Dan Kregel, Executive Director of West Michigan Youth for Christ. “Our hope is that we can raise over $100,000 each year through this exciting new opportunity.”

The YFC Store & Donation Center is run by over 60 volunteers who fix, clean, tend the store and help customers. Because of their generous gift of time, nearly all of the income received can go directly towards the ministry of reaching kids in West Michigan. Donations of quality new and used items of value are accepted. Visit the storeʼs website www.wmyfcstore.com to see whatʼs new, and to indicate if you have something to donate.

Our local ministry is in 24 schools and serves over 8,000 kids through Campus Life, Juvenile Justice Ministries and City Life Programs. Recently, three new staff have been added to our team in the Holland Area. For more information on our local ministry, log on to www.wmyfc.org.

Youth for Christ in West Michigan has been serving kids for over 65 years. YFC was founded by the Rev. Billy Graham, who served as our first full-time employee. YFC serves kids in over 200 cities in the US and is in more than 120 countries around the world. For more information on our national ministries, log on to www.yfc.net and international www.yfci.net.

For more information regarding this Press Release, please contact Dan Kregel, Executive Director at dkregel@wmyfc.org or direct line 616.632.3912.

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June 5, 2011

Two separate operations, Youth for Christ in Ottawa/Allegan Counties and Grand Rapids/Muskegon Youth for Christ, announced today an agreement from each local Board of Trustees to merge ministry operations. The new entity will be called WEST MICHIGAN YOUTH FOR CHRIST, and will serve kids ages 11-19 in the Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland area with a streamlined organizational structure and a more effective delivery of services.

“This is a big win for our communities, because we can more efficiently reach out to the kids who need our help,” says Tim Koldenhoven, Board Chair of the newly formed West Michigan Youth for Christ. “For us, it’s all about the kids.” “This merger will allow us to simplify our central operations and propel us to faster growth in each city, school, and juvenile justice institution in the area. In turn, this will allow us to most effectively use the precious gifts of our donors,” says Dan Kregel, the Executive Director of WMYFC. “Our plan is to still have a local presence and office in each community. Ultimately, it enables us to do what we do best… enter into the brokenness of kids’ lives and bring hope and truth into their worlds and watch their lives be transformed.”

With the merger, the new West Michigan Youth for Christ chapter currently has ministry in 18 sites, with 25 staff, 203 volunteers, and programs that connected with over 7000 teens last school year. Youth for Christ/USA has over 160 local and independent chapters across the nation, including chartered chapters in Ludington, Alma, Lansing, Kalamazoo and Sturgis. Additionally, Youth for Christ International has local ministry in over 100 countries around the world. It was first started in West Michigan in 1944, with Billy Graham being the first full-time staff person nationally. The primary programs of YFC include: high school and middle school clubs, programs in juvenile justice institutions, programs targeting urban centers and neighborhoods, programs for teen parents, summer camps, and service project opportunities. You can find out more at www.wmyfc.org.

Board of Directors: Tim Kodlenhoven, Chair Consultant, Acoustics by Design;

Ross Price, Vice Chair Vice President, Fifth Third Securities

Ric Scott, Treasurer/Secretary Retired, City of Muskegon

Shane Thorsen President, Thorsen Wealth Management

Dr. Jim Carlson Associate Pastor, Calvary Church

Mark Andrews Investment Executive, Fifth Third Securities

Gary Hasper Retired, Business Owner

Roy Smyth Writer

Jon Grunden Youth Pastor, Ada Bible Church