Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Harrisburg YMCA Capital Campaign Steering Committee has announced opportunities for financial gifts to be named in honor or memory of individuals or businesses, as it continues to raise money for a new YMCA. The new building will be located adjacent to Harrisburg Park.

As part of this plan, sections of the new facility will carry the name of those designated, with five areas already named and nine areas still available for names.

The Steering Committee is involved in a $23 million Capital Campaign, called “Together We Build, The Campaign for a Stronger Harrisburg Community.” A total of $13 million has been raised to date to fund the facility which will include an aquatics center, multiple gyms with locker rooms, health and wellness center with group exercise space and youth center, and community health center with Atrium Health Physical Therapy Space.

The Drew Davis Scoreboard is named in memory of Stephen Andrew “Drew” Davis, who died in 2019 at the age of 32. He was the son of Ron and Sharon Davis, previously of Concord.

Ron Davis retired as President of Uwharrie Bank and began a second career as CEO of the Cannon Memorial YMCA. In 2020, the Cannon Memorial YMCA and the YMCA of Rowan County merged to become the Rowan-Cabarrus YMCA.

Uwharrie Bank of Albemarle gave the memorial gift.

Roger Dick, president and CEO, and Pat K. Horton, former president and CEO and now corporate ambassador of Uwharrie Capital Corp., holding company for Uwharrie Bank, said that the memorial gift is an appropriate way to remember Drew.

The Davis family is part of the Uwharrie Bank corporate family, Dick said.

“I watched Drew grow up and have good memories of him. He did an internship at the bank. The memorial is from my heart. I lost a son about the same age as Drew. When you lose anybody in your family, you want them remembered. Out of respect of the people we love, we choose to do something to remember them. When all those people gather at the YMCA, a bit of Drew Davis will be remembered in that facility. It’s important to remember people who were part of our lives and our community.”

Horton emphasized how much the community bank and its employees care about the community.

“A tribute to someone is the highest compliment that you can give,” she said. “Ron Davis still supports the bank and cares about our mission. I’m delighted that our bank is able to step up.”

Dick said that the Davis family is spiritual, which is in keeping with the YMCA’s mission.

“Ron saw going to the YMCA as CEO as part of the ministry that he was supposed to be about,” he added.

He said that one of the biggest influences of his youth growing up in Albemarle is the time he spent at the YMCA. He recalls that a lot of conversation about the need for a community bank and starting Uwharrie Bank began in the locker room at the YMCA.

“The YMCA fosters a lot of good relationships in the community. It changes lives and makes the community a better place,” he said. “I think we adults realize how important YMCA programs are, particularly to youth. We are put here for one purpose — to be kind and to serve others. What better place is there than the YMCA? In life, you get what you give.”

Ron Davis said his son loved kids and basketball.

“This is a great way to remember someone who left us way too soon,” he said. “It’s great that he will always be a part of the YMCA.”