FERRIDAY, La. – A committee working to establish YMCA facilities in Concordia and Catahoula parishes aims to raise $75,000 by the end of the month to make it happen.

&uot;By the end of the month, we need to have (a commitment for) $25,000 a year for the next three years,&uot; Alex Promise, chairman of the YMCA of Concordia/Catahoula Steering Committee, said during the group’s Thursday night meeting.

The board of Concord-ia Recreation District No. 1 voted in April to allocate $25,000 for the next three years to the Y effort -provided the committee can get a commitment for the remaining $75,000 from other sources.

The $150,000 is needed to establish a branch of the Alexandria-based YMCA of Central Louisiana in Ferriday and bring in an executive director, who would then determine what programs would be offered.

&uot;We’re at the door, and we’re going to do everything we possibly can to get this up and going. … We’ll be handing out pamphlets, we’ll be on the corner, we’ll be on TV and radio&uot; in coming weeks to promote the Y effort, Promise said.

Committee members plan to attend meetings of governmental bodies in Concordia and Catahoula parishes as soon as possible to ask them for financial commitments and resolutions of support, Promise said.

The group is also lobbying the Rapides Foundation, based in Alexandria, and other foundations for funds.

Many of the 20 people who attended Thursday’s meeting also signed up for subcommittees that will make the rounds of businesses, churches, foundations, community organizations and individuals to ask for donations.

&uot;If we break it up that way, … we won’t be duplicating efforts,&uot; said Windell Millicks, the group’s treasurer.

Money raised above the $150,000 needed to establish the YMCA will be used to subsidize participation in Y programs for those who cannot afford it, Promise said.

Raising money should be easier now that the board of the Boys & Girls Club of the Delta, a local organization that was also attempting to raise funds, voted to disband that club, he added.

In other business, the group voted to appoint an executive committee and to appoint the following officers:&160;Promise as chairman, Susan Rabb as vice-chairman, Janet Anderson as secretary and Millicks as treasurer.

The committee’s next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Jonesville Town Hall.