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Silver Anniversary

Tribune photo by JAMIE PILARCZYK

The Interbay-Glover Family YMCA celebrates its 25th anniversary on Aug. 23 with a community party.

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

FAIR OAKS - Joe Mangione remembers the first time he visited the Interbay-Glover Family YMCA.

He went with the family of his friend Jay Kennedy, now a board member, to the opening of the pool, about nine months after the YMCA branch opened its doors. It was 1984.

Today, Mangione is the organization's district executive, overseeing the operation of Interbay-Glover and the Downtown YMCA Wellness Centers, as well as the First Tee golf program in Temple Terrace.

On Saturday, he is hosting a 25th anniversary community open house at Interbay-Glover, 4411 S. Himes Ave.

"A lot of people think of us as a gym and swim," Mangione said. "But I think we're more like a community center. It's for everybody."

Built with a financial gift from Alma Glover, a South Tampa resident whose late husband had an affinity for the YMCA, the facility has expanded three times - in 1989, 1992 and 2000.

It serves 9,000 members, drawing from South Tampa neighborhoods with activities for adults and youngsters, a nursery, teen spinning classes, leadership clubs and senior citizen fitness groups. On Sunday mornings, it hosts Logos Dei Community Church.

"We've grown in leaps and bounds in membership," said Mangione, adding that more expansion is on the horizon "well within the next five years."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 25th anniversary open house for the Interbay-Glover Family YMCA; the 1980s-themed event will feature a cookout, family games, a bounce house, a commemorative T-shirt giveaway and a costume contest.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Interbay-Glover Family YMCA, 4411 S. Himes Ave.

COST: Free

INFORMATION: Call the YMCA at (813) 839-0210

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com. To view an audio slide show of the Interbay-Glover Family YMCA, go to southtampa.tbo.com or centraltampa.tbo.com, Keyword: Interbay Glover.

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