West Midland Family Center

Thriving…Giving…Growing…

Together

West Midland Family Center (WMFC) is an organization that is empowering families to grow together in a positive and enriching environment. We strive to create thriving families by improving individual self-worth, helping others, and creating a fit and healthy community. Families feel safe at WMFC because they know that the programs are designed, and our staff is selected, with them in mind.

WMFC belongs to the patrons who frequent the Center. We all take great pride in our beautiful facility.

Mission

The Mission of the West Midland Family Center is to enhance the quality of life for each generation by providing growth and achievement opportunities within a caring environment.

Vision Statement

Helping each community member TODAY to reach their full potential TOMORROW.

History

The West Midland Family Center's building has a long and storied history. WMFC was originally the Greendale Elementary School which was originally built in 1931. In 1964, when Shepherd schools could no longer accept the children, the school was closed, and its students were absorbed into the Bullock Creek Public Schools. The building was left cold and vacant for 10 years and the community was left without a common place to gather for social, recreational or sports events.

In 1974, forward-thinking community members came together to address the lack of a convening place for the residents of western Midland County. At that time, the Big Brothers organization was interested in locating a site for area teens to use. As a result, the building and its surrounding three acres were sold by the Bullock Creek School District to Midland County. Soon afterward, Phyllis Breedlove, who would eventually become the founder and the first Director of WMFC, suggested that the school be renovated for use by all the community members, not just teens.

From concept, to dream come true, the building was transformed from schoolhouse to community center. By November 1974, with Phyllis Breedlove at the helm, the West Midland County Community Center (WMCCC) was offering night school classes, The Greendale Happy Diners had set up shop, youth and adult activities were in motion and the WMCCC was thriving.

The schoolhouse turned community center served the western Midland County community well between the years of 1974 and 1989 but began experiencing "growing pains" as more and more people made the Center their "home" away from home. With dreams of a larger, newer building in hand, WMCCC obtained the financial support of five major foundations to build a new facility which covered 20,500 square feet. The $1.8 million dollar donation from the foundations also purchased a 27-acre park area which sat adjacent to the building and included a picnic area, baseball diamonds, a soccer field, playground and an outdoor basketball court.

As years went by, utilization of the Center continued to grow, and dozens of new programs and services were added. New programs included a licensed childcare program, family support programs, and a number of after school programs for youth and teens.

In 2000, the Center underwent another miraculous transformation. What was once a dream, became a reality, when the Centers most recent expansion project costing $2.8 million was completed, nearly doubling the physical size of the original Center. The new expansion included several new classrooms, a second gymnasium, a computer lab, renovated office space and an outdoor swimming pool. The additional space allowed WMFC to augment its well-established programs and offer even more new programs.

Today's facility, dedicated in 1989, and rededicated in 2001, stands as a remarkable tribute to the perseverance of many dedicated individuals. These volunteers and benefactors alike, gave of their time, talent, and treasure to make a dream become a reality...many of them continue in their devotion to the Center to this very day.

The West Midland Family Center is a non-profit organization serving west Midland County. Funding for programming, operations, and building maintenance comes from many sources including the United Way of Midland County, government contracts, special grants, partner agencies, and generous individuals and foundations who have helped establish WMFC's endowment funds. Goods and services donated by contributors and volunteers is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. This annual outpouring from the community is an amazing commitment which helps to insure that WMFC will make the largest impact possible in this area of the state.

Board Members

Officers
- Dave Parrillo, The Dow Company, President
- Christian Allemang, The Dow Company, Vice President
- Carl Coons, The Dow Company - Retired, Treasurer
- Matt Metcalf, The Dow Company, Secretary
Directors
- Wally Mayton, Memorial Presbyterian Church
- Amy McGinnis, Central Michigan University
- Jamie Moses, Bullock Creek Public Schools
- Mike Rapanos, Midland Building Company
- Kathryn Tate, The Legacy Center
- Jesse Traschen, Bolger and Battle Marketing
- Gina Wilson, Central Michigan University
Honorary Board Members
- Bob Dostal
- Tom Misner
- Charles Norisez
Advisors
- Greg Bergtold
- William Schmidt
- Ann Schmitz