Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at a reception at the Dallas Country Club, Gordon Echtenkamp, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, announced the YMCA and the Rise School of Dallas have signed contracts to formally merge. According to the agreement, both the Park Cities YMCA and the Rise School of Dallas will operate independently until the future opening of the new Moody Family YMCA in the Park Cities.

Along with the merger announcement, Kurt Steves, President of the Rise School’s Touchdown Club, announced a $1,000,000 gift to the YMCA Pathways Campaign for the new Moody Family YMCA in the Park Cities.

“The Rise School is beyond excited for the merger and the relationship that has
already formed between us and the YMCA. It could not be a better fit. We are
not only practicing inclusion but we live it in the Park Cities community with
missions serving all families, students and members and the community,” said
Kari Zerbe, Director of the Rise School of Dallas.