This naming opportunity will honor Paul M. Grist and all the Grist Award Winners inspired by his example. Heaton Hall’s second floor includes four meeting spaces which we hope to restore and revitalize, creating a “Legends” floor. In 2022, the largest meeting room was renovated and dedicated as the “Legends of New Orleans” room, honoring three couples who served their New Orleans YMCAs and Blue Ridge Leaders’ School for decades.  We hope to repair and restore a second meeting room in Heaton Hall and dedicate it to Paul M. Grist and all Grist Award winners.

The work needed for restoration and repair includes both construction remodeling and cosmetic changes. Our goal of $60,000 also includes audio visual installation to modernize the room’s capabilities and signage to commemorate the Grist model of service and acknowledge donors. Currently, a Grist Award is presented at Blue Ridge Leaders’ School (BRLS), Christian Values Conference (CVC), Conference on National Affairs (CONA), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and staff from our own YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. We are humbly requesting that all conferences who have award recipients participate in the fundraising effort.  With each conference having a funding goal of $15,000, we hope to join together to make this room a reality! We encourage everyone to spread the word! Talk to other Grist Award winners in your circle and help us fully fund this project.

For questions about this Legends floor naming opportunity, contact Suzette Armatas at sarmatas@yblueridge.org.