Dear Families,

We are reaching out to let you know about a situation involving a former staff member. On Thursday, August 13th, we became aware of comments made by this staff member that raised concerns for the safety of our community, and we made a decision to terminate employment. Since that time, they have made comments that raised further concerns for us.

We have contacted the Eugene Police Department and are working closely with them on next steps. Out of an abundance of caution, we are closing all Y programs and spaces on Friday, August 14th. We will be utilizing that day to gather insights from security advisors and the Eugene Police Department.

The safety of your children, our staff, and our Y community is always our top priority. We know messages like this can feel unsettling, and we want you to know that we are being thoughtful, proactive, and transparent while also protecting the privacy of those involved.

We know this closure is deeply inconvenient, and we appreciate your patience and understanding. This situation has continued to evolve into the evening, and we want to make sure that when we reopen, we have the recommended safety measures in place. We are staying in close coordination with law enforcement and safety partners to guide our next steps.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we work through this situation.

Brian Steffen

CEO

Eugene Family YMCA