The 70-year-old Samena Swim & Recreation Club will remain open after community supporters raised $860,000 in donations, rescuing the Bellevue facility from imminent closure.
The nonprofit recreation centre’s board voted unanimously Tuesday to continue operations at least through March, following a weekend surge in pledges that brought the “Save Samena” campaign close to its $1 million goal. The decision provides relief for more than 1,500 members who depend on the facility’s programmes, fitness spaces, and swimming pools.
“The board voted to keep Samena open and we hope we’re going to stay for another 67-odd years,” the club’s board president announced to staff and supporters, drawing applause from the gathered crowd.
Just weeks earlier, the club had warned it was in “deep trouble” and might close without financial assistance to cover mounting maintenance and staffing costs. Board member Travis Rhodes credited local media coverage and community response as crucial to the turnaround.
The campaign’s success demonstrates the facility’s importance to Eastside families who have relied on its services for nearly seven decades. For Rhodes, the outcome carries particular emotional weight.
“The last time we talked I was looking over the pool and I was imagining it empty and that just broke my heart,” he explained. “Now I get to continue seeing it full, hearing the splashes, hearing the laughter.”
Longtime member Susan Barnes, who has belonged to the club for 30 years, described the uncertainty as nerve-wracking. “It was suspenseful for sure. A nail-biter,” she said. “They want it to be around for the next generation of families.”
The fundraising success provides short-term stability whilst club leaders develop longer-term sustainability plans. Rhodes expressed optimism about the facility’s future prospects following the community’s demonstration of support.
“I’m very optimistic we’re going to last for decades,” he said. “This is a monumental place, we’ve made a monumental decision and we’re just going to grow in a monumental way.”
Information about supporting the nonprofit is available at samena.com or by emailing board@samena.com. The club continues accepting donations as it works toward long-term financial sustainability.
