A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Dave Kasarda

This week’s Portage Life in the Spotlight is Dave Kasarda, the Executive Director of the Portage Township YMCA. Dave was born in Gary and raised in Portage. He is a graduate of Portage High School and Indiana University. He is married and has two children, one is a freshman at PHS and one is in eighth grade at Willowcreek Middle School.

Kasarda has been with the YMCA in multiple capacities since 1985. He has been the Executive Director for 11 years, starting on June 1, 2001. During his time as at the helm of the YMCA, it has grown enormously with the addition of a new cardio room, gymnasium, lobby and preschool areas. The mission of the Portage Township YMCA is simple, to enhance the quality of life in the community it serves.

“The YMCA is a vehicle to address community problems,” Kasarda said. “We are autonomous. We have our own administration and board of directors that dictate the direction of the organization.”

During his time as Executive Director, Kasarda has kept the YMCA a community organization that is there to help every person it can. Through donations and support from the community the Y is able to give back each and every day.

“It is very humbling. The Y in Portage is a grassroots organization and it always has been,” Kasarda added. “We have never received a million, two million or five million dollar check. We have done things “the hard way”. We have the most amazing volunteer base that I know of. We have people that have donated countless hours and thousands of dollars to ensure that our mission stays alive in the community.  It is working.”

Kasarda said that there is one goal he has set for himself and the YMCA since the first day he has started. Through the YMCA numerous programs, they have achieved their goals and are looking forward to see how they can expand even farther.

“My goal from day one is to always serve the needs of every child in the community,” Kasarda said.“We have a very health focus in early childhood education and that gives us the opportunity to give every child an even playing field regardless of their social and economic level.”

Kasarda is a past president of the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce, past President of the Kiwanis Club of Portage, past Loan Executive for the United Way of Porter County and he serves on the City of Portage Ethics Commission.

“I literally do whatever is asked of me,” Kasarda said. “I believe in community.”

Inside Kasarda’s office at the YMCA, the walls are covered with plaques, certificates and awards that show his dedication to his community.

“I think it comes from being the youngest of four kids and having my butt kicked every day of my life,” Kasarda said. “But, seriously, Portage has been very good to me and my family, and even as a child I have always had a need to serve others.”

Kasarda is a lifelong resident of Portage and remembers from the time he was young what the Portage community was like.

“It is very exciting. As I mention, both of my kids are in Portage schools and are getting an amazing education,” he added. “It is really cool to see Portage go from very little, corn fields turn into houses, it is very exciting. I think we are in a very unique point in our history with great leadership in this community.”

Every day, Kasarda sees countless numbers of members pass through the door at the YMCA. Through his position in the community, he sees what makes Portage a great place to live, work and raise a family.

“Hands down, Portage people are real. They are good, hardworking people that believe in family and they believe in supporting each other and, we made not have everything that surrounding communities have but I firmly believe in this community.”

Because of his commitment to bettering the lives of every person in his community and the work he has accomplished at the Portage Township YMCA, Dave Kasarda is most definitely a Portage Life in the Spotlight.

Do you know of a Portage Life in the Spotlight, email us at share@portagelife.com and we will add that person to our ever growing list of Lives in the Spotlight.