Boston, Mass. – Eighty-six years after the Chinatown YMCA first opened, Boston and Tufts officials were on hand to open its newest incarnation – a new 43,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.

   “This new Y has been a gleam in the eye of many Chinatown residents, leaders, kids and others for many, many years,” University President John DiBiaggio told an audience of government officials, businessmen and local community members. “We at Tufts are so pleased to have been part of making this dream come true.”

   The University contributed $2.1 million to the new community facility which stands on the doorstep of Tufts’ health sciences campus. “Among our own college students, we have seen the incredible growth of the importance of physical fitness and continuous self-improvement. This facility will bring those possibilities to young and old in this community, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”

   Tufts' Boston campus is already experiencing the benefits of the new center. “Many of our own medical and dental students are equally thrilled to have a place where they can purchase a membership and have access to such excellent facilities so close by where they study and do their research."