The North Florida Regional YMCA has received enough money in pledges to pay off its debt, the organization announced Thursday.

The North Florida Regional YMCA has received enough money in pledges to pay off its debt, the organization announced Thursday.

The Y has been taking pledges and holding fundraisers since the middle of December, when it at first announced it would close at the end of 2016.

“This is a miracle,” said John Bonacci, the chapter’s CEO. “This is the grace of God and a couple of angels in the community.”

The Y’s goal was to raise $1.5 million, but it announced Thursday it had received the $1.2 million in pledges need to pay off its debt.

The Community Foundation of North Central Florida said in a press release that Gladys Cofrin, Daniel Logan and an anonymous donor had together formed a grant for $1 million to pay off the Y’s mortgage.

The Foundation established an oversight committee to help ensure the Y’s sustainability.

Although its daycare service and wellness programs were self-supporting, the Y lost $300,000 in 2014 from its sports and aquatics programs.

Bonacci said it would continue to fundraise until $300,000 is received to improve the facility.

He said the chapter received three donations in the six-figure range and about 400 donations from community members. One anonymous donor pledged $600,000 in matching funds.

Bonacci said once the debt is officially paid off, likely by summer, he hopes to hire more staff members and recruit more members to the Y’s board of directors. He also hopes to implement programs that partner with other community organizations.

“This process,” he said, “it really has done a good job of having members within the community step up and want to partner with the Y.”

In past interviews, Bonacci has said the Y's finances had been wobbly since 2011, and that Y officials had tried to fix problems behind the scenes so the public doesn't notice.

Still, membership at the Y has been at a nine-year high, with 5,000 total members and about 2,000 children and 1,800 senior citizens using the facilities, along with seven full-time staff members and 82 part-time staff members.