BIG BEQUEST $100,000 WILLED TO YMCA.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

PALMDALE - The Antelope Valley YMCA received an unexpected and welcome gift: $100,000 from the will of an elderly former Quartz Hill resident who used to exercise there with her husband.

Violet Nieber remembered the YMCA in her will when she died Oct. 28, 2000, at age 85 in a Long Beach nursing home.

``We're definitely surprised,'' said Laura Mayo, executive director of the Antelope Valley YMCA. ``It's neat that she was able to give to the organization and that the money will continue to give back to the community that she lived in.''

Although local YMCA leaders heard last year the organization had been named in Nieber's will, they didn't find out until a couple of weeks ago how much they would receive. The $100,000 is about a quarter of Nieber's estate, officials said.

Nieber lived in the Mayflower Gardens senior citizen apartments in Quartz Hill for 12 years. She and her husband exercised in a YMCA senior program in Lancaster.

After Nieber's husband died, she moved into a nursing home in Long Beach, where she lived until her death.

The money will be deposited into the YMCA's endowment fund to earn interest - probably about $6,000 a year - which will go to subsidize YMCA programs for needy participants.

``It continues to give for years to come ... that's what's good about it,'' Mayo said.

The interest will be used to provide scholarships for YMCA youth basketball and Parent-Child Y-Maiden programs, as well as financial assistance for parents whose children are in YMCA child care program.

The YMCA operates five child care facilities in the Antelope Valley. They provide care for more than 300 children, including transportation to and from schools.

``It will provide financial assistance to the parents who are financially troubled for up to six months, so they can get (back on their feet),'' Mayo said.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Antelope Valley YMCA will receive $100,000 from the estate of an elderly woman who had lived years ago in Quartz Hill.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

(2) Violet Nieber

Named YMCA in will

(3 -- color) YMCA operates five child care facilities in the Antelope Valley, serving more than 300 children. Interest earned from Violet Nieber's bequest will be used to subsidize participants in the day care program.