Fittingly, it’s called The Brugger Building

By Robert Whale • April 22, 2009 8:30 pm
Dick Brugger helped establish and develop Auburn Youth Resources into an important community-based counseling
Dick Brugger helped establish and develop Auburn Youth Resources into an important community-based counseling

Today the building at 816 F Street serves as the Auburn Youth Resources’ mental health counseling center.

But over the years this same building has incubated many of the agency’s successful programs.

Now, thanks to friends and supporters, the man who started the good stuff decades ago will be linked to this same building, known officially and for all time as The Brugger Building.

Dick Brugger could hardly believe friends and supporters would do such a crazy thing.

“What a gesture,” the former AYR director said during last week’s celebration and sign dedication. “It’s so incredible. I certainly didn’t expect this.”

Brugger, AYR’s executive director from 1976 to 1997 and a former Catholic priest, explained why having his name linked to the building means so much.

Under Brugger’s leadership, AYR began the first outreach, emergency shelter and residential programs for homeless and abandoned youth in the area. Working with the City of Federal Way, Brugger helped establish a drop-in center near the SeaTac Mall for youth in need of shelter and protection.

“This building represents my guts,” Brugger said. “I put everything I had into this agency. This is the first building that we owned, and a lot of the programs we started here worked. Having the building meant we were not just a fly-by-night organization.

“From the shelters and drug programs to the work along the Sea-Tac area and Interstate 5, a lot of the stuff started here,” he said. “Teen pregnancy was one of the big issues we dealt with, and we got the community to be aware of that from here.”

Although AYR actually began in 1973 when a group of parents, government leaders and educators organized to address the growing problem of drug use among the city’s youth, things did not begin to take shape until Brugger came aboard in 1976. From four employees and a $35,000 budget, AYR today employs a staff of 85 and operates with an annual budget of $3.8 million.

Jim Blanchard, AYR’s executive director, announced the agency’s intention to dedicate the building to Brugger at the annual breakfast in February.

“He is our father, leader and mentor. The man is AYR,” Blanchard said.

Dave Bowen, owner of Luminart Signs donated the sign.