This week our guest blogger is Drew Smith, our Financial Development Director:
Greetings and Happy Holidays! My name is Drew Smith and I’m the financial development director here at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA. What does that title mean? Well, I’m basically a connector. I connect investors to the CHCYMCA - a great nonprofit organization that is serving the community in so many ways on a daily basis. Did you know that we have a standing commitment to make sure that no one is turned away from the YMCA based on his or her financial resources? Anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of the CHCYMCA is welcome, regardless of ability to pay. You know, most people think of our community as affluent; with an abundance of highly educated people from all over the globe. That’s true, but it’s also true that there are people who live and work here who struggle each day to make ends meet.
By connecting investors with the YMCA, we have the funds available to award financial assistance to hundreds of people every year right here in our community. People who need afterschool care for their children, summer day camp for their elementary schoolchildren, or seniors who need a place to take water aerobics classes. Those are just a few examples of how a donor’s gift is invested.
This is arguably the worst economy since the great depression, but our YMCA has received a record number of annual donations totaling more than $132,000 as of this writing. Still, we’ll award approximately $250,000 worth of financial assistance to local children, families, and individuals…so you can see there are unmet needs.
During the holidays, many of us take time to give thanks for our blessings and reflect on how fortunate we are for health, happiness, and good fortune. But for some of our neighbors, the holidays might not seem as bright or cheery…there are financial woes, unemployment concerns, and a decision of whether to pay the rent, or buy groceries.
Looking to make an end of the year donation and want 100% of your gift to stay local without part of your donation going to administrative fees, etc.? Please consider a gift to the We Build People campaign. You can make a gift securely online through our website. Just click the Donate Now button on our home page. You can always send a check or use a credit card if you’d like.
I think this is a great time to be thankful for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA. Imagine what our community would look like without it? Imagine if the 250+ kids who attend afterschool at the Y had to find somewhere else? What about the dozens of children who learn the potentially life saving skill of swimming every year at the Y? I’m also very thankful for the hundreds of annual donors and volunteers who graciously donate their treasure, their time, and their expertise to help others. The YMCA is devoted to serving this community, and it’s awesome to see this community respond!
