GREENFIELD — The YMCA has kicked off its annual Sustaining Campaign, hoping to raise $180,000 this year – $20,000 more than it raised last year.
“This annual campaign helps to sustain the YMCA so we can continue to provide a vast array of programs for youth, families and seniors, as well as provide some of the financial assistance dollars for people of all ages and all income levels to join the YMCA and participate in our programs,” YMCA board president Andrew Killeen said. “We increased our campaign goal more than usual because of major financial challenges caused by outside issues, such as the increase in the minimum wage, health insurance costs and a $10 per month gym.”
Seventh-grader and Junior Leader Andrew Garappolo was one of several people who said the YMCA has changed his life for the better. He said he has learned a lot in the three years he has been in the Leaders Club. The 50 members of the club learn how to work with children, conduct special events, fundraise and participate in different events.
Garappolo said he has been a “Y kid” since he was 2 years old, starting when he attended the YMCA’s preschool. He later attended Camp Apex at age 5.
Executive Director Bob Sunderland, who has worked for the YMCA for 50 years, said a successful campaign will help keep the YMCA running and keep its sliding-fee scale intact for the next year.
Sunderland, who will retire in June, has grown the YMCA from a $500,000 budget when he began as its executive director in 1987, to a more than $3 million budget today. He said he has seen the YMCA through three building renovations and has watched children grow up there.
Currently, 28 percent of YMCA members and up to 65 percent of children in its programs receive assistance with their fees, he said.
The theme of this year’s campaign is “The Y: For a better you. For a better community. For a better us.”
Phelicia Howland and Linda Dagilus are co-chairs of the campaign. Howland has been a board member for two years.
“The YMCA is more than a gym,” she said. “It’s a community. It brings people together, and lifelong friendships are made.”
Dagilus has served on the YMCA’s Financial Development Committee for many years and is now also a board member.
“No one understands more than we do that it’s uncomfortable and sometimes hard to ask people for money,” she said. “But to ask them to help send a child to camp, or to help support after-school programs so that children don’t spend the afternoon unattended, well that’s an easy ask.”
Sunderland said one of his greatest concerns for the community is food insecurity – members currently donate food each week to the food banks, serve community meals, fill bags for the United Way and participate in the local Brown Bag Challenge and Adopt-A-Family programs.
He said he is also concerned about 35 percent of children being overweight and many children not knowing how to swim – the YMCA has a partnership with Greenfield public schools, where 16 classrooms with total of more than 300 children, attend 10 swim lessons at the YMCA during the school day. He said he is also concerned about adult diabetes.
Killeen said more than 80 volunteers have begun giving their time and money to help raise the $180,000.
“Our goal is to contact over 1,000 YMCA friends and members/participants in 21 days,” Killeen said. “This campaign makes it possible for our YMCA to ensure that everyone who wants to improve their mind, body and spirit, regardless of their income level, can become a Y member.”
The campaign runs until March 27.
Division leaders for the campaign are John Cormican, Wendy Blanchard, Killeen and Liz Millner. Major Gifts Division leader is Merrill Gagne, and team captains are Amy Bovaird, Amy Bowse, Bill Doyle, Peter Wozniak, Brian Thompson, Deb Klein, Lisa Alber, David Donoghue, Don Simms, A.J. Bresciano, Marilyn White, Michelle Laurie, Mike Currie, Jay Dillon and Shelby Snow.
For more information or to make a contribution, call Tina Newton at 413-773-3646, ext. 411 or visit: www.ymcaingreenfield.org