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The YMCA of Greater San Antonio recently kicked off the 2022 One Y Annual Campaign. Along with raising funds, the campaign is also meant to raise awareness of the work the Y does in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
This year’s campaign theme is “Find Your Passion. Find Your Y” and aims to share testimonials from people the YMCA has impacted. The Y hopes to raise $1 million for the annual campaign this year and has reached one-third of its goal.
The YMCA of Greater San Antonio is a local nonprofit comprised of:
- Eleven branches across Greater San Antonio, including New Braunfels, Boerne, Schertz and Cibolo
- A performance training center
- Three state-licensed Early Learning Centers offering pre-K programs
- 62 afterschool program sites in seven school districts, including two teen centers at San Antonio Housing Authority communities
- Weekly free food distribution at four YMCA sites (707,211 pounds of food was distributed to 13,220 families in 2021)
- Youth sports and teen programs
- Active older adults (free facility memberships for seniors)
- Diabetes, blood pressure, obesity and chronic illness prevention, and weight loss programs
- Aquatics programs (swim Lessons, Texas Junior Olympic swim team)
- Síclovía (free biannual city-wide health and wellness event)
- And Roberts Ranch, an educational research center and nature preserve located in Comfort, Texas.
In 2021 the YMCA of Greater San Antonio provided more than $765,594 in financial assistance awarded to 12,541 individuals to participate in programs and memberships. The largest areas where the Y gives back are through its youth programs, senior programs and healthy living initiatives. YMCA of Greater San Antonio offers childcare scholarships for families. Parents have the time to get healthy while their children are cared for, and seniors can stay active and engaged. The Y also partners with other organizations to create healthier communities, including local churches, hospitals and school districts.
“Many people have heard of the Y or even worked out at the Y, without actually knowing what the Y is,” said Shannon Gowen, senior director of mission advancement and communications. “We are so much more. We’ve dedicated 146-plus years of serving all in our community: every child, teen, adult, family or senior who may need us.”
At the YMCA’s campaign kickoff event hosted on March 3, over 100 community members attended the celebration and shared their own Y stories.
“As a person with special needs, when someone tells you they can help you, you try not to get too excited because not everyone can help you,” said Xavier, a YMCA community member. “I learned how to swim and later got a job at the Y, and my confidence grew. I attended college, and now I own my first home. The Y taught me that anything is possible.”
Community support is integral in helping the YMCA continue its commitment to providing quality programs to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. YMCA programs provide meaningful opportunities for young people to grow into responsible adults, enable families to fight chronic illness and give seniors a sense of belonging. The YMCA makes the San Antonio community a better place to live and work.
The YMCA believes that a community focused on healthy living, youth development and social responsibility is better equipped to exercise its true potential and have a greater, positive impact on society.
While membership dues and program fees cover the cost of maintaining and operating YMCA facilities and programs for members, donations to the Annual Campaign support programs for everyone in the community and these contributions also provide financial assistance for individuals and families who cannot afford membership or program fees but can benefit from Y programs.
The YMCA of Greater San Antonio also just launched a new, recurring giving opportunity called Y Impact Partners, where individuals can support the YMCA by making a monthly donation.
YMCA Impact Partners immediately impact the greater San Antonio community every day. A monthly gift allows the Y to respond quickly to those who need help and address urgent and changing community needs. Monthly giving makes a difference every day to children and families in need, supports mission-critical programs and is a simple, easy and cost-effective way of supporting the Y.
Making a monthly donation of $12 or more adds up quickly, and 100% of donations stay in your community. The YMCA is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization, so every gift is tax-deductible.
Those interested in donating to the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, can go to ymcasatx.org/give-today.
