TREASURE COAST — Many children on the Treasure Coast are left home alone during after school hours. They have no one to help them with homework or to keep them engaged in productive games and activities.
Eight year old Phillip Brown could have been one of those kids, but his father found the Y’s after school program. Because of the attention he received in the program, he was able to improve his reading grade before the end of the first semester, establish positive homework habits, and make lifelong friends.
To ensure that the Y can continue to provide the children and families in Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Indian River counties with life-enhancing services, the YMCA of the Treasure Coast is launching its annual community support campaign.
As a leading nonprofit for strengthening community, financial gifts to the Y will help advance programming and services that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
More importantly, gifts to the YMCA of the Treasure Coast stay in the community, having a direct impact on the residents in its service area.
“Through our community support campaign, we want to educate people that we are more than a place to go to exercise or swim, but an organization that does vital work thanks to the volunteers who support the community.
The Y contributes to improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods through a variety of ways that benefit all of us who live and work on the Treasure Coast,” said Charlene Foster, YMCA of the Treasure Coast Director of Development.
Last year, financial support made it possible for 126 kids to have a safe place to learn and build confidence after school; for 171 children and adults to learn to swim; and for 847 people to access fitness in order to improve their health and well-being.
This year, the YMCA of the Treasure Coast hopes to raise $206,000. Funds raised will support preschool and after school childcare, summer camp, swim lessons, and fitness memberships.
The community support campaign will kick off on Feb. 4 and will end with a celebration on Apr. 20 with Family Night at the Mets. The event will be held at Mets Stadium in Port St. Lucie on the same date at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are free to all. Tickets can be picked up at any YMCA front desk starting Apr. 1 until they are gone and are available to local children’s charities by calling Charlene Foster at (772) 286-4444.
There are also volunteer and sponsorship opportunities available.
To learn more about how you can support the Y’s cause, please contact Charlene Foster, Director of Development, at (772) 286-4444 or visit www.YMCATreasureCoast.org for more information.