When you give to the Y, you make a meaningful difference in your community.
The Y is there for those who need us. And for those who don't know they do. From career readiness to safe spaces, the Y is there for all of us.
You know the challenges that we face in our community. People of all ages and backgrounds are struggling to reach their full potential. More and more children face seemingly insurmountable learning gaps. Families find it difficult to spend quality time together. Playing outside has become a rarity. Face time happens through a phone. And instead of seeing the income gap shrink, it seems all we do is watch it grow. But where society falls short, the Y - and donors like you -- step in. Together we make a difference in the lives of thousands of people and a huge impact on each individual we serve.
Here’s the challenge our parents, and our economy, are facing: Remote teaching while parents are attempting to have
their littles ‘logged onto’ a classroom for 6 hours a day? What if the parents have to work remotely
from home? Or at their offices? How on earth will they manage both their children at home ‘going to school’ and their jobs simultaneously demanding their undivided attention?
The truth is, they simply won’t. They can’t.
Those who have the resources will hire tutors and nannies and pay to be part of a ‘pod’ of children to work through this pandemic. Those who do not have the means will simply continue to fall behind. Behind in their own jobs, behind in their children’s’ schoolwork, behind in their house payments and rent- Simply behind.
Shared Story: An 8-year old boy, responsible for his own virtual learning AND the learning of his two younger siblings, had to make sure everyone was logging in at the
right time and helping them with their work while his single mom worked at her job. He was so overwhelmed that he was not logging onto his own classes and failed
miserably last spring. When he was told that remote school was happening again in the fall he burst into tears and said he couldn’t do it. He’s 8 years old. Of course he
can’t do it. This is an untenable situation for the
entire family.
Here’s the solution: Our goal is to make it possible for these parents to rejoin the economy while providing safe spaces for their children to flourish and complete their homework in a CDC compliant environment.
For the past 2 months we have been touring community facilities-Churches, city buildings, schools-anywhere we might be able to transform a currently unused space into a CDC compliant childcare area. Additionally, we are working with funders to help augment this. The CDC compliance makes this financially unattainable, so putting together funding to provide care for these children will enable parents to return to work and keep businesses flourishing rather than closing.
There is simply no way our economy can survive and thrive if parents cannot go back to work.
Because of you we can offer financial scholarships to those who need us the most. This will be key to reigniting and regenerating our economy and providing safety for young students.
Thank you for making so much possible for so many. Please take care of yourselves and one another. Our community is strong, and together, we will get through this.
Our family chooses to volunteer for the Santa Maria Valley YMCA Campaign because we believe passionately in the services they provide to our community. Now, more than any time in recent history, it is vital that we come together to support those in need. The Santa Maria Valley YMCA goes above and beyond facilitating this need. As a residential Real Estate company our business is hyper focused on our clients needs and making their Real Estate goals a reality. We work to change peoples lives for the better daily. The YMCA takes this same focus on the needs of our community and drive to make people's lives better one step further by giving support to those that need it most. The programs they provide make a tremendous difference in our community and we are proud to support them. I would encourage anyone that has a passion for supporting those in need to get involved with the YMCA today.
- Mason and Nadia Frakes, Champion Real Estate Properties
How will my gift be used?
Donations to the Annual Support Campaign are used to fund the Y’s financial assistance programs for those who cannot afford to pay the full price for Y programs and services. In addition, the Annual Support Campaign provides seed money for the establishment of new programs and services or the expansion of programs and services to new communities or neighborhoods.
Why should I give to the Annual Support Campaign? I already pay my membership dues and program fees.
Membership dues and program fees are established to offset the direct costs of delivering YMCA programs and services to our members and program participants. Annual Support donations are used to provide scholarships to those who cannot afford the full cost of dues or program registration. All scholarships are awarded on a financial need-based sliding scale.
I am not a member of the YMCA. Why should I give?
The Santa Maria Valley YMCA provides the community with quality programs that help children, teens, families and seniors live healthy and productive lives. If you live, work, or own a business in the area, you can be assured that your donation is making Santa Maria a better place to live, work and raise a family.
What happens if I am unable to pay my pledge at a later date?
We understand that you will make your pledge in good faith. If, at a later time, unforeseen circumstances make it impossible for you to fulfill your pledge, or if doing so would cause you undue hardship, you may defer or cancel your pledge simply by notifying the Santa Maria Valley YMCA.
Can I give online?
Yes, click here to donate now.
Can I designate my gift to a particular program or branch?
Yes, you can choose to have your gift be applied wherever it is most needed or, if you are connected to a particular branch or program and prefer your gift be used there, just indicate on your pledge card or check how you would like your gift used.
Is my gift tax deductible?
Yes, the Santa Maria Valley YMCA is classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. As such, all charitable gifts received in the Annual Support Campaign are tax-deductible to the extent of the tax code.
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Santa Maria CA 93455
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