Sammamish YMCA to launch annual fund drive to support community health
Every year, YMCA branches across the country conduct an annual fundraising campaign for membership scholarships and programs. The Sammamish YMCA is set to launch theirs on Feb. 11 at 7:00 a.m., with the goal of raising $110,000 to make the branch a safe, welcoming place for all members of the community.
The official launch at the Sammamish YMCA is taking place at a fundraiser breakfast from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., where those who attend can expect food and stories from those who believe in the mission of building greater overall community health.
The fund drive raises money for membership scholarships and programs. These programs can be anything from youth basketball to mental wellness seminars, as the YMCA aims to address the biggest health-related needs in Sammamish.
To do this, senior branch executive Kelly Martin said that she and other members of the Sammamish YMCA staff try to help vulnerable populations, such as seniors and teens. They hope to create a sense of belonging by addressing these specific groups with fund drive sponsored programs.
For example, Martin said that the senior population of Sammamish can often feel isolated due to family moving out or potentially the loss of a loved one. YMCA addresses this by creating programs focused on providing a safe place to be around others and belonging to a community.
“So creating hikes for seniors where they can go out with their friends and go hiking or have coffee and conversations where they can come and just have a cup of coffee and talk to someone else,” Martin said.
As for teens, Martin said that the Sammamish branch hopes to provide connections that may be lacking as a result of growing up in the COVID era, and everything involved in a modern childhood.
“Whether it be from a world with social media or just growing up during the COVID era, it’s important they have those resources they need to find connection,” Martin said. “For our teens, it’s about really finding ways to give them tools for navigating mental health needs.”
In addition to these programs, the fund drive also helps generate money to be able to provide community to those who would not be able to attain it otherwise. If someone cannot afford a full YMCA membership, they can apply for a scholarship that is funded with the money raised.
“Nobody is aware of other people in the community and what financial need they have,” said Laura Francel, YMCA’s membership director. “When they come here, that all can go away and they can just be themselves and be part of this community.
The YMCA hopes that with the funds raised, they can continue to build mental, emotional, and physical health with a wide array of programs to as many people in Sammamish as possible, regardless of financial need.
“What matters is that we’re doing something together to help our neighbors,” Martin said. “That’s what, to me, this annual fund drive is. It’s an opportunity for us to help each other because that’s what humans should do, right?”
To find more information about the fund drive and RSVP for the Sammamish breakfast, please visit the YMCA website.
