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The Copper Basin Family YMCA (CBY) and its staff are in the midst of a two-week effort to bring awareness to its members about the facility’s annual community support program.
“Each year our branch raises and then distributes $60 thousand in funds to members of our community,” said Rainie Collins, the Group Fitness Coordinator at CBY. “One hundred percent of what we raise goes back to people in our community.”
The CBY receives donations from corporate sponsors and businesses in the community between January and April that account for much of funds raised each year.
My ‘Y’ Week, which runs Feb. 8 – 20, specifically targets CBY members to help others in the community who could benefit from the raised funds.
“The members who are here within our walls, we let them get to be involved too,” Collins said. “They can really feel a part of making a difference in the community.”
YMCA members can help others in the community during My ‘Y’ Week.
According to Collins, CBY serves approximately 55 families with memberships that might not otherwise be able to afford them. Additionally, preschool, after school camps and programs, including swim team, swimming lessons, hip-hop, cheer, and Friday night teen leadership and club also benefit from the donations received.
Parents and families with limited resources can apply for the Y’s financial aid program to receive assistance.
“A lot of people don’t know we’re a charitable organization,” she said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the staff to [educate members], let them know we do this for members of our community every year and we can’t do it without their help.”
The goal is to get 145 members to contribute any amount. No amount is too small as evidenced by some children who have visited CBY with their piggy banks to donate pennies, quarters and dollars.
There is also a giving tree in lobby with specific amounts and a description of what the donation will cover. For example, a $35 donation might send a child to day camp.
A Giving Tree donation.
“If all someone has is $5 in their pocket, we’ll take that,” Collins said. “Every little bit counts and will help us get closer to that $60-thousand goal we’re trying to reach by April. And every head count will get us closer to that 145.”
The Copper Basin Family YMCA is located at 28300 N. Main Street in San Tan Valley.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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