INVEST IN YOUTH … NOW MORE THAN EVER
By Dave Eitland
YMCA Director of Development and Marketing
Each year the YMCA Board of Directors conducts a Community Appeal to go to the region and seek donations for Invest in Youth. This year, Kim Pontius, executive director of the Traverse Area Association of REALTORS, and Denny Lauterbach, owner of Floor Covering Brokers, both Y Board Members, are serving as the Appeal Co-chairpersons. To date other community leaders serving with them are: Jim Bladek, Mike Casucelli, Peter Doran, Nick Edson, Jim Elkins, Jill Fenton-Jones, Ted Foley, David Gabel, Hank Johnson, Marc Judge, Gary Kaberle, Phil Knapp, Charles Kolbusz, Stephanie Long, Cathy Meyer-Loose, Konrad Molter, Paul Morris, Tina Piotrowski, Gary Popovits, John Russell, Lynn Schultz, Bill Stone, Joe Tobald, Tom Van Deinse, Rita Whaley, Greg Williams, and Ron Williamson.
… the daughter whose brother has a chronic illness that takes many of the family‟s resources just to keep him healthy. Through Invest in Youth she is now enrolled in the YMCA‟s gymnastics program.
… the man who visited his doctor who told him that he was going to die unless he could lose some weight and control his stress levels. He is going back to school for retraining after he lost his job and through a small YMCA scholarship he and his children are now YMCA members.
Parents tell the YMCA every day how thankful they are …
… like the mother who would like to enrich her children‟s life as much as possible. “I don‟t want my children to grow up and feel they missed out on a lot of opportunities because their parents didn‟t have the money.” One of her children is in the Y Lacrosse skills program and the other is learning how to play Y Basketball because the YMCA is there.
… like the father who says he would love to see his two children use their energy and potential to the fullest. “We notice everyday how hungry they are for activity and learning something new. YMCA soccer, tennis, and gymnastics would be great tools to break into more self-confidence and achievement in their lives.”
“With so many out of work, scholarship requests tripled last year, and the recovery has been slow. Of course, the Y isn‟t the only organization seeking community support, but we know one reason people give so generously to the Y is that gifts are used so effectively. In fact, Newsweek named the YMCA as one of the top five non-profits „that will make the best use of your donation,‟” said Tom Van Deinse, CEO of the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA.
