YMCA campaign hits homestretch

To the Editor:

The YMCA of Clay County is in the homestretch of its annual Strong Kids Campaign which is conducted every year during the month of February. The purpose of the campaign is to raise funds specifically to provide scholarships for children to take part in the "Y" programs who otherwise would be unable to participate because of an inability to pay.

The YMCA has a long an rich history in our community. One of its most important goals has always been to enrich the lives of Clay County's children through its various programs. Programs which teach these young people such important values as caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

The YMCA of Clay County has tried very hard over the years to maintain a policy of never turning away a child due to an inability to pay. With the tough economic times we have all experienced, this policy has been put to the test. In 2009 alone, the YMCA of Clay County provided over $54,000 in financial assistance to enable youth to become members of the YMCA and program participants.

More than 1,000 individuals throughout our community received financial assistance from the YMCA. We know even more families and children will turn to us for help this year. We want to continue to be able to be there for these children.

Simply put-we need our help. Our goal this year is $38,000. We are making good progress towards achieving our goal, but we are not there yet.

With about a week to go with this year's campaign, we need to involve more "investors" in the lives of Clay County's children.

100 percent of the funds raised in the Strong Kids Campaign stays in our community to help local youth. You are not making a "donation" to a cause, you are literally "investing" in the lives of these children. We have seen the difference the YMCA, with programs like our Summer Camp, has made in the lives of children.

Please be as generous as you can when called upon by our volunteers. In one does not reach you, you can contact us at the YMCA by calling 442-6761 or by mailing your contributions to us at 225 E. Kruzan St., Brazil, Ind., 47834. Checks should be made payable to YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

All "investments," be they great or small, are most appreciated:

* A $50 "investment" will sponsor a child for a YMCA sport program,

* A $100 "investment" will sponsor a child in a day camp for one week,

* A $150 "investment" will provide a youth membership for one year,

* A $375 "investment" will provide a family membership for one year, and

* A $1,000 "investment" will sponsor a child in a day camp for the summer.

Remember:

One Hundred years from now

It will not matter

What kind of car I drove,

What kind of house I lived in,

How much I had in the bank,

Nor what my clothes looked like.

One Hundred years from now

It will not matter

What kind of school I attended,

What kind of computer I used,

How large or small my church, But the world may be

... a little better because ...

I was important in the life of a child.

Please be important in the life of a child in this community.

Sincerely,

Andrea Baysinger, President, YMCA Board of Directors, and

Margaret "Peggy" Berry, board member