On Tuesday morning at the La Porte County Family YMCA there was an important meeting. It was the 2014 Annual Campaign Breakfast and it took place to get the message out that the YMCA was more than a building, they are a cause.
Supporters and members of the La Porte County Family YMCA gathered in the multi-purpose room to learn about the annual campaign.
"This is a very exciting morning for us as this because this actually starts our annual campaign which provides all of the funding for our scholarship fund that provides opportunities for children, families, and seniors," Vanessa Maher, Marketing Director for the La Porte County Family YMCA said, "This allows them to be able to come to the Y regardless of their financial situation, background, and what have you. So this is exciting for us because this is a whole new year of being able to provide at least $214,000 worth of scholarships and the community can learn, grow, and thrive through programs that help to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body all year long."
There were three stories that were presented that highlighted individuals who have had their lives significantly impacted by the Y: Judy Jones, Valerie Martinson, the YMCA Campaign Chair, and Tristen Poe. Each one had their lives changed and pushed into a positive direction thanks to the experiences that they had at the Y.
Jones was unable to attend the Campaign breakfast due to some recent medical procedures. But a wonderful video was shown of her recalling her experience and love for her YMCA.
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Next was Martinson. She spoke of her time growing up as a "Y kid".
"I've been a member of the Y almost my whole life," Martinson said. "And I see that sense of community that Judy was talking about in her video. I took swim classes and I was on the gymnastics team. In high school I learned to workout for the sake of exercise on it's own in the Nautilus room around the corner. And when I came back to La Porte as an adult I formed new friendships through my favorite group classes here. The Y is just a beautiful place. I benefit here from the fitness facilities but more than that I'm so proud of what we have in this building and what we do outside of the walls for the community."
She went on to express that the efforts from the campaign will help to uphold the YMCA's mission: to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
She stated that the La Porte County Family YMCA impacted the lives of nearly 32,000 people in 2013 with financial assistance for seniors that let them attend Silver Sneakers and maintain a better quality of life, enabled children to attend summer camp, and families were provided with a safe place to go through memberships. The Y has set this 2014 goal at $85,000 to help provide more than $269,582 in financial assistance to help those in need in NWI.
"La Porte County faces new challenges for the work we do," Martinson continued. "Fortunately, where some see obstacles, we see opportunities...no other organization can impact as many people as we do every single day."
Poe is a young man who has been part of the Y for about 11 years. He attends Kesling Middle School and he stood and told his story.
"The YMCA means a lot of things to me. It has been a place where I have grown up up and where I will continue to be supported as I get older. When I was little, the Y was a safe and loving place where I was cared for while my parents worked," Poe said. "It was also a place that prepared me for school."
Poe spoke of his time at summer camp, one of the YMCA's programs and how it helped him to learn team building skills, make like-long friends, and help the camp counsels lead the younger children. He said that this helps him to be a better big brother. He credits the Y for making him the person that he is today. Poe is a 4th year 4-H member, an honor roll student, and he was named Student of the Month at Kesling Middle School.
He then read a speech that he wrote on behalf of his YMCA pre-school teacher, Ms. Pat, upon her retirement. Here is an excerpt from it:
"Ms. Pat was my preschool teacher here at the YMCA. But she was much more than that. She was like my mom. She encouraged me when I struggled, she made us laugh when we were sad, she was very caring, but most of all she loved us. We were her family just like she was a part of ours. Ms. Pat is a huge part of the person that I am today..."
That speech embodies the goals and ideals of the YMCA. And knowing that this type of impact can be had on one or many people due to the special and important programs and people at the La Porte County Family YMCA makes this campaign a crucial and initiative that will help make La Porte County and all that live within it thrive.
Cindy Berchem spoke last. She is the CEO of the La Porte County Family YMCA.
"That's what the Y is all about," Berchem said. "It's those rewarding experiences and it's about changing people and helping kids grow up to be successful when they become adults...everybody comes to the Y with a different need, something that they are looking to get out if it...this is an awesome building. We have had the support of the community to keep it growing and maintained. But we are not just a building, not just a pool, we are a cause."
Click here to see all of the photos from the campaign breakfast!
To find out how you can give or be part of the YMCA's amazing work, visit http://www.lpymca.org/our-y/give