STRONGER TOGETHER
Willard was a very special part of the Burlington family. And it’s your generosity that is celebrating his legacy in our community.
Willard grew up in a Burlington family and not long after he was born, his father passed away. His mother was left to provide for him and his five older siblings. His family faced challenges, but he and his siblings found a safe place at the local Y.
Because of the generosity of donors like you, Willard and his siblings became members at the Y
with financial assistance.
Willard worked hard to make sure he could maintain his membership—even working a paper route to help cover his portion of the cost.
At the Y he found a welcoming and inclusive space to spend time with friends, play tennis and basketball, and he took up swimming year-round. He remained a member for 82 years!
Even at 90 years old, you could find Willard at the Y five days a week strength training, swimming laps,
YOU HELPED CREATE A SUPPORTIVE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
I am so grateful you are a part of the Y community!
In this newsletter, you’ll read all about how your incredible generosity made a difference for members of our community. Thanks to you, they now call the Y their health and wellness home!
You’ve helped provide an inclusive and safe place for people to learn how to swim—regardless of their background or primary language. Because of your support, members of our community are more confident and safer around water.
Thanks to you, families and members of our community are prioritizing their health and wellness. Your support helps ensure the Y is a place accessible for everyone.
Your commitment to building a community together at the Y is part of what makes this place special. Thank you for being here and for your support.
With Gratitude,
President & CEO
YOU HELPED CHRIS IMPROVE HIS MENTAL HEALTH
YOUR GENEROSITY PROVIDED A PLACE WHERE CHRIS COULD PRIORITIZE HIS OVERALL WELLBEING
Chris and his partner were really struggling with their mental health this past year. They felt the weight of the world on their shoulders and had a hard time feeling motivated to get outside or move their bodies.
But thanks to generous supporters like you, Chris and his partner have found a renewed positive outlook on life thanks to exercise and the Y community!
Chris identified that he’d feel better if he were more active. It’s a tough cycle, feeling down and unmotivated to do things, even when you know you’ll feel better afterwards.
But Chris bravely took his health into his own hands.
Thanks to your generosity, Chris and his partner joined the Y community and quickly started to feel much better! They’ve both been consistent with exercising 4-5 times a week—even on days they don’t feel like it—they know how much it improves their mental health and overall wellbeing.
“THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME! I CAN’T IMAGINE NOT BEING A PART OF THE Y.” – CHRIS
Chris and his partner are so grateful to be a part of such a supportive and welcoming community. Thanks to your support, members of the Y community are able to prioritize their mental and physical health.
SUPPORTIVE AND INSPIRING COMMUNITY
YOUR SUPPORT HELPED MARYAN LEARN TO SWIM
THANKS TO YOUR GENEROSITY, MARYAN, AND WOMEN LIKE HER ARE LEARNING WATER SAFETY
Maryan is a loving mother who, after taking her kids to the lake one day, realized that if something had happened on the water, she wouldn’t be able to help them.
But thanks to supporters like yourself, Maryan was able to find a safe environment at the Y to learn how to swim and feel confident around water.
Maryan joined a very special women-only swim program that provides safety and privacy for women at the pool after regular hours so that all women can feel comfortable and included no matter their background or primary language.
She shares, “At first, I was nervous—but I also felt safe. That space was made for us. And for the first time in my life, I stepped into the water not just to play, but to learn.”
Now, after taking swim lessons, Maryan feels confident with her kids around water. “…it’s not just about swimming. It’s about dignity. It’s about safety. It’s about opening doors that for so long were closed to us.”
Thank you for helping to provide women like Maryan with a safe and inclusive place to learn how to swim, water safety, and so much more!
WILLARD’S STORY,
continued from page 1
rowing or using the elliptical machine. He credited his time being a part of the Y community for sustaining his health.
Willard was so grateful to be a part of this community and the impact on his life that he regularly gave back through the Y Annual Fund and even included the Y in his will.
A few years ago he shared, “Though I have been a member for almost 80 years, and the world has changed a lot, the Y’s values have remained consistent: the mission to serve our community, to be a center for our community, and to help people in our community.”
Thanks to you, neighbors like Willard have joined the Y even when facing hardship—you’ve helped change lives!
“I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO FEEL INCLUDED.”
– MARYAN
Willard’s family poses with his photo at the Y
Jerome is a young man who works hard to provide for his family.
Right now, he wants to come to the Y because he knows his kids will be safe and have fun while he exercises and works out.
But Jerome can’t afford the membership.
Will you send a gift of $65 today and provide a neighbor like Jerome with a month of health and wellness at the Y?
When you do, friends like Jerome will get stronger, show their kids the value of wellness, and enjoy all the benefits of this supportive Y community.
Please help provide a neighbor with a month of membership at the Y today and do your part to make our community stronger and healthier!
ABOUT THE YMCA
We are an inclusive, nonprofit organization joined together by a shared commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility. Strengthening community is our cause.
Together we work to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, income, race, sex, or sexual orientation has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We value an environment that fosters dignity, respect, fairness, and appreciation for all aspects and dimensions of diversity.
OUR PROMISE
We promise to steward your gift according to the Y Core Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
Enclosed is my gift of: Yes, Dan! I want to help someone in our community gain
$65 to provide 1 person with a month of health and wellness at the Y.
$130 to provide 2 people with a month of health and wellness at the Y.
$260 to provide 4 people with a month of health and wellness at the Y.
$____________________ to help as much as possible!
