Welcome to this edition of Window on the Y. Looking ahead, this will be a very eventful season in the life of our YMCA. In fact, we will be celebrating the 93rd Anniversary of the YMCA of Greater Whittier at our Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Thursday, June 12, 2008. This will be a great evening of fun and fellowship as we pay tribute to YMCA Board Members, Heritage Club Members and Current Support Campaign Leadership. We are also pleased to announce that Burt & Kay Parminter are the recipients of the 2008 “Myron Claxton Distinguished YMCA Service Award” and Michael Weinstein will be the recipient of the “Don Jenkins Volunteer of the Year Award”. They will be recognized at this event along with many other Y-Volunteers who demonstrate the YMCA Values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in all corners of our Association.
At a time of tremendous unrest in the world, our YMCA mission as “An Association of all people united in a common effort to put Judeo-Christian principles into daily practice and to enrich the quality of the spiritual, mental, physical and social life of their families, their community and themselves” has never been more important than it is today.
I hope you enjoy reading about your YMCA and get a sense from the photos within that YMCA Volunteers and Staff alike are helping to build a stronger community for us all. May God richly bless you and your family in the months ahead.
Sincerely,
Mike Blackmore
President & CEO
Campaign 2008 A Huge Success!
One of our most successful adult programs is our annual YMCA Current Support Campaign. For the past 93 years Y-volunteers have come together to help raise funds to support the YMCA's important work with youth, particularly underprivileged boys and girls, and their families.
Thanks to all of you who recently participated in our 2008 campaign. By all indicators it is the single most successful of our efforts to date. We had a remarkable group of some 326 volunteers involved in the campaign this year. Our volunteer workforce told their YMCA story to fellow members, friends and neighbors and secured 2,684 gifts, which is 1,434 gifts more than we were securing in the entire campaign just eight years ago. Add all of this up and it translates into fund raising of $384,358 to date, which is a record breaking accomplishment that all who participated can be proud of.
Our Campaign General Chair, Phill Mossey, did an absolutely outstanding job leading the charge along with Chairman's Round Table Chair Jeff Nickell, whose committee raised $175,100; and Teams Section Chair Chris Hardeman, whose ten divisions raised $209,258. In addition, all sections of the campaign not only went over their goals, but also set new records of achievement. Congratulations and thanks to everyone for a job well done!