Is it February already? Hard to believe that January has passed us by, especially with the spring-like weather we have been enjoying.
I write this blog each year around this time talking about the health benefits of a giving heart as we head towards Giving Hearts Day on February 8. We know through various studies that when you give of your time, talents, or treasures a list of health benefits kick in from lowering stress levels, to decreasing your blood pressure, and many, many more.
But this year, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner after Giving Hearts Day, I’d like to focus on the idea of “love". A giving heart is the ultimate expression of love. Think about it, when you are in love with someone, you think about them regularly, you want to make sure that they have every chance to succeed in anything they do, and you want them to be safe. I have been married for over 30 years, have two great kids, and have expanded that to their significant others. I know that I love my family and work hard to make sure that they have every opportunity to be all that they can be.
When you give to the YMCA and your other favorite nonprofits, you are speaking a language of love. You are showing through a monetary way that you believe in us, that you are looking out for us, and that you want us to succeed. We are honored by those beliefs!
When you give to the Y this year on February 8, you are making sure that every child has access to Camp Cormorant. Our camp has been serving the community for 121 years. Each summer, we teach kids to “camp” (although, that means something vastly different in 1903 than it does in 2024!), fish, share stories, sing songs, swim in a lake, and various other key activities that only our summer camp can provide. Even more important is that out of the 1,100 children who participated in camp last year, nearly 35% of them were on scholarships to participate. Also, the Y makes sure that foster children have the opportunity to experience camp at no cost. There is no better place than camp to just be a kid. We make sure that it is available to them each day.
We hope that you will help support scholarships for kids to attend Camp Cormorant this year.
There is no better way to show your love for our community than by giving to the Y or another nonprofit on February 8. This is a love language. We hope we can count on you and pass that love to all the children the Y serves through camp.
See you at the Y!
Steve Smith, President and CEO
Posted on: January 31, 2024