YMCA hoping for big Give to Lincoln Day turnout
The YMCA is more than just a gym and a place to swim. The nonprofit can do a lot of good with Thursday's donations.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – This year, the YMCA of Lincoln has a plan for every penny raised during Give to Lincoln Day.
“One hundred percent of that will be given to our financial assistance program, the Open Doors Program”, says Copple Family YMCA Executive Director Chris Klingenberg. “It all stays at the Y.”
Open Doors is the Y’s effort to make sure they don’t turn any family away, particularly the families who need help the most. It could be what allows them to learn important skills, such as swimming.
“We offer that financial assistance so that the cost is not a barrier to individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford those opportunities”, says Geoff Weller, Executive Director at Cooper YMCA. “We really look at it as a life-saving skill for some of these kids, and families, and individuals that are going to be looking at coming in and getting lessons from us.”
You’re also supporting an important partnership that keeps some of Lincoln’s most disadvantaged kids safe and healthy: the Community Learning Centers.
Fallbrook YMCA Executive Director Emmalie Wilcox explains, “We are able to work with the school to provide that additional educational support for the students, but also we can provide support for the families and the kids that go to those schools.”
Add in youth sports, camps, and all the other ways the Y helps out, and you’ve got a pretty good way to make an impact in Lincoln.
