Annual Fund

At the heart of community life in Boston, the mission-driven YMCA is "a place to belong" and to live a life guided by the values that unite our members and participants: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.  From urban neighborhoods to suburban towns, your YMCA serves Greater Boston's children, families and communities by "building the health of mind, body and spirit for all." 

Your philanthropic donation to the YMCA of Greater Boston Reach Out Annual Fund ensures that the YMCA is there for those who need us most.  In 2009 the YMCA will distribute more than $2 million in financial assistance to children and families in need, ensuring no one is denied access to our programs and services due to an inability to pay full fees.  Your gift to Reach Out makes that assistance possible.

While the YMCA of Greater Boston has touched the lives of thousands of youth, one young woman's story, Aixa, exemplifies the strong bonds the YMCA develops with children and youth and how the YMCA prepares youth to face whatever challenges may come their way.

Aixa's Story:

Aixa is a typical YMCA kid who attended the after school program at the Hyde Park YMCA throughout her school years and spent summers at our day camp "Camp Adventure."  Throughout her time at the YMCA, Aixa developed a special bond with the YMCA staff and was introduced to new experiences she never would have the opportunity to encounter such as spending a weekend in our outdoor resident camp in New Hampshire. When a very serious car accident left Aixa's dad severely injured the Y responded with financial assistance and emotional support that allowed Aixa and her siblings to stay in the Y's program and allowed her mom to continue to work and care for her dad. After Aixa moved on from the YMCA's after school program, the Y staff still maintained a close bond with her and her family.  

In 2005, life was good for 16-year old Aixa. She was a junior at West Roxbury High School, a Cadet in the Junior R.O.T.C. program and enjoying the independence and income from her first job. But her life and her family's life would soon experience a dramatic change when Aixa was diagnosed with Leukemia after collapsing at work.  

Throughout her treatment YMCA staff members visited Aixa almost every day and when Aixa's medical bills totaled more than $14,000, the YMCA staff hosted a community fundraiser to defray these costs. According to Aixa, "They didn't treat me as though I was the sick girl that used to come to the Y they treated me normal. They were as goofy and playful then as they were when I was a child at the Y.  My mother even joked about giving them their own room, they were there so much."  

After a long fought battle with cancer, including seven stays in the ICU, today Aixa is cancer free and works at the after school program at the Hyde Park YMCA, giving back to an organization that gave her so much love and support.  

Like Aixa, many of the youth the YMCA engages spend their whole childhood in Y programs as campers, after school participants, teen members, and often as employees. The YMCA of Greater Boston and its dedicated staff have a profound impact on these children's lives and the likelihood that they will stay in school, make positive choices and give back to their communities.

Please consider making a gift to the YMCA of Greater Boston.    

Imagine what your gift will do:

$100 teaches a child life saving swimming skills through a series of lessons.

$250 enrolls a child in a YMCA youth fitness program which will reduce the risk of childhood obesity and diabetes (already affecting 20% of today's youth.)

$500 provides 60 hours of intensive English as a Second Language instruction for a new American before s/he begins a job training program.

$750 enrolls two high school students in our College Path program, which provides SAT preparation and college application assistance.

$1,000 gives 10 at-risk teens a one year membership to the YMCA, providing them with a safe place to productively spend their out-of-school hours.

$2,500 sponsors two campers for a two week session at the YMCA's resident camps in New Hampshire.

$5,000 supports two working families with one month of quality child care.

Please click here to access our secure contributions page powered by Network for Good. 

The YMCA of Greater Boston is a 4-Star charity as rated by Charity Navigator.  Click on the icon for more details: