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Sidney Alter, center, and her friend Brenna West, right, both 4, spend some time together while their parents work out at the YMCA Tuesday afternoon. Sidney's 2-year-old brother Zachary is content with his own activity, left.
Like any good physical trainer, the YMCA wants you to stay in shape whether you can afford it or not.
That's why the Santa Maria Valley YMCA's team of volunteers is flexing its fundraising muscle for the Annual Community Support Campaign, which funds financial aid for those who can't afford membership fees.
This year's goal has been set at more than $200,000.
“We want to tell our community we want to raise more than last year because there's a greater need,” YMCA CEO Jean Carmichael said of the fundraiser, which ends March 14. “Last year we raised about $208,000 and this year we'd like to do better.”
Currently donations are being tallied at $55,000, or 27 percent of the goal, she said.
The YMCA boasts a membership of 5,000, of which Carmichael says she has seen a decrease of single adults.
She attributes that to the competing private health clubs in town, but the numbers have been offset by an increase of senior citizens and families signing up at the YMCA, she added.
Whether they want to get healthy or enroll their kids in the preschool or after-school childcare programs, Carmichael said more people are also asking for financial aid.
Financial aid money comes from the campaign funds, which pay for a percentage of the membership fees when people can't afford it, she said.
Carmichael said the YMCA employs the same sliding fee scale used by the school districts for lunch meals - which is based on the number of members in a household and income.
Gym fees can range up to $51 a month for a family.
Santa Maria's own YMCA dates back to the early 1930s with its current location at 3400 Skyway Drive established in 1977.
Since then, it has expanded to include a soccer arena, skate park, a family park, a swimming pool and a gymnasium in its 14-acre spot.
Membership fees pay for services and salaries of employees, but the organization depends heavily on volunteers to host community events such as the fundraisers.
Carmichael says she's confident the organization will meet this year's campaign goal because they have “incredible volunteer leaders.”
This year's theme is the Oscars and the campaign's culmination will include a speech by Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino.
For more information about the YMCA or its campaign, go to www.smvymca.org, or call 937-8521.
Luis Ernesto Gomez can be reached at 739-2218, or
lgomez@santamariatimes.comFebruary 21, 2007
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