YMCA campaigns to reach more than funding goalYMCA campaigns to reach more than funding goalMarch 12, 2004
As the discussion of where kids can spend their free time turns into a hot issue in Oakley, the Delta-Family YMCA is out reminding people that their afterschool care and youth programs are available to everyone. Even those who can't afford the cost.
That is what their Invest in Youth Campaign is all about. According to community chair of the Delta-Family YMCA and Oakley resident Chuck Pierce, "The campaign is dedicated to youth scholarships within their programs."
During the past year Pierce said that the YMCA has handed out $100,000 worth of scholarships in Oakley alone. The scholarships are given out for the YMCA's afterschool program, which is available at both Vintage Parkway School and Laurel Elementary School, as well as for their youth T-Ball, soccer, flag football and other sports programs. The group also sponsors a Youth in Government program that allows students to work with California legislators to learn the ins and outs of state politics, locally and in Sacramento.
"This year our goal is $37,000, and we really want to make our goal this year," Pierce said. The money is collected in a six-week period and is not only campaigned through local businesses and associations, but also through residents who believe in a good cause.
This campaign is just one way of raising money this year. Many will remember that the YMCA has been part of the plans for building more community based programs in Oakley. They are working on building a new facility in conjunction with the city on O'Hara Avenue behind O'Hara Park Middle School. The land belongs to the city of Oakley and the YMCA, and at Monday night's meeting the city approved a lease agreement that will last for five years between the two.
The next step, according to Pierce, is for the YMCA regional board to approve the lease, which should be done in 30 days. After that, temporary portables will be put on the property and then, if all goes well, the facility should be open by July 1. Then over the next five years the YMCA will be building a permanent building and bringing in an outdoor exercise pool and possibly even an indoor pool to be used in winter months.
The YMCA also has been working with the city to run programs for youth, adults and seniors in the building. This is something the local residents have been asking for the city to accomplish in the past four and a half years as a city. While this kind of thing takes time it is nice to have the programs starting to take shape finally.
To help pay for the new facility, Pierce said that the YMCA will be conducting a capital campaign the end of this summer and into the fall. He said that the group does not plan to increase fees for memberships or programs in the YMCA for Oakley residents, but will increase fees for outside Oakley residents. This is similar to what other organizations do for outside residents in their programs.
The monies collected in the Invest in Youth Campaign will not be used to build the new building. For those who wish to help youth in our town and other local communities, by supporting the YMCA here is what they are asking. Any donation is of course appreciated, but say you can give $100. That donation, according to the YMCA, "teaches youth basic sports skills with the support of a caring coach who emphasizes boundaries/expectations in weekend youth sports programs."
For more information, contact the Delta Family YMCA by stopping by their facility at 3460 Main Street or calling 925-625-9333.
Roni Gehlke's column on life in Oakley appears each week in the Brentwood News.
Distributed by the Contra Costa Times