The Santa Barbara Family YMCA has started its Annual Fundraising Campaign, which helps ensure everyone in southern Santa Barbara County has access to vital community programs and resources that support youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, and struggling families.
The devastating health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the importance of the YMCA as a community anchor, and the Santa Barbara Family YMCA continues to support affected people and neighborhoods.
“The Santa Barbara YMCA has remained a pillar of support for many of the hardest hit in the community during the pandemic. We were one of the first organizations to offer essential childcare and wellness support in the community during lockdown,” said Craig Prentice, executive director of the Santa Barbara YMCA.
As one of the sectors allowed to operate, the Y remained open throughout the stay-at-home order. The Y moved to outdoor and virtual fitness offerings to continue offering wellness for many in the community. The Y kept its doors open to school district partners and other local providers to ensure the physical, emotional, and educational wellbeing of community members.
Through it all, annual revenues at the Y have plummeted over the past year. The Santa Barbara Y hopes the fundraising campaign will help raise enough funds to ensure that community programs and services can continue.
This year, the Santa Barbara Family YMCA hopes to raise $200,000, which will support essential worker childcare, YMCA licensed preschool, school-age afterschool care, COVID-19 safe health and wellness activities, and ongoing YMCA initiatives like Third Grade Learn to Swim.
For more information, or to donate, contact Prentice at 805-687-7727, or visit www.ciymca.org/donate.