The Santa Barbara Family YMCA is opening its annual fundraising campaign to ensure everyone in Santa Barbara has access to key community programs and resources that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
This year, the Santa Barbara YMCA hopes to raise $200,000. Funds raised will support such programs as childcare, summer camps, sports, and swim lessons.
Every day, the Santa Barbara Family YMCA works to support the people and neighborhoods that need it most by addressing community issues, such as obesity, cost of living, food insecurity, and at-risk youth housing. As the pandemic continues, the Y has become a source of support for many in the community.
“The Y is more than a gym. It is a cause,” said Craig Prentice, executive director. “As a charity, we’re dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and well-being, and giving back and providing support to our neighbors, even as we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Last year, charitable gifts from YMCA donors made it possible for community children to have a COVID-safe place to learn and build confidence after school; for thousands of families to reconnect and grow together; and provide access to education and training to reach their full potential.
To learn more about how to support the YMCA’s cause, contact the Santa Barbara Family YMCA at 805-687-7727 or visit ciymca.org/santabarbara.
Channel Islands YMCA serves 46,000 individuals and provides some $1.3 million in financial assistance to families in need of childcare, YMCA memberships, away and day camps, youth sports, and teen after-school programs. The Channel Islands YMCA has seven branches throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties including Santa Ynez, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Ventura, Camarillo and a Youth and Family Services branch.