YMCA Ready to Award Record Amount of Financial Aid

Since their efforts began at the end of February, more than 25 local companies, dozens of volunteers, and hundreds of individual donors raised $753,262— a record amount — for the YMCA of Greenville Open Doors Community Support campaign, the Y’s financial assistance program. This is a 14 percent increase over the 2011 campaign and 102 percent of the goal that was set for the campaign.

“We are so grateful for the hard work of our community partners, volunteers, and donors for the generosity they’ve showed,” said Lauren Sigmon, YMCA of Greenville director of annual giving and grants. “Because of everyone’s contribution, Y memberships and all of our child care, after school, and youth sports programs are within reach of families who may be struggling financially.” 

Eric Blassingame is a single father who sends his daughter to the YMCA Judson Community Center with help from Open Doors funding. “I take the Open Doors scholarship with pride,” Blassingame said. “Going to Judson has brought my daughter out of her shyness, and she is a respectful young lady.”

Open Doors Community Support Campaign Co-Chair Carol Clement said Eric Blassingame’s story is just one of thousands that illustrate how Y programs impact the lives of people across Greenville County.  “Friends of the Y generously opened their pocketbooks because they know how important the Y can be to a family,” Clement said.

Every year, funds are raised for the sole purpose of helping those who otherwise cannot afford YMCA membership or program fees.

The YMCA of Greenville serves 60,000 people annually through programming including after school, residential camp at Y Camp Greenville on Standingstone Mountain, and summer day camp at each branch, youth and adult sports, health and wellness, and aquatics. 

Open Doors By The Numbers

While every year is unique, based on funding from past years, and the increase in funding for 2012, we expect this year’s Open Doors fund to assist more than 2,500 families. Some highlights:

• Help families live a healthier lifestyle by providing 350 memberships to the Caine Halter Family Y.
• Let 121 kids play youth sports at the Eastside Family Y.
• Help 175 kids experience a week of adventure at summer camp at Y Camp Greenville.
• Give 80 kids in Travelers Rest homework help and a safe place to be after school at the George I. Theisen Family Y.
• Help 13 kids afford quality preschool at the YMCA Judson Community Center.
• Provide 38 high school students with scholarships in the Youth in Government program.
• Provide 45 teens scholarships for the FYI teen center.
• Help families in the Golden Strip live healthier lifestyles by providing 372 memberships to the GHS Family Y.