Day of Giving 2022 Celebrates Generosity

On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, the South Shore YMCA joined YMCAs across the country for YMCA Day of Giving, a one-day giving event that encourages Y members and the community to donate to the YMCA Annual Campaign. The South Shore YMCA raised $27,333 to support children and families across the South Shore through Y services.

“We are so grateful to our Y members, donors, community and staff,” said South Shore YMCA President & CEO, Paul Gorman. “Our Day of Giving is an important way for us to come together each year to share the Y’s mission, and it was wonderful to watch the generosity and enthusiasm shine through at our Y locations.”

“Over the past two years of COVID, we survived through donations to continue much-needed Y services to our communities, such as our food pantry, always responding as community needs change.”

For example, in response to an increase in youth drownings across unguarded South Shore ponds and beaches during the pandemic, donations to the South Shore YMCA allowed the organization to expand its life-saving Y swim lesson program to over 4000 children, where nobody is turned away due to inability to pay.

One hundred percent of all donations received during Day of Giving are returned to the South Shore community in the form of Y outreach programs and services for adults, seniors, children, and families, including:

• Fighting food insecurity through the South Shore YMCA Germantown Neighborhood Center Food Pantry and South Shore YMCA Farms.
• Preventing drownings by teaching water safety to more children through life-saving Y Swim Lessons, regardless of ability to pay.
• Helping children reconnect and explore the outdoors by sending more kids to YMCA camps.
• Improving the health of our community through free Medical Wellness programs and membership financial assistance.
• Expanding adaptive and inclusive programming for individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities, so that everyone can truly belong and thrive at the Y.

All nine South Shore YMCA locations participated in the event, including the Emilson YMCA branch in Hanover and the Hale Family YMCA (Quincy) branch, South Shore YMCA Natural Science Center, both South Shore YMCA Early Learning Centers in Hanover and Quincy, the South Shore YMCA Gymnastics Training Center, Laura’s Center for the Arts, Germantown Neighborhood Center, and Camp Burgess and Hayward overnight camps and retreat center in Sandwich.

“The Y gives everyone the opportunities to improve their health and wellbeing, and truly belong,” said South Shore YMCA Chief Development Officer, Mary Orne. “It is never too late to invest in your community by donating to the South Shore Y, where nobody is turned away.”

To learn how you can donate to the Y and make an impact in your own neighborhood, visit ssymca.org/give.