Need:


Response:

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children 14 and under.

The YMCA offers free Learn to Swim lessons to second grade students in Richmond, Petersburg, Chesterfield, Richmond, Hanover and Powhatan Counties. During the summer, we teach aquatics safety in Richmond public swimming pools and to Henrico 5th graders during the school year. More than 2,700 students learned to enjoy water and be safe in and around it last year thanks to gifts made to the YMCA. More than 80,000 individuals learn to swim in fee based programs that benefit from our sliding scale fee structure.

Your gift of $50 helps one child learn to be safe in and around water.

Need:


Response:

Too many local children go to school lacking the basic materials they need to learn.

YMCA Bright Beginnings pairs 2,400 children with caring volunteers to shop for new school clothes and gives them a backpack filled with grade-appropriate school supplies. Volunteers who shop with children are pleased to let these children know that the community cares about them; parents are grateful because their children go to school ready to learn.

Your gift of $150 prepares a child for a bright beginning at school.

Need:


Response:

Organizations that work in isolation can duplicate efforts and waste valuable resources.

The YMCA of Greater Richmond has myriads of partners throughout the greater Richmond region, including all public school systems in our service area, most hospitals and medical facilities, Senior Connections, Goodwill, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Communities in Schools, and arts groups. Our partnerships increase the reach of your contribution to the YMCA and help your tax dollars stretch farther as we provide essential services to the community.

Your gift of $100 helps us welcome any Big Brother or Sister who brings their "little" to the Y.