WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE.

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1 YMCA Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. You have the power to make these changes for our region. The Y. So Much More we can have a positive impact. A.E. Finley YMCA Alexander Family YMCA Association Programs Branch Cary Family YMCA Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Chatham County YMCAs Durham YMCAs Johnston County YMCA Kraft Family YMCA Kerr Family YMCA & YMCA at The Factory Lee County YMCA YMCA of Garner Camp Kanata Camp Sea Gull & Camp Seafarer Together we can do so much more. The YMCA of the Triangle is a 501(c)3 charity. The YMCA is the nation s youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN WE BUILD PEOPLE The Y. So Much More

2 For more than 150 years, visionary leaders have challenged us to grow, adapt and innovate to meet community needs and to make our area a better place to live. Today, our YMCA continues to be the bedrock of the region. Through the YMCA s Annual Campaign, generous supporters like you provide perennial support for children, teens and adults who need us most. Urban Leadership Garden The YMCA s Urban Leadership Garden reminds us of the bounty made possible when the YMCA sows seeds of support. Just ask Lexi, Leo or Twila. Their success through YMCA programs is our greatest harvest. Visit to learn how the Urban Leadership Garden encourages Y learning students to work hard and provide for others.

3 CARE & NURTURING The Y is so much more than a gym. At the Y, we re committed to offering a helping hand to neighbors navigating life s rough patches. With the help of volunteers, staff and community partners, our YMCA meets urgent needs. Through health and well-being programs, the Y helps people reduce their risk and regain their spirit. By providing care and comfort, the Y inspires regrowth and the desire to help others. Twila Twila found her firm ground at the Y when her life seemed most fragile after a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Twila joined LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, the 12-week health and fitness program designed to put cancer survivors back on track to long-term health and fitness. LIVESTRONG gave Twila the chance to heal outside of a medical setting. She found a supportive environment of fellow survivors and Y staff. Today, she gives back by volunteering with the program. It was the best way I knew to say thanks. Learn more about Twila s LIVESTRONG journey at

4 STRONG ROOTS I had exhausted every other option I could think of for care for Lexi. One afternoon I was driving by the Y and decided to stop and take a chance and ask them. As a single parent, without the Y s financial assistance and great staff, I wouldn t have a safe place for Lexi to be when I am at work. At the Y, we sustain children and support families by cultivating and investing in their potential. Whether it s a structured mentoring program or the carefree fun of a YMCA Summer Day Camp, the Y s deep roots help everyone live better, healthier lives. Kathy & Lexi Last summer, Kathy, a single parent of a child with autism, thought she had exhausted all affordable child care options for her daughter, Lexi. She took a chance and stopped by the YMCA. That chance decision made a world of difference in both their lives. Kathy saw the importance of the Y in Lexi s life firsthand while she was at Y summer camp. Lexi was sitting in the bleachers with a group of kids, and there was this little boy sitting next to her. They were elbowing each other, giggling and laughing, Kathy recalls. I broke down crying. I d never seen her have an interaction like that with a typical child. That s what YMCA youth programs are about. Making sure every kid, regardless of who they are, has the chance to be a kid. Learn more about Lexi s growth through the Y at

5 BEARING FRUIT One of the kids I work with told me that he wanted to be just like me one day, Leo reports. I m a role model now! At our Y, we believe children flourish with some basic growing instructions. Give Them a Place to Belong A child s time away from school can be critical to their future success. The Y offers a safe place after school and during the summer. Through quality services, the Y ensures that our kid s learning and development doesn t end with the sound of the school bell. Teach Character and Life Skills The Y connects kids to caring adult role models whose example and leadership teach critical character values and life skills ranging from how to be a good student, a good sport or a good citizen. Foster Healthy Habits Children reach their full potential when they are healthy in spirit, mind and body. That s why the Y has committed resources to a wide range of youth wellness programs and initiatives from diabetes prevention to youth sports. Leo From his beginning as a young child participating in Y Learning and after school programs to his current role as a counselor, the YMCA gave Leo the opportunity to grow and thrive. There are a lot of people at the Y that have changed my life and helped me out, says Leo. The Y is part of my family. Learn about Leo s path to becoming a Y Learning counselor at

6 Today, our Y s work has taken root throughout the region, providing support for more than 8,000 children and adults. Every day after school 1 in 4 children in the U.S. is left alone and unsupervised.* The YMCA of the Triangle provides scholarships for families who cannot afford after school care. $170 gives a child a week of fun-filled activities and character development at Summer Day Camp $ weeks of group health & fitness programming, sharing and support for an adult cancer survivor THIRD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY (% reading at grade level) 70 % HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES (% who do not graduate on time) 32 % 27 % 12 % The YMCA offers Y Learning, a standardized tutorial program for economically disadvantaged students in grades K 8 in an effort to close this achievement gap. $1,475 one year in our Y Learning academic tutorial program for a child who struggles to reach school system benchmarks *Source: Afterschool Alliance Economically disadvantaged students have lower odds of success at an early age. Economically disadvantaged students are more than twice as likely to not graduate with their peers. Give. And do so much more.