Editor, The Spotlight:
To the people in our community who contributed to the Bethlehem YMCA’s Reach Out For Youth fund raising campaign, we say thank you. The Y raised more than $107,000 and every penny will be used to improve the lives of thousands of people in need right here in Bethlehem.
The Y is much more than a gym. It has become a vital part of our community because it provides charitable support for individuals, families, and children who could not otherwise afford the Y’s programs and opportunities. More than 13 percent of people in Bethlehem make less than $25,000 per year. At the Y, no one is ever turned away for an inability to pay.
Thanks to Reach Out For Youth scholarships, young children can go to summer camp. People with physical disabilities can work out and improve their quality of life. People can get child care while they look for a job. And, through our Circle of Champs program, we help children whose lives have been touched by a life-threatening illness and provide much-needed support to their families. And that’s just a few examples.
So many people in Bethlehem contributed to Reach Out For Youth, many local businesses also contributed and provided support for our efforts. To every one of them, we say thank you. More importantly, the people in our community who you have helped, say thank you because you have made their lives better.
Bethlehem YMCA Board of Advisors Chairman Peter Gilles and Bethlehem YMCA Reach Out for Youth Campaign Co-Chairs Bill Marinello and Helen Adams-Keane
