CHARITABLE GIVING

Why Give to the Benton Harbor - St. Joseph YMCA? 

Because you can make a difference! Right here. Right now. We are committed to making our community stronger through investing in kids, in families, and in the communities we serve. You can help us keep this commitment through a contribution which makes YMCA programs and memberships available to those in need. Your tax-deductible donation stays in your community and your YMCA.

The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign: Your Donation Can Change a Life

We believe that every child deserves the experience of YMCA programs, regardless of the financial difficulties their family might be facing. YMCA programs such as school-age child care, summer camp, swim lessons, youth sports and teen leadership programs do more than teach skills. They also teach confidence. They teach responsibility. They teach young people to be strong in spirit, mind, and body.

Donations to the Strong Kids Campaign allow us to provide memberships and programs to children and families who cannot afford YMCA services:

• $1,000+ will sponsor nine Youth Memberships.
• $500–$999 will sponsor a single parent family with a Y Membership.
• $250–$499 will sponsor 3 to 5 children for a month of YMCA Preschool.
• $125–$249 will sponsor 1 to 2 Youth Memberships.
• $50–$124 will sponsor 1 to 2 children for a week of YMCA Day Camp.
• $25–$49 will help sponsor a child for a month of YMCA School Age Child Care.

With Your Gift, You Can . . .

 Invest in a child who is
          just learning to swim,
  shoot basketball,
        or make new friends! 

                 Grant a young teen the 
          opportunity to learn leadership skills
                 and build relationships based
            on character development!

             Bestow peace of mind to a
    family by providing access to
          safe and supportive activities!

      Share the YMCA with others who
 can benefit from activities which
          build a healthy spirit, mind & body!

By contributing to the annual YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, you are making a difference in the life of a child today, and in our community for tomorrow. Every gift is deeply appreciated!

  Strong Kids Campaign Brochure & Pledge Form  

The YMCA Horizon Club:  Planning For the Future of Our Community

The Horizon Club is a special group of men and women who believe in the mission of the YMCA and who want to ensure that it is continued in our community for future generations. Horizon symbolizes looking up and out, pointing towards the future, and preparing for the challenges and community needs that lie on the horizon.

To become a member of the Horizon Club, you can include the YMCA in your estate plans or make an outright gift to the Endowment Fund. You can direct that your gift be used for general purposes or limited to specific activities or projects. Most gifts will reduce income, estate and inheritance taxes.

Ways to give include . . .

• Making an outright gift of money, land, stock, insurance, copyrights, oil rights, letter stock, restricted stock or an undivided fractional interest.
• Bequeathing either a percentage, a fixed amount, or a contingent amount of your estate to the Endowment Fund through your will.
• Naming the Endowment Fund as a primary or secondary beneficiary of a new or existing insurance policy.
• Creating a Charitable Remainder Unitrust or an Annuity Trust, a Pooled Life Income Agreement, a Charitable Gift Annuity, a Short-Term Trust, a Life Estate or a bank deposit that eventually directs all or a portion of the principal to the Endowment Fund.

Many people believe that charitable bequests and other types of planned giving come only from the wealthy. It isn't true. Many contributors to the YMCA Family Center have been rich only in terms of what really matters: their commitment and caring.

Look towards the horizon. If you are interested in developing the spirit, mind, and body of future generations, please contact Mike Ahern, Executive Director, at 269-428-YMCA or .