The YMCA has a mission of helping people reach their God-given potential in spirit, mind and body. We also strive to turn no one away due to an inability to pay a program or membership fee. Our goal is to serve as many people in the community as possible that can benefit from our services. We can't do that without your help.

Read on to learn more about our Partner With Youth Campaign and What Your Dollars Can Do . Think your dollars don't make a difference? You'll hear from one of our scholarship recipients and learn the impact the Y has had on her life. Want to learn more about how you can give now and the various levels of giving available? Read on!

What is the Partner With Youth Campaign?

With your support, the annual YMCA Partner With Youth Campaign provides scholarship funds for deserving youth, families and seniors. By supporting the Partner With Youth Campaign, you ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances or ability to pay, can benefit from YMCA programs and services.

The Partner With Youth Campaign funds such important programs as child care, day and overnight camp, membership, teen leadership programs, adult literacy, swim lessons, and senior programs.

In 2006, over 16,892 individuals will participate at the YMCA through the Open Doors Scholarship Program, valued at over $3.1 million. The YMCA strives to turn no one away due to inability to pay. That is why each gift makes a difference in helping people reach their God-given potential in spirit, mind and body.

Please consider joining our efforts to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities through a gift to the YMCA Partner With Youth Campaign.

If you would like to make a donation to the YMCA, please contact Joan Marie Belnap via email, phone 336-777-6225 or mail at
Joan Marie Belnap
VP/Chief Financial Development Officer
YMCA of Northwest North Carolina
The Winston Tower
301 N. Main Street
Suite 1900
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

What Can My Dollars Do?

$2,500: Opens up a world of opportunities for a child by providing a year of YMCA membership, a memorable summer camp experience and quality before & after school care throughout the school year.

$1,600: Offers a child quality after-school care for an entire school year. Offers her parents, peace of mind.

$1,000: Will send four high school students to the YMCA Youth & Government Program, giving them advanced leadership skills training and opportunities to experience our government in action.

$912: Makes is possible for a whole family to enjoy YMCA membership and services for an entire year.

$570: Offers a child a lifetime memory of a week spent at Camp Hanes overnight camp.

$360: Provides a senior with a YMCA membership for a full year.

$250: Allows one teen the opportunity to join the Hispanic Achievers Mentoring Program, a great learning experience and chance to network with business leaders in our community.

$180: Provides a youth with a full YMCA membership for an entire year.

$125: Offers a child the opportunity to enjoy one full week of YMCA Summer Day Camp.

$75: Will purchase instructional materials that enable adults to improve their reading and English communication skills through our Community Outreach Services Literacy Initiative and Motheread/Fatheread programs.

$30: Enables a child or adult to learn to swim with one session of swim lessons.

What Impact Can I Have?

Think your dollars don't make a difference in someone's life? This Partner With Youth scholarship recipient, and now donor, was kind enough to share her story:

"I view myself as part of the Y. Do I work there? No, but I work on myself when I'm there...spiritually, mentally and physically.

You see, the YMCA has taught me lessons over the years as a child, an adult, a parent and yes, even as a grandparent. I think back to my first swimming lesson and first real memory of the YMCA; I was 5 years old. I can almost feel the cool water wrinkling the skin on my toes; I can smell the chlorine in the pool and feel the butterflies in my stomach as I peer into the water below. I can still see the smile on my mom's face the first time I jumped off the side of the pool all by myself. It was swimming lessons that gave me the confidence to dive headfirst into summer camp at Camp Hanes. I was 12 years old. The beautiful mountains, the lakes...but most of all the people, made my first "away from home" experience still feel like home.

During some rocky teenage years, the YMCA was a constant source of comfort and familiarity. As an adult, it was a social outlet and physical necessity as I vowed to exercise and eat healthier. At the age of 31, I became a parent. Suddenly, all the things I had experienced at the YMCA as a child now represented new experiences that I could share and relive through my family. Cheerleading camps, soccer games, Family Fun Nights...all very special.

Today, I am 65 years young and the YMCA means as much now as it did then. However, I can appreciate it so much more. You see, my family couldn't afford swimming lessons or summer camp, and I couldn't afford a Y membership in my early adult years. Without the help and support of the YMCA Partner With Youth scholarships, I would be without these very precious life experiences and memories. Today, I am able to give back to the YMCA, both financially and as a volunteer with the Adult Literacy Initiative. I can continue to witness and participate in these wonderful life experiences time and time again with many people.

This afternoon, I experienced the most precious of all my memories so far. My 5 year old granddaughter standing on the side of the pool at the YMCA, flashing me a wide grin and jumping into the water with all the confidence in the world. To our Partner With Youth donors, who helped create that memory for me, I can't say thank you enough.

With your help, the YMCA can continue to turn no one away due to an inability to pay. When a YMCA volunteer contacts you, please say yes. It truly can make a difference in so many lives.

Have a story to share? Click here to tell us your experience.

How Can I Give?

There are numerous ways you can give to the YMCA.

1. Give Now. You may donate funds now by contacting: Joan Marie Belnap, VP/Chief Financial Development Officer
YMCA of Northwest North Carolina
The Winston Tower
301 N. Main Street
Suite 1900
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
jmbelnap@ymcanwnc.org
336-777-8055, 225

2. Give Later. You may designate funds through our YMCA Endowment Fund. Click here to learn more about our YMCA Endowment Fund and membership in the YMCA Heritage Club.

3. Volunteer. Our YMCAs are always in need of volunteers and there are a variety of programs and services that could use your help! Click here to learn more about our volunteer opportunities.

Can I Designate My Funds?

Yes, you may designate your funds for a specific YMCA branch or to a specific program. If funds are not designated to a specific location or program they will be utilized in the areas identified with the greatest need.

What are the Levels of Giving?

Donations are appreciated and accepted at any level. Various dollar amounts are recognized as follows:

$1-$100 Donor

$100 Century Club

$250 Youth Sponsor

$500 Patron Sponsor

$1,000 Chairman's Roundtable - Bronze Level

$2,500 Chairman's Roundtable - Silver Level

$5,000 Chairman's Roundtable - Gold Level

$10,000 Benefactor

WAYS TO GIVE