Thursday, April 17, 2025
Hello Friends,
Happy Easter! One of the most important holy days of the Christian faith, Easter celebrates hope and salvation and provides the ultimate example of God's love for us. The YMCA was founded in faith in 1844 and has since grown to become a symbol of hope for all - regardless of creed. Enjoy this special time of the year, especially Easter Sunday this weekend. May you and your family enjoy all the blessings this season brings. May it also serve as a reminder of the power of renewal and the joy of being with loved ones. It's a time to reflect on the many gifts we have and to express gratitude for the support of our communities.
April is such an important time as it marks Child Abuse Prevention Month, during which the Tampa Y actively engages in Five Days of Action. This dedicated week, which runs from April 21 to 25, seeks to heighten awareness and mobilize adults to safeguard children against sexual abuse. At the YMCA, safeguarding children stands as the very bedrock of our cause. We have an unwavering commitment to help our kids thrive. Through active participation in this crucial initiative and the ongoing implementation of abuse prevention strategies, the YMCA firmly pledges to uphold the safety and well-being of every child within our community. The focus is on educating adults, so we can better protect the young ones who depend on us for guidance and care.
April is also the month when we wrap up the Community Phase of our Annual Campaign. I am happy to report, as of April 15, we have raised over $1,782,175 or 86% of our campaign goal. The generosity of our community enables our life-changing work to take place. Additionally, our centers, like the Spurlino Y will host fun-filled events during the last week of the campaign. Please stop by your YMCA to participate in the different activities during this special week. The events will help celebrate the power of our shared mission and the impact we can have together as a community.
A reminder that as we get closer to summer break, our amazing and diligent staff is busy gearing up for summer day camp. We continue to enhance programming to create lifelong memories for local youth. However, we are also aware that many parents are unable to afford this engaging and productive avenue of keeping children busy and active during the summer months. This is where you, our community, can lend a hand. You can donate to Send a Kid to Camp and give the gift of lifelong friendships and fun to our deserving local youth. Your generosity ensures every child has the chance to grow, learn and create lasting memories in a supportive environment. You can help us achieve our strategic priority to prepare youth for success. Thank you in advance for your kind support. We are unable to do this meaningful work without your generosity!
With appreciation,
Matt Mitchell
President & CEO
813.224.9622