April 8, 2020
   

Since your Y closed its doors on March 12, we've faced challenges never seen before and overcome multiple obstacles to meet our mission. Right now, our primary focus is to keep doing what our Y has succeeded in doing for 133 years: evolving to meet the community's needs.

In the past two weeks, the Eugene Family YMCA has reconfigured afterschool youth development programs to offer free child care for first responders, medical professionals and other essential workers; pivoted from traditional in-person exercise classes to online fitness to keep people physically active and address isolation; and spent countless hours in virtual meetings to comb through fiscal data, pending legislation and work-from-home options for Y staff, whose jobs centered around the 2055 Patterson Street facility.

Longtime Y member
Don Weaver

This kind of work for the community is only possible with donor support.  As a nonprofit, the Eugene Family YMCA uses its revenue from memberships and youth development programs to support its services. Without that revenue now that our doors are closed, the Y needs extra help from members and donors to fulfill the community's critical needs.

That's exactly what  Don and Ulli Weaver, Jim Northrop and the YMCA Board of Directors have offered with their $25,000 STAND WITH YOUR Y matching gift.  Every donation up to $25,000 in April will be matched dollar for dollar! 

"I do not want the current social conditions to jeopardize the present and future operation of our Y," said longtime Y member and supporter Don Weaver. "I am fortunate to be able to provide additional financial support without receiving my usual Y services--- my tennis routine in particular. I hope to ensure the long-term success of this indispensable nonprofit so that operations are not affected when the doors re-open."

We understand that many in our community have lost their jobs or are struggling with a reduction in income. We would never ask for support from anyone not in a financial position to securely offer it. In fact, for those families and individuals who plan to reduce their budgets long-term to survive this unprecedented time, your Y will continue to offer financial assistance for memberships and child care once traditional services begin again.

For those in a position to help, there are several ways to STAND WITH YOUR Y
during this crisis and have gifts doubled:
  • Make a one-time or recurring donation to the STAND WITH YOUR Y campaign online at eugeneymca.org/donate
     
  • Consider donating all or part of yo ur federal stimulus dollars.
     
  • Contact your Y's Chief Development Officer, Danielle Uhlhorn, a danielle@eugeneymca.org to learn how to donate a gift of stock.
Thank you so much for STANDING WITH YOUR Y during this pivotal moment in history.
Words From Your Y Family: STAND WITH YOUR Y
"For years my kids and I have sporadically relied upon the Y for exercise and stress reduction. After a long lapse, I was just assembling back a workout routine, with some degree of success, before the Covid Closure, ouch," says Y member Cin Chubb. "Though I have lost my sources of income due to this pandemic, I am going to continue my membership payment through the Y's closure. 
As you have written, we are a community, all in this together."



"I'm more than happy to continue my membership, especially knowing how much the Y is doing for our community.  I'm really missing my Y time and I can't wait to see everyone soon!" 
--- Y member Mike McCann (and Izzie)
Need For a Flagship Y More Important Than Ever
Our capital campaign for a new Y continues alongside our efforts to meet the community's needs in response to the global pandemic and identify emergency funding that allows us to continue delivering our mission to Lane County during the closure.

Campaign Chair Sabrina Parsons with Y supporter Johan and Emel Mehlum
and their family at February's
Y in the Desert event 

There can be no question that this pandemic has impacted the YMCA in significant ways. This reality is inescapable. However, the authentic need for the YMCA in our community and the Y's genuine determination to evolve and meet community needs has rarely been demonstrated with such clarity. For years we have promoted the need for the new YMCA and its expanded impact as being driven by much more than a need for a new facility; today, we are demonstrating to our community that when they support us WE RISE TO THE OCCASION in remarkable ways. This will leave a legacy that will positively impact the capital campaign in meaningful ways.

In fact, coronavirus has made it even more apparent that a larger facility, with updated technology, better parking, and more open space would be a huge benefit to the Y's response for the community during a crisis; because  when a crisis impacts our community, the YMCA is sought out as a key resource and essential service provider.
New Y Cabinet leaders and staff at the new Y site: Bob Ballin, Sabrina Parsons, Chip Radebaugh, Danielle Uhlhorn, Brian Steffen

Work continues behind the scenes to finalize the design of the new Y, update project costs and complete construction documents. We are working with major donors to complete the major gifts portion of the campaign by year-end and prepare for the community phase of the campaign. In addition to the major gifts campaign, we continue our work during closure to secure New Markets Tax Credits and pursue potential new federal funding available to support infrastructure projects throughout the country.
A Note From Your Y Staff Member Holly
"On my drive to work today I thought about how I am doing. I am daily in awe of my youth development team who are caring for the children of healthcare, emergency and essential workers. They show up to their programs providing a safe, healthy and enthusiastic environment. My family is doing our best: My husband Corey is working from home and making amazing dinners every night; my sons Jackson and Cooper are staying connected with friends through Fortnight, bike rides and trampoline craziness; and the one that brings tears to my eyes is JJ, a senior. 
I am trying to be strong for my families --- my family at home, my Y family and the community." 
--- Love, Holly Kriz-Anderson
Please Take Action in Support of Ys and Other Nonprofits
Thank you for advocating for YMCAs as Congress deliberated the federal stimulus package, called the CARES Act.  The final version of the law included important provisions for nonprofits, but more is needed as these organizations respond to the crisis.

In the next economic stimulus bill, Congress needs to expressly provide $60 billion for nonprofits; expand the Universal Charitable Deduction; and provide additional emergency funding to help states support nonprofits.

Thank you for reaching out to your member of Congress TODAY! 

Looking for Y Friendly Family Fun?
Your Y understands that your kiddos have just as much energy and creativity as ever! Click HERE
 to check out your Y's Youth Development Enrichment Video playlist on our YouTube channel! 

Here, you will find ideas for games and crafts, and will have access to read-aloud story time from your Y staff.
These videos are designed to provide engaging entertainment for the whole family, utilizing materials you likely already have at home! 
New Online Fitness Classes Help You Change Up Your Routine
Your Y is so grateful for technology and the ability for our awesome fitness instructors to lead you in a variety of exercise classes right from your own home.

Please subscribe  to the   Eugene Family YMCA's YouTube channel so you don't miss the most recent workouts!
 
Instructor Colleen is ready to fire up your core in a  Mat Based Pilates workout.
 
Instructor Amber L. is excited to lead you through two yoga exercises.  Amber's Yoga Based Warm Up is sure to get you loosened up and ready for your day. Then, find your inner strength through  Yoga Flow .
 
Explore these and other awesome workout videos to stay healthy and connected!
Resources in the Community
  • Local distilleries offer hand sanitizer:  
  • The Eugene Public library has online books, audiobooks, newspapers and other resources.
     
  • For a complete list of student meal sites in Lane County click HERE.
Help Us Understand the Child Care Need
With the recent news that schools are closed for the remainder of this school year, we know many essential workers and their families need access to child care. In order to help the state plan for an adequate supply of emergency child care for our essential workers, please complete this survey

Completing the survey does not automatically sign you up for child care. Families who need to access emergency child care should contact 211 or text the word children or niƱos to 89211.

Working from Home? Your Y's Own Capital Campaign Manager Tania Offers Sage Advice

Your Y's own Capital Campaign Manager Tania Wiles offers tips for those who are working from home, juggling parent and remote-work duties, and  needing a good chuckle about all the advice we are getting for how to "balance" it all (is it even possible?).

Read her tips HERE .

Your Y in the News
Multiple media outlets reported on our partnership with school districts and the city to expand child care services to include essential workers in addition to first responders and medical professionals.

Thursday / April 2, 2020 / (KEZI)
YMCA HELPS ESSENTIAL WORKERS

Wednesday / April 1, 2020 / (Register-Guard)

Wednesday / April 1, 2020 / (KLCC)

Community Rec Magazine featured some tips  from our Development and Communications staff. 

The same magazine  featured  our daily communication just after closing our doors on March 12.

(For a complete list of all Eugene Family YMCA news, please click HERE.)
We Will Get Through this Together
Brian Steffen's grandparents Erma
and Fred
Y CEO Brian Steffen writes about his grandparents in 1941 participating in national efforts to maintain airplanes used in the war.

"The spirit of doing something bigger than just looking out for yourself and of participating in a shared sacrifice always impacted them in a special way," he writes for the Register-Guard's monthly  BlueChip magazine. Brian relates that experience to our response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Together we will get through this," he writes. "In the years to come, we will look back and feel gratitude for the shared sacrifices this time brought to our lives. We will have forged new friendships and created innovative new collaborations. We will be better than we were before, because we were challenged like never before."

I STAND WITH MY Y on Facebook!
Are you a regular on social media? Check out our new "I STAND WITH MY Y" Facebook frames. 

Show your support and your love for your Y Family!