YMCA December Newsletter

YMCA of the Capital Area Newsletter - Y Connection December 2021

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

On Wednesday, November 10 we celebrated the expansion of our community partnerships to help expand our impact to provide access to healthy food in North Baton Rouge. We would like to thank our partners for working with us to address high rates of chronic diseases that are associated with food insecurity. We celebrated the contributions of ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, HealthyBR/Geaux Get Healthy, and local community partners to help strengthen our community.

ANGEL TREE

This year will be our 18th year providing children with Christmas gifts through Angel Tree!

If you would like to help a child in need this Christmas, stop by your local Y and get an Angel to purchase a gift for. Bring the gift unwrapped back to any location by December 10 and we will take care of the rest.

If angels have been adopted and you would still like to help, please consider donating candy, wrapping paper, family games, blankets or stuffed animals.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Five-S Group, LSU FIJI and SME

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Our Y is forever grateful to the Capital Area United Way for their support of the Y’s Early Childhood Education Capital Project from the 2021 Project Grant Opportunity. We’ll be sharing the progress of the renovation with the community and Capital Area United Way.

HELPING FUTURE GENERATIONS THRIVE

The Y’s Endowment Committee, chaired by Rickey Heroman, hosted a Cornerstone Society Social event on Nov. 16, 2021, to celebrate support of the YMCA’s endowment. The event took place at the Baton Rouge Country Club to honor Cornerstone Society members who share a commitment to the long-term finances and success of the Y and the belief that the Y’s life-changing programs continue to be offered to future generations. Committed supporters were also invited to learn more about the Society and the community of caring people coming together to meet the needs of others for lifetimes beyond their own. To learn more about the Cornerstone Society click HERE.

Or download the brochure HERE.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE AND PRODUCE GIVEAWAY

This Thanksgiving, the Y and The Executive Center held a Thanksgiving food drive for The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and collected 1,010.4 pounds of food! We also distributed 200 boxes of seasonal produce and healthy recipes from our Registered Dietitian, Sarah Broekhoven, during our Thanksgiving Produce Giveaway.

YEAR-END GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

Support a great cause and leverage the special tax provision extended in 2021. The Disaster Tax Relief Act allows those who don’t itemize their deductions a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made during 2021 to qualifying charities, and married couples filing jointly are allowed a deduction of up to $600. (For informational purposes only, please consult your own tax advisor regarding tax deductions.) Visit HERE to learn more about the impact of a year-end gift. Visit HERE to learn more about the impact of a year-end gift.

HOLIDAY HOURS

MERRY FITNESS

Join us on December 18, for Tennis with Santa! Santa will be at the Americana YMCA tennis courts for pictures, and while you're there, learn tennis fundamentals with Head Elf, Chase Rigdon. Junior Tennis is where players learn teamwork, communication skills and respect. No experience required for this event. Players are responsible for bringing a racquet, a water bottle and wearing close toed shoes.

WHEN: December 18

TIME: 10am until 12pm

AGES 4-16

COST: $5 members, $10 program participants

Visit ymcabr.org for more information.

WE STRIVE FOR 5

We strive to be the best that we can be. Give us your feedback and leave a review on Google reviews, and help us strive for 5. Your voice is important to us!

Click the location below to leave a review:

A. C. Lewis YMCA

Americana YMCA

C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA

Charles W. Lamar YMCA

Dow Westside YMCA

ExxonMobil YMCA

Paula G. Manship YMCA