While most nonprofit organizations struggle through poor
economic times, the YMCA of San Benito County doesn’t expect a
drop-off in donations for this year’s Community Support
Campaign.
While most nonprofit organizations struggle through poor economic times, the YMCA of San Benito County doesn’t expect a drop-off in donations for this year’s Community Support Campaign.
Lou Bettencourt, executive director of the local YMCA, said he hopes the organization can actually improve on its 2002 total of more than $60,000 in donations.
“Organizations like ours and United Way, that have been around, continue to do well in these hard times,” Bettencourt said.
This year’s Community Support Campaign – the third for the local YMCA and its trademark fundraiser – runs through March 18. Bettencourt said about 50 volunteers will be involved in the effort.
“They are the core of our operation,” he said. “We couldn’t exist without the hard work of our volunteers.”
The YMCA of San Benito County provides community service programs and scholarships for youth and families. The local organization is one of 43 in the Bay Area.
Bettencourt said the YMCA set two goals for this campaign – to “tell the YMCA story” and to raise money that all stays local. He added that many people still don’t know about the local YMCA.
“We’re here in San Benito County,” he said.
The volunteers are not professional fundraisers, he said. “They’re looking to share their feelings and connections to the YMCA.”
The campaign is primarily targeting individuals, not businesses, Bettencourt said. “But businesses have always been very generous to us.”
After the fundraiser’s conclusion March 18, the YMCA will hold a “victory celebration” dinner.
“We’ll do a little dinner, pull in the last pledges and come up with a grand total,” Bettencourt said.
For more information, call the YMCA at 637-8600.
