A Few GOOD Questions with YMCA
DO GOOD Week would not be possible without the generosity of our official partners! While the YMCA of Greater Charlotte is a 501c3 themselves, they are one organization that knows the importance of the nonprofit community coming together to support each other in their efforts to make Charlotte stronger.
Hear about it in their own words with this quick Q&A with the YMCA:
Why did the YMCA of Greater Charlotte decide to sponsor DO GOOD Week this year?The Y is proud to partner with SHARE Charlotte and sponsor DO GOOD Week. As a nonprofit rooted in volunteerism, we know firsthand the importance of a community that believes in doing good and working collaboratively towards positive social change. Our Y volunteers, donors and partners power our work, and we want to do our part to keep the good going.
Why is volunteerism important to nonprofit organizations like the Y?
Volunteers are the heart and soul of many nonprofit organizations like the Y. Without their hard work and dedication, we couldn’t do the work we do every day to help kids, families and communities thrive. From coaching youth sports or mentoring a student struggling to read, to raising funds for our annual campaign and leading our boards, volunteers are essential to elevating our mission and carrying out our impact in the community.
What type of volunteer opportunities does the Y offer? What is one thing you would like Charlotte to know about the YMCA that they may not already know?
Many people may know the Y as a gym, or a place to send kids after school or during the summer. But we’re so much more! The Y’s mission is to strengthen spirits, minds and bodies for all in our community – we’ve been doing that for over 140 years. In addition to the transformative work that happens at our 19 branches and two overnight camps, we’re so proud of our community impact programming that takes our reach outside the walls of our YMCAs to close gaps and bridge divides.
The Y partners with local school districts to offer a literacy program for K-3rd grade students who need extra support to read on grade level. We partner with low-income apartment communities with unsupervised pools to offer water safety lessons for all residents. We open several of our YMCAs on nights and weekends to provide teens with a safe space to engage with their friends.
These programs would not be successful without the support of donors and volunteers! We rely on volunteers to help mentor teens, teach kids how to read, and keep our neighbors safe in and around water. More information about volunteering with the Y can be found at ymcacharlotte.org/volunteer.
Why does the YMCA think community-wide campaigns like DO GOOD Week are important to Charlotte?
At the Y, we believe that lasting personal and social change happens when we all work together. Lives are transformed when individuals and organizations take an active role in strengthening our community. DO GOOD Week elevates how important – and how easy! – it is to do good. With countless organizations in need of support, DO GOOD Week creates the perfect opportunity for people to connect with causes they care about and do good through volunteering.