News

Jun 21, 2010

Our Urban Services YMCA helped a group of 25 youth from Fremont and Castlemont High Schools see different aspects of the Raza experience on a five-day trip to Southern California and the US/Mexico border. They toured community, youth-based programs and met with Latino university students.

Accompanied by seven staff and volunteer chaperones, the first stop was Barrios Unidos in Santa Cruz. The youth got to screen print their own "Una Familia" (one family) shirts, designed by US Graffiti/Urban Arts student Jeanette Vargas, a junior at Fremont High School. In Los Angeles, they toured Homeboy Industries/Home Girl Cafe and posed for a photo with Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries.

At CSU Northridge, the UCLA School of Law, and UC San Diego's Multicultural Center, the group learned how Latino university students navigated through the educational system and overcame personal obstacles.

"A lot of students need to go to universities to see the way of life of a college student. Teachers and people tell you to go to college, but you have to actually see it and esperience it to understand what it means for us as Latino students from Oakland to make it to college," said Ricardo Cruz, a 10th grader at Castlemont High School.

A side trip to Tijuana was an emotional experience for some. Juan Segura, an 11th grader at Castlemont High School, explained, "I have documents, while other people, for example my family and friends, do not. This allows me to have certain privileges which others do not have. Going on this trip showed me what my people have to go through at the border. They get harassed and even killed just for trying to find a better life." In Tijuana, students visited Casa YMCA, a facility that serves youth who live in the area or who have tried to cross into the United States.

Read the complete story on the Urban Services Website.

Jun 18, 2010

The Y's Annual Partners Campaign is always a special time of year for us. The campaign raises funds across the Y's 9 branches to continue our work in building healthy kids, families, and communities. "The outpouring of heartfelt giving has been amazing," says Robert Wilkins, CEO of the YMCA of the East Bay. "Our supporters are the most important part of the Y and provide us with the resources to continue our work."

Funds from the campaign pay for things like:

Child care

Camperships

Sports education & equipment

Youth & Government

And more!

This year the Y raised more than $600,000 all due to your commitment to our mission. Partners from foundations and staff to corporations and individuals made up this amazing group of funders. We appreciate your giving spirit and want you to know that we will continue to fulfill our mission.

While the campaign might be winding down for the year, we always need your support. Please give today.

May 24, 2010

Recently, the YMCA of the East Bay received a gift allowing one child to attend camp this summer through our campership program. We always rejoice when a gift comes in, but this one was special. Our special donor included a note saying, "It was either this or a new trailer hitch for my Subaru. I figured a kid needs a week at Y camp more than I need the trailer hitch!" There were tears in all of our eyes after reading his kind words.

Every gift makes a difference to a child in our community. Won't you join our special friends and send a kid to camp?

Send a kid to camp now!

May 20, 2010

As adults, you and I know that our children need to play.  They need to feel safe.  They need to be free from worry and have the opportunity to explore nature and develop values that will help them transition into young adulthood. Our children need to have those precious, formative moments that are the gifts of a carefree week spent in the woods at Camp Ravencliff or Loma Mar.  This summer, our children need the safety and freedom of YMCA overnight camp, but they need your help to get there.

These days, families are struggling to make ends meet.  Parents coping with extended unemployment or reduced hours due to furloughs or budget cuts are finding it difficult to afford rent and basic necessities.  Imagine being one of those parents who now has to tell their child they can’t afford camp this summer.

Despite the troubling economy, people around the Bay Area are rallying to help needy families by sharing their financial resources with neighbor children in need. You too can join this effort. You can sponsor a child through YMCA Kids to Camp and make a real difference in the life of a child in our community. 

The average value of a half-price scholarship for a child attending one week of YMCA of the East Bay overnight camp is $290.  Won’t you help us provide a week of overnight camp for a child in need?  Your support will allow a child to experience the wonders of the outdoors, the thrill of campouts, the fun of bunking with a new best buddy, swimming, sports, art, science and a host of other activities that model the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

For a family with few resources, the gift of camp is a profound and often life-changing opportunity to introduce a child to a whole new world of experiences and possibilities. Please join me in ensuring that a needy child is carefree – and cared for – at YMCA camp this summer.  Your support at any level will be deeply appreciated and have a lasting impact for a youth in need.

Apr 17, 2010