Volunteers Help Local YMCAs
On May 1, a group of CDW volunteers responded to our call for help to organize a treasure hunt for the North Lawndale Head Start and Preschool Child Care kids. Leslie Hampton, Child Care Director, commented that their energy, enthusiasm and creativity made the activity very special. The children would love to have them come back any time to volunteer.

On May 8, a group of Deloitte volunteers assisted with the Greater Chicago Food Depository “Produce Day” in conjunction with the YMCA Community School program at Libby Elementary School. Nicole York, Community School Resource Specialist, reported that the volunteers worked very hard unloading the truck and organizing and distributing food items to several hundred Washington Park residents served by this program.

For more information about corporate and group volunteer service projects, please contact Linda Dean, Director of Volunteerism.

___________________________________________________________________________

Harris Bank Gives Back to the YMCA

On June 11, Harris Bank employees visited the Buehler YMCA as part of their “Day of Giving” program, an opportunity to volunteer their time at community-minded organizations like the YMCA. Almost 40 volunteers spent the day painting the Cyber Fitness Room and sprucing up the center’s outdoor sports field.

For more information, please contact Mark Purcell, Operations Director.

___________________________________________________________________________

Even the Smallest Donations Make a Difference

Sometimes it just feels good to help others in need. The children who visit the Kids Zone at the Greater LaGrange YMCA each week learned that first hand. Staff in the Kids Zone placed a container in the room and for two weeks children brought in their change and even some dollar bills. Every child who made a donation had his or her name entered into a drawing. Twenty lucky kids were invited to attend a party where they created delicious ice cream sundaes and then played several games of bingo for prizes. Because of the $85 raised in the Kids Zone, a fellow child was able to attend a YMCA camp this summer.

For more information, please contact Bridgette Letizia, Associate Executive Director.

___________________________________________________________________________

Special Olympians Take Home Medals

The Greater LaGrange YMCA Special Olympians had great success at the State Finals at Illinois State University June 12-14. Nine swimmers qualified to compete in the finals. These nine swimmers swam in 26 races, earning 11 gold medals, two silver medals, five bronze medals, four fourth-place medals and four fifth-place medals. The big accomplishment was that no one finished below fifth place, and even bigger, no one was disqualified. Congratulations to all of the Greater LaGrange Special Olympians and a special thanks to their coaches Sheri DeCarlo and Carolyn Gentry.

For more information, please contact Debbie Strus, Program Director.

___________________________________________________________________________

YMCA Lobbies Elected Officials for Support of Human Service Programs
The YMCA has been one of many organizations voicing its concerns about the state budget crisis. In recent weeks, we have attended rallies to encourage our elected officials to resolve the budget impasse and properly fund human service programs that help so many families across the Chicagoland area.

For more information, please contact Erskine Cunningham, Vice President of Human Services.

___________________________________________________________________________

National Trails Day

On June 6, recognized as National Trails Day, five boys from the McCormick Tribune YMCA Teen Reach program volunteered at a service project coordinated by the Big City Mountaineers program and REI Outfitters. The boys spent the morning at Busse Woods, located in the northwest suburbs, helping restore trails by cleaning up trash and clearing out the garlic mustard seed weed that had been killing off other plant species around it.

For more information, please contact Nathan Pugh, Teen Reach Aide.

___________________________________________________________________________

American Marketing Association Recognizes Anne Bergquist as National Nonprofit Marketer of the Year

Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing, Anne Bergquist, will receive the American Marketing Association’s (AMA) 2009 National Nonprofit Marketer of the Year Award for Special Marketing Initiatives. This well-deserved, national recognition speaks to Anne’s strategic marketing and brand management discipline she has brought to the YMCA of Metro Chicago in her seven-year tenure -- as this award is given to an individual for their career’s body of work, not just for the past year. The award will be presented to Anne at the AMA’s national conference in July. Last year’s recipient was Jay Aldous, Chief Marketing/Communications Officer for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. This year, the AMA received hundreds of applications, making Anne’s competition quite stiff.

The AMA and its Foundation created the National Non-Profit Marketer of the Year Awards Program by forming a coalition of thought leaders in the field of nonprofit marketing. The award was developed to increase awareness of and elevate the profession of Nonprofit Marketing as the industry continues to evolve.

For more information, please contact Anne Bergquist, Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing.

___________________________________________________________________________

Austin wins Softball Tournament

In the resident softball tournament, the Austin YMCA beat the Lawson House YMCA in the championship game. The final score was 11-7.

___________________________________________________________________________