YMCA Day of Giving

Why Your Gift Today Matters

At the Y, we’re committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other.

Your Day of Giving gift helps us:

Provide safe, nurturing spaces for kids to learn, grow, and thrive after schooland in the summer
Offer programs that support health and well-being for all ages
Ensure cost is never a barrier to participation
Create experiences that foster achievement, relationships, and belonging for everyone who walks through our doors

What Your Gift Can Do

Every gift, of every size, makes a real difference.

$500 - Offsets the cost of membership for a senior on a fixed income this year
$250 - Gives a family access to the Y
during a time of financial hardship
$100 - Supports a month of chronic disease prevention or wellness classes

$50 - Helps a teen join a leadership or mentoring program

How the YMCA Helped Karlene and Her Family

My name is Karlene Antoine, a single mother of four adopted children, three with special needs. Almost three years ago, we moved to Sussex County for a better environment where my children could thrive. Like many parents, I strived to make informed choices as we adjusted to a new community and schools.

Karlene Antoine

Financial Assistance Recipient | YMCA Parent

When Kaitlyn Ghiassi and her husband moved to New Jersey so he could begin an unpaid medical rotation, their young family faced financial strain and uncertainty. Their son Danial, who was 2-years-old, was struggling with some speech delays and needed opportunities to socialize, explore, and grow. Kaitlyn hoped to give him normal childhood experiences during this transition and turned to the YMCA.

With support from the Y’s Financial Assistance Program, Danial enrolled in child care at the West Essex YMCA’s Peanut Shell Early Childhood Learning Center and began to thrive. His social, emotional, and intellectual skills progressed rapidly, and he found a place where he could develop confidence, curiosity, and connection.

Danial Ghiassi

Financial Assistance Recipient | YMCA Kid

My husband Brian passed away in a tragic car accident on Aug. 16, 2020. Brian was the most involved dad there could ever be. Because of our work hours, he was always the one that dropped the girls off at school and picked them up every day. When Brian passed away so suddenly, besides the grief, I was completely lost as far as caring for the girls.