The Y’s Giving Tree project has become a wonderful year-end tradition around here, engaging our members, volunteers, donors and corporate partners in fulfilling the Christmas wish lists of children in our community whose families are struggling to make ends meet. This year, a whopping 810 kids in our community will wake up to a Christmas full of giddy anticipation, able to unwrap their presents and experience the joy that so many kids take for granted.
Beyond receiving awesome presents, they will also receive something that is far more valuable than any single gift. These children will experience that inner sense of being well-cared for and prized, as all children should be, and their parents will know they are a part of a community of generous and spirited souls who have each other's backs.
That's not just Christmas. That's community and that's the Y.
Impressively, more than 3,200 gifts were donated (valued at more than $50,000), including action figures, educational toys, books, puzzles, Legos, winter coats, shoes, dolls, bikes, balls, and a whole lot more! Children and families benefiting from this overwhelming display of generosity come from the Y’s Head Start, before & after school enrichment, preschool, community schools and mentoring programs. Losing no opportunity to exhibit the Y’s core values, youth from our community schools and before & after school enrichment programs contributed to help other children by making holiday cards to accompany the gifts that Y volunteers came out to help wrap at several Y centers.
Thanks are owed to so many, including all of the wonderful Y members and associates who donated, volunteered and help facilitate, along with these generous corporate partners:
- Adler Display
- Baltimore County Bar Association
- Horseshoe Casino
- JC Penny in White Marsh
- M&T Bank
- Remax
- Revere Bank
- Rosen, Sapperstein & Friedlander, LLC
- SC&H Group
Organizing this massive logistical operation is our very own Santa Claus, Eric Somerville, assisted by Sasha Batts and so many other able elves. As gratifying as all this is, it's remarkable to also note that the Y Giving Tree project also includes financial contributions to the Y Open Doors fund, an effort which continues as we speak.
Thanks to all who remind us again and again that we are immensely blessed by the generous spirit of a kind and caring community.
Best wishes for a happy, safe and meaningful holiday season.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland