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Spotlight Family Recipients - Every Donation DOES Count!
Your donations to the YMCA of Greater Dayton help people and families in your neighborhood. Here are just a few Y spotlight members that your Strong Kids donation helps support, right here in the Miami Valley!
Peace of Mind to Area Families
The Daniels Family joined the YMCA three years ago and happily shared their story. “We are hardworking parents, just like the majority of the families out there today,” states Carmela, mother of two. “ We initially needed child care for our son, Mekhi, then added to our family last year with the birth of our daughter, Morgan. The Y was the perfect answer
for us - a stable, safe and loving environment to nurture our children.
The teachers provide an education, along with a caring environment. They are essentially the secondary caregivers for our kids, while we work during the day to provide for our family.
Financially, the scholarship allows us to continue to work and care for our kids, we couldn’t afford the child care otherwise. We do our best to attend all the Y events and support the YMCA, they’ve given us peace of mind. We know our kids are being cared for and learning skills that will help them once they are ready for school.”
Encouraging Everyday Families To Excel
Your donation to the Y helps people and families in your neighborhood. The Eneix Family joined the YMCA two years ago - they shared their story with us.
“We are just your normal, everyday, working family,” states Brandon Eneix. “My wife and I both are working parents, it takes two incomes to make ends meet. We needed a child care program that we trusted to help with our three kids afterschool until one of us could get home. That’s when we turned to the YMCA.
Now our children are involved in several YMCA programs, including aquatics, sports and enrichment programs, as well as the child care. Along with a boost in confidence, our kids have shown a great improvement in their sports abilities, and are more enthusiastic to try out new skills and ideas. I attribute this to dedication of the Y staff in working with the kids
and families.
The Strong Kids Campaign allows working families to utilize the YMCA and experience the programs that we just couldn’t afford on our own.
I would also like to thank everyone that donated to the YMCA, even a small donation helps out everyday families like ours.”
Enriching Families and Strengthening Communities
Bridgette and her grandson Jaymes utilize the Y to enjoy family time together. Bridgette shares their story.
“We enjoy the many opportunities that are available to us at the YMCA. As a Y member, I attend the classes and I’ve also enrolled my grandson, Jaymes, in many of the enrichment classes. He has been in the YMCA summer daycamp for four years and enjoys basketball and swimming at the Y. In addition, I personally go to the Y to enjoy socialization with other members that are working on the same goal as myself—better health, toning and shedding pounds to lead a healthier lifestyle.
The YMCA encourages family values and that is important to me. Our activities combine quality family time—exercising, swimming, basketball (or shooting hoops as my grandson calls it). The Y also offers community sponsored events that strengthen neighbors and relationships like family night.
Small communities in particular need the YMCA, because it offers activities that are affordable that otherwise might not be available in that area. Families have tight budgets and need a resource for safe, fun family programs and the Y is there for everyone.
By donating time, money or resources to your local YMCA, you are investing in the future of families and communities as a whole. With the financial assistance from the Strong Kids Campaign, summer daycamp and enrichment programs are available to Jaymes and my family. It’s good to know your child is attending a quality summer camp or program and that you can still utilize it during this tough economy.”
Building a Child's Confidence is Priceless
Renee Bostick shares her story - “When we joined the YMCA, my children, Thomas and Breanna, started participating in swim lessons. Thomas has difficulties with dealing with his frustration and anxiety and attends a special needs school. When I received the first report on Thomas and his progress in the class, I cried because I was so happy. The evaluation said how much they enjoyed having Thomas in class and liked his personality. They stated he always listens and is eager to learn. This was the first activity in which Thomas was completely successful. It has also led to Thomas knowing he can be successful in other activities. It is nice to watch Thomas in swim lessons because it is a rare opportunity to see him completely happy and able to follow directions consistently. He looks forward to swim lessons and is making really good progress.
We have seen a significant behavior change at school and we do believe swim lessons has played a large part in his behavioral change. His self esteem was amazingly different after just two short months in
the classes. It has now been over a year and Thomas has been moved from adaptive swim lessons to
swimming with his peers during class. The swimming staff at the YMCA have played a vital role in teaching Thomas not only swimming skills but also social skills such as taking turns. We want to thank
you so very much for accepting our family into the Y. Without financial aid, we would not have been able to give Thomas or Breanna the opportunity to be involved in swimming.”
Offering Peace of Mind for Single Parent Families
Terry Flora utilizes the YMCA of Greater Dayton before and afterschool child care for his daughter, Lydia. “As a single father, I have peace of mind and assurance that she is well loved and taken care of while I work,” Terry stated. “Without the help of the YMCA’s Strong Kids scholarship, I would not be able to involve Lydia in the child care, summer day camp and other programs at the Y. Lydia loves the staff there and it has brought stability to our lives. The positive impact the Y has had on our family is without measure.”
Terry continued, “I would encourage others to invest in making a positive difference in the lives of other families in the area by supporting the Strong Kids Campaign. I am here to tell them, their contributions
are appreciated and they matter! God willing, one day I will be in a position to help more families like my own by becoming a Strong Kids campaign supporter.”
The McCommons Family appreciates your support
The McCommons Family is an example of a growing population of grandparents that are helping raise their grandchildren.
They utilize the YMCA of Greater Dayton childcare for their three school-age grandsons. "When my grandchildren came to live with us the daycare issue became a top priority," Marlene stated. "The YMCA's Strong Kids scholarship helped our family afford quality daycare and allowed us to give the boys a safe and secure environment. Not only did they provide a safe environment, they truly care about the boys...from the beginning, the Y was both understanding and helpful."
Marlene continued, "If it wasn't for scholarship programs like Strong Kids at the YMCA, I don't know where people would turn in times of crisis. It's encouraging to know that there are programs to help those in need."
Meet Your Neighbors 
From the pool and aerobics to soccer and homeschool gym classes, the Ripbergers have utilized the Y for over three years.
Kathy says, I make it to the Y three or four times a week. My kids love it. They love going to the childwatch program and look forward to it. The kids know that we go to the Y because it is important for our physical, mental, and spiritual health. I cant imagine not having the option of going to the Y.
Without assistance from the Y, the Ripberger Family would struggle to maintain their Y membership. The Y really has been such a blessing to us, continues Kathy. We have benefitted from the scholarship because without it, we could not do it. One salary does not allow for many extras.
Kathy and her family are grateful to the Y donors. We are thankful for the generosity of so many members of the Ys in our area. This economy makes everything a little tighter, every decision to donate a little tougher. If you are a regular supporter, first I would say thank you! If you havent given and are in a position to, then I encourage you to try it. You will never know whom you may be helping. It may be the person on the treadmill right beside you.
The Beal Family Loves the Sense of Belonging
Initially we joined the Y for the youth programs, says Jeri. We wanted our kids to take swim lessons and participate on the various teams. Then we started using the fitness portion of the Y.
Jeri and her husband, Brandon, have both participated in the Move 2 Lose program. To date, Jeri has lost over 100 pounds, ran two half marathons and one full marathon. I pushed myself like I never have before. My self esteem and self worth have multiplied 100 fold. I could never have done it alonethe trainers, directors and Y members have been a constant support team.
Without assistance from the Y, the Beal kids wouldnt have been able to participate in the various sports, including fencing and gymnastics. Jeri states, We are a typical middle class American family...loving, hard-working and happy. The Y gives us a safe place to share our lives with others. Giving even $5 a month to Strong Kids keeps the Y running and helps every member utilize the Y branches.
The Beals are just one of the thousands of Dayton area families the Ys Strong Kids Campaign supports.
Going Strong Since 2001 
Thanks to your support of the Strong Kids Campaign, they are still valued Y members.
The family atmosphere and programs were two of the main reasons we joined the Y, says Tina. Working out, volleyball and swim lessons are programs we participate in regularly. When financial difficulty struck the family, the Strong Kids Campaign helped the family remain Y members and kept their family healthy.
Our son, Boston, has a few special needs and swimming lessons have helped tremendously with Bostons confidence and self-esteem. Also, my husband, Brian and Boston both have heart problems. Brian has undergone three open heart surgeries and Boston one. Exercising at the Y has helped both of them to live a healthier life. We truly appreciate the Y and its family values. If you are looking to support a non-profit, please support the Y!