How Your Contribution Makes a Difference

Helping a Child Succeed

Katie Lehman has seen firsthand how your South Sound YMCA can touch the life of a child.

As an intervention specialist at Seven Oaks Elementary, Katie comes in contact with children living in high risk or homeless family situations. She is grateful to have the YMCA as a partner in making the lives of these children better.

Recently, she helped place Emily, a third-grader, in the Y’s before and after school child care program at Seven Oaks on a full scholarship through our financial assistance program. Emily’s family is homeless and their living situation is uncertain from day-to-day. She was in desperate need of some stability and reassurance in her life.

Through Katie Lehman and the YMCA, Emily found friendship, fun activities, an afternoon meal, and a great place to do her homework. She also found a guardian angel in Kathy, a YMCA employee at her childcare site. Kathy has offered to keep Emily’s clothes freshly laundered and makes sure that she has some food to take with her at the end of the day.

Emily loves her school and all of the people there that care about her. Katie is pleased with the seamless support that Seven Oaks is able to offer families because of the school’s partnership with the YMCA. She is also incredibly grateful for the generosity of the YMCA’s donors and all of the good that she is able to help accomplish with the gifts.

Making a Difference for a Family

"Your financial assistance program is so great! It has truly blessed our family. In October 2000, after ten years with the same company, Robert was let go. Even though he held an Environmental Science degree, the job competition for this area was tough. About the same time, our oldest daughter, Joy, was diagnosed with a severe case of idiopathic scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

Because of the severity of the curvature, the doctors were considering vertebrae infusion corrective surgery to insert a titanium rod to straighten her spine. We were very grateful to her surgeon who was gracious and patient enough to give us more time before proceeding with this surgery. With financial assistance from the YMCA, Joy was able to begin swimming in an effort the help straighten her spine and possibly avoid surgery. After much research, prayer, physical therapy, myotherapy, and swimming at the YMCA, her spine has seen great improvement. The doctors are amazed! As of March 2002, she has been out of her brace and no longer requires surgery.

We are just so thankful for the support the YMCA has given us. It is a tremendous treat for us to see our daughter swimming like a fish, and knowing that she will not have to undergo surgery is priceless. Your generosity has touched our lives so deeply."