The YMCA Partner's Campaign generates funds so that children, adults and seniors of low income, or those facing financial hard ship, can participate in YMCA programs. Donations from the community are used to help provide funding for children to participate in the local YMCA camps, sports programs, senior fitness programs, the local Halloween Safe Kids night, teen programs like Youth & Government and leadership retreats.

Families that apply for help through the YMCA pay what they can for programs, and membership. The funds raised by the Partner's Campaign covers the remaining cost. Importantly, these are not just families that are poor. In many cases, families have confronted hardships: loss of job, illness of family wage earner, or other situations that make participation in YMCA childcare, youth sports programs or membership unaffordable. The YMCA mission is to make their programs available, regardless of ability to pay.

The Partner's Campaign, which will run through March 6 th, is manned and led by volunteers. The volunteer campaign chair is Shawn Chalande. Shawn came to the Tri-Lakes YMCA as a parent of kindergarten student enrolled in a YMCA before & after school program and was a one time recipient of financial assistance.

Shawn said, "I am so grateful to the YMCA. In May of 2006, my husband and I sperated. The kids and I got a town home in Monument. In July of 2006, I was laid off from my job, and trying to do a little insurance sales on the side. Michael, my 6-year-old son started going to the YMCA before and after school program at the beginning of his kindergarten year. In October I started feeling sick, flu-like symptons. By the middle of November I could no longer work insurance or look for a full-time job. I was so sick. Going into the doctor several times, I was told it was the flu, or croup.

During this time, I had called and spoken with Andy Barton at the YMCA about losing my job and not being able to pay my childcare. Andy kept telling me not to worry. Michael could stay! Christmas day, my father came over and found out that I had a carbon monoxide leak in my heater and the heat exchange was blocked. The kids and I were being exposed to carbon monoxide for months.

From that day forward we started getting better every day. I thank God, school and the YMCA. If the Y would have sent Michael home with me because I could not pay ... they truly saved his life. I found out that the kids and I were taken care of because of the Partner's Campaign.

I was embarrassed to ask for help. They kept everything confidential."

Shawn Chalande's leadership and ability to talk about the Partner's Campaign from a personal perspective makes her an exceptional candidate to lead the fund raising effort in 2008.

To learn more about the YMCA Partner's Campaign or to make a gift, contact the YMCA offices at 481-8728 or find out more online at www.ppymca.org.