Help Julia raise money

I went to a number of day and overnight camps as a child, including YMCA Camp Pine Crest, so I know from personal experience the positive impact they can have on a kid's life. I learned to canoe at YMCA Camp Pine Crest. I got physically stronger and healthier those summers. Even better, I developed a strong love for nature, I met friends, I came out of my shell, and I had a fantastic time. All at a point in my life when I was facing some tough things, like my parent's divorce. Camp was really critical then to my well-being. 

That was decades ago, but here I am now working for the Y of Greater Toronto, and each year, thousands of kids go to the 60-odd day camps we have -- in all nine regions of Greater Toronto, plus up north at Camp Pine Crest and Cedar Glen -- all thanks to donors like you and I. 

With financial assistance provided by our donors, young people whose families would otherwise not be able to afford camp get to give their children a summer break in a safe environment, where they make new friends and have a lot of fun, learn outdoor skills (swimming! canoeing! ropes and climbing! hiking! campfire-making! etc.), feel a really important sense of belonging, meet adult allies, and so much more. 

They get away from their screens. They have an escape from their regular lives where they may not have much access to nature or face tough challenges every day. Many of these youth face other barriers in life, in addition to their family's low-income status. Some are referred from our other youth programs. They may be recent refugees or newcomers to Canada, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or living with a mental or physical disability. Their parents might work several jobs, and they might be one of many kids in Toronto whose families access food banks to get by. These kids truly need and benefit from the many positive things that come from YMCA day camps. 

This is why I'm participating in our 5K this year. Please help us reach our goal to send 500 more kids to camp next summer. Truly everyone donation of any size adds up to a big difference. THANK YOU for your support! - Julia