YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS STRONG KIDS CAMPAIGN VICTORY CELEBRATION SCRIPT JULY 14, 2009
D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 1 - 6:30 PM Opening Remarks and Welcome - CHERYL
Good evening, I am Cheryl Watson and I am the Chair of the 2009 Strong Kids Campaign and Vice-Chair of the YMCA Board of Directors.
Welcome to the 2009 Strong Kids Campaign Victory Celebration!
I am particularly happy that our event this year is taking place at one of our YMCA branches so we can see first-hand the fruits of our efforts and they can show off their brand new Splash Pool. Please join me in thanking our hosts tonight, the volunteers and staff of the Jordan YMCA. (applause) We greatly appreciate your time and effort to make this celebration a great event. I would also like to thank our dinner sponsor, Qdoba Mexican Grill. We greatly appreciate their generous support of this event and for their support of the Biggest Pool Party of the Summer at five of our branches last Wednesday. Thanks also to the Jordan Y Child Watch staff who are leading activities with our kids so we can have this brief program.
I would now like to introduce Roderick Conwell, Chair of the Urban Mission Branch Board of Managers to lead us in a devotion.
6:35 DEVOTION - RODERICK
D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 2 - 6:40 CAMPAIGN CHAIR REMARKS - CHERYL
Thank you, Roderick. I know you were the Strong Kids Campaign Chair for the Urban Mission Branch last year and that you did a great job – and now you are serving as branch board chair. Congratulations and thanks for your involvement and commitment to the YMCA’s mission.
The event this evening is intended to celebrate and thank our dedicated and hard-working Strong Kids Campaign Volunteers. Because of your efforts – our communities are better places to live. Without you, the YMCA could not reach out to as many donors as we do each year. Without you, our YMCA would not be able to serve so many deserving youth and families. For you make it possible for the YMCA to expand our charitable mission to serve more people each year.
Your work as Strong Kids Campaign volunteers is vital, especially in these difficult economic times when many families have experienced job layoffs, pay cuts, and other disappointments. As we all know, the Strong Kids Campaign is more important than ever.
On behalf of the YMCA Board of Directors – I offer you our heartfelt thanks.
I would now like to ask Eric Ellsworth, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, to make a few comments about this year’s campaign.
D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 3 - 6:45 PRESIDENT’S REMARKS ERIC We launched the 2009 Strong Kids Campaign during very uncertain economic times. Unfortunately for many people and families in our community, the economic downturn had a negative impact on their financial situation. However, our YMCA stood ready to help families during challenging times.
With bold resolve, all of you - both volunteers and staff - have worked tirelessly to make the simple gift of the YMCA a reality for those who are less-fortunate. We cannot control the harsh realities that our community faces today. We can only control how we react. The YMCA has been a beacon of faith, hope and love in our community for over 155 years. Our YMCA has weathered world wars, recessions, and other troubling times over and over again. But faith, hope, and love remains. Faith in our Lord who will never forsake us, Hope for a brighter tomorrow, and Love for our neighbors.
We decided to have our Victory Celebration at a branch this year to showcase the YMCA’s spirit of community. Here at the Jordan YMCA, volunteers and recently completed fundraising efforts in order to construct and open this new Splash Pad just in time for their members to enjoy it this summer. Without the incredible dedication of the Jordan Y volunteers and staff the Splash Pad would still be in the idea phase or just exist as an artist’s rendering. Let’s show our appreciation for the Jordan YMCA’s great team of volunteers and staff – led by Branch Board Chair, Doug Gettelfinger and Community Branch Executive Chris Butler.
As you all know so well, our annual Strong Kids Campaign provides accessibility for children and families with financial need. You make this possible not just for kids playing in the new Splash Pad at the Jordan YMCA, but at YMCA Day Camps, After School Sites, Sports fields, and Flat Rock River YMCA Camp…throughout our seven county service area. D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 4 - The spirit of our YMCA does not live in the bricks and mortar of our buildings or outdoor pools. It lives in the hearts and minds of infants and toddlers in Child Watch, the children in our before and afterschool care sites, the teens in our leadership programs, the Saturday morning youth basketball coaches, the evening Cycling Class, the early morning health seekers, and the active older adults. The spirit of our YMCA lives in each of us.
I am encouraged by our success this year with our Strong Kids Campaign and I’m proud of your efforts to tell our story and ask for support. We still have some work to do, but we continue to push towards our goal. We will not stop what we started. Kids, families and our community need the YMCA today more than ever. They need us. Together, we will keep faith, hope, and love alive.
I will now turn it back over to Cheryl as we continue our Celebration.
D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 5 - 6:50 RECOGNITIONS CHERYL Tonight we are here to celebrate all of you. At this time, I will call on each branch’s campaign volunteers to come forward and announce your 2009 Year To Date Strong Kids Campaign Results:
Baxter YMCA –
Benjamin Harrison YMCA –
YMCAs of Hamilton County –
Intercollegiate YMCA –
Jordan YMCA –
Pike YMCA –
Ransburg YMCA –
Ruth Lilly YMCA Outdoor Center –
Urban Mission Branch –
West District YMCA –
YMCA at the Athenaeum –
Corporate Division -
And NOW THE GRAND TOTAL RAISED TO DATE FOR THE 2009 STRONG KIDS CAMPAIGN….DRUMROLL…..
$______
D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 6 - And now for some awards in special recognition of the volunteers that made this campaign possible:
1. Rookie Volunteer Campaigner – Most Dollars Raised By a First Year Campaigner: Mike Giannamore, Jordan Branch. Ryan raised $4,300 in his first year of campaigning for the Jordan Y.
2. Veteran Volunteer Campaigner – Most Dollars Raised: Doug Walker, Ransburg YMCA. Doug raised $15,000 this year for the Ransburg YMCA.
3. Volunteer Campaigner – Most Upgraded Gifts Secured at a branch with a campaign with a goal over $100,000: Ruth Ellsworth, Baxter YMCA.
4. Volunteer Campaigner – Most Upgraded Gifts Secured at a branch with a campaign with a goal under $100,000: Mary Rita Hurley, YMCA at the Athenaeum.
5. Volunteer Campaigner who raised the most $1,000+ gifts at a branch campaign with a goal over $100,000: Doug Walker from the Ransburg YMCA.
6. Volunteer Campaigner who raised the most $1,000+ gifts at a branch campaign with a goal under $100,000: There was a tie and both from the Pike YMCA. Dana Wise and Aasif!
Thank you so much to each of you for setting the bar high. We truly appreciate your efforts to help us build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.
I would now like to introduce Craig Heinrichs, Vice President and COO of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis to announce the Branch Traveling Banner Awards D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 7 - 6:58 – BANNER AWARDS CRAIG Each year, we recognize the branch that has led the way in three categories. The winning branch receives a traveling banner to be displayed prominently for all members and volunteers to see until next year at this time.
YMCA Branch with the Most New Donors After two years, the banner finds a new home. —Congratulations — The Jordan YMCA will have the honor of having this banner this year! They had 445 new donors year.
YMCA Branch with the Highest Percentage of Member Donors This banner also has a new home. With an amazing 16.4% of their members contributing to the campaign, —Congratulations— The Ransburg Y receives the banner this year!
YMCA Branch with the Most $1000+ Pledges For the second year is a row —Congratulations— the Baxter YMCA Branch secured 64 $1,000+ pledges. The Baxter Y will be keeping this banner another year!
Let us continue to share the YMCA Story. Proudly display these banners in your branch to further motivate your members and volunteers.
D:\Docs\2017-12-28\074b916bee6409a4f5ea6fd17731e83a.doc - 8 - 6:59 SPECIAL RECOGNITION ERIC What a fantastic evening. I am so pleased with our efforts to raise $______to date for our 2009 Strong Kids Campaign. This could not have happened without great leadership! At this time I would like to recognize Cheryl Watson, Chair of the 2009 Strong Kids Campaign (present with gift).
ERIC CONTINUES Before we end our celebration, I have a few announcements:
Please enjoy the outdoor pool and Splash Pad this evening. There will be activities and open pool time until 8pm.
Also Jordan Y staff will be offering branch tours this evening. Please see ______for a tour.
Thank you again to the Jordan Y for hosting this evening’s Celebration and to Qdoba Mexican Grill for sponsoring dinner, and most of all, thank all of you for making all of this possible through your dedication to the YMCA and the Strong Kids Campaign!
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