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YMCA surpasses 2013 goal
Richmond Hill branch raises $41k
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Rachel Meuser Bowman, director of development, marketing and communication, and incoming board chairman David Mason announce the results of the YMCA of Coastal Georgias Priceless Gifts Campaign Tuesday during the organizations 158th annual meeting at the Richmond Hill City Center. - photo by Crissie Elric

Dozens of folks from across the Coastal Empire gathered in the Richmond Hill City Center Tuesday night for the Young Men’s Christian Association of Coastal Georgia’s 158th annual meeting
Attendees were there to celebrate the accomplishments of the organization better known as the YMCA, or the Y, during 2012, as well as recognize volunteers and announce the money raised during the annual Priceless Gifts campaign.
“In 2012 … the YMCA of Coastal Georgia was able to provide a community benefit that totaled over $1.9 million, which includes financial assistance to more than 12,000 children, individuals and families in our service area,” Pastor Herb Hubbard, chairman of the YMCA’s board of directors, told the crowd.
“This feat alone shows the true nature of our organization as commitment to those that we serve. $1.9 million in this economy is quite an accomplishment and you ought to be commended, as well as many other volunteers.”
Rachel Meuser Bowman, director of development, marketing and communication, and incoming board chairman David Mason facilitated the Priceless Gifts campaign, which raises funds to continue the financial assistance program at the area branches.
A representative from each branch of the Y in the Coastal Georgia sector announced their total, followed by Bowman’s announcement of the Coastal Georgia total.
The Richmond Hill branch exceeded its goal of $40,000 by raising $40,900. The Liberty County/Hinesville branch raised $26,215, 75 percent of its $35,000 goal.
The total raised by all branches of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia came in at $620,790, well above the $611,000 raised in 2012.
Some YMCA members got the chance to tell how the organization had touched their lives by sharing their “My Y” stories. The Priceless Gifts campaign was also the subject of Larry and Tracy Way’s “My Y” story.
Tracy Way, an Effingham YMCA employee, told the crowd about her son, who participates in nearly everything the Y has to offer, met another teenage boy through the basketball program.
“They met on the team and became good friends and we wanted to have him over so that he could shoot hoops at the house and do things regular boys do when they become friends,” Way said.
“And then we found out that he lived at the (Bethesda) boys home and we would never have met him without Priceless Gifts and basketball. And as of March 1, he is now our son.”

Read more in the March 23 edition of the News.

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