The goal of the 2011 Strong Kids Campaign is $155,000, which campaign leaders hope to raise by the deadline of March 4.
According to a report delivered at a kickoff lunch at the Alabama Power Company auditorium in Anniston Friday, $28,515 of that has been raised already, or about 18 percent of the goal.
The goal this year compares to the goal of $150,000 last year and $146,000 the year before that, reflecting the wider range of services the Y is trying to offer, said Jerry Adkins, president and CEO.
The fundraising is taking place a little earlier this year compared to recent campaigns so that officials will know as soon as possible how they can allocate the money raised. Adkins said the Strong Kids money will be approximately 15 percent of the institution’s budget.
Figures provided at the kickoff presentation show that in 2010, money raised through the Strong Kids campaign was allocated to general memberships, swimming programs, sessions at YMCA Camp Hamilton, child care and afterschool supervision for children and adolescents.
“Scholarship” is the term the YMCA uses for each instance of making program time available to an individual or family whose limited means dictates that they need not pay full price for that service.
In 2010, 3,165 scholarships were awarded, compared to 2,602 the year before.
Jim Freind of Alabama Power Company is leading the campaign charge this year by making “freind requests” of all in the community who can donate to the Y’s programs.
Specific fundraising activities for the campaign will include a Boston butt sale and a clay pigeon shooting event.
