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CREATING AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD
Tom Miers, the chairman of our 2008
Strong Kids Campaign, suggested that we begin to take donors and
folks interested in the work of our Y on a bus tour to see our
programs in action. Recently we took a small group on a test run
and visited several after-school sites and our new child care
facility at the Fry Family YMCA.
At our first visit in Naperville we
were immediately surrounded by twenty well behaved, smiling
youngsters. One young boy seemed to be particularly excited and
enthusiastic. He made the rounds of everyone on the tour and was
clearly more active than anyone else. I assumed that he was
simply that excited to see us. As we were leaving our director
followed us out and apologized for the little guy’s high energy
welcome and explained that because it was late in the month his
parents had run out of money and were not able to afford the
medication he needed and this behavior was the result.
Every time I witness this
situation, and it happens too often, I wonder how it is possible
in our great country that children do not have access to proper
medical care. Somewhere I fear our strategic vision and
priorities have gone off track.
We finished our afternoon bus
expedition at our brand new technology center in Aurora. This
wonderful center is entirely funded with donor dollars and serves
a very challenged neighborhood. In Aurora, like Naperville, we
have made the commitment that we will use our resources to address
pressing community needs. The center has fourteen brand new Dell
computers, new desks and chairs. It is first class in every way.
And, within days, our elementary school classes were filled. The
kids were excited, they were well behaved and they were ready to
learn. Almost no one in the neighborhood has a computer. We have
made this bold investment because we can make an instant
difference in these kids’ lives.
Most of us are blessed with the
ability to afford health care and have a computer in our home. It
is so easy to forget that there are many good folks in our area
that don’t have these advantages and are not playing on an equal
playing field.
We may not be able to correct all
the challenges we face but we all can work a little harder. This
year give a little more to the charities that are doing great work
with kids and families. Hopefully that will include the Y but it
can be our food pantries, Little Friends, or NCO and the list goes
on. And then, just as important, tell your kids about what you
are doing and why. Encourage them to volunteer and give. We need
to develop a new generation of young people who understand
philanthropy and volunteerism. Most of us are richly blessed and
this New Year let’s commit to pass that spirit of charity to the
next generation.
Submitted by: Tom Beerntsen
President/CEO
Heritage YMCA Group
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