FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2018
SEATTLE – The YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) has received a $500,000 grant from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing (ECF) in support of its new Kent facility opening in late 2019. The grant will allow the Kent YMCA facility to better serve youth through programs focused on ending youth homelessness, tackling youth obesity, promoting education and employment, violence prevention, and family foster care.
“The grant is an important part of our campaign to build the Y in Kent and a further reflection of Boeing employees’ lasting commitment to improving our communities,” said Nathan Phillips, Regional VP for the YMCA of Greater Seattle.
The Kent Y will offer an array of benefits all under one roof to help address gaps in services not currently available in the Kent community. It will serve 22,000 people per year in the Kent community, with one in four of them being under the age of 18. The ECF grant will be used to help young people in the Kent area overcome the challenges they face.
“Kent is growing and it’s the perfect time for the Y to grow with it. The community is vibrant and fueled by diverse families and with young children. Our services will be positioned to help all residents, with additional emphasis on youth programs,” Phillips said.
The nonprofit organization is raising more than $27 million to build the new Kent Y, which will include community gathering spaces; an aquatic center, gym, group fitness, and cardio spaces. The 50,000-square-foot facility will also offer child care and other enrichment programs for youth.
“The Employees Community Fund of Boeing (ECF) is proud to support ‘The Y Campaign for Kids and Communities.” The generous Boeing employees who combine their dollars by giving to ECF made this $500,000 grant possible. We understand the importance of building strong, sustainable and healthy communities that provide opportunities for all. At Boeing it’s part of our DNA to work together as a team, and to give together to make a difference,” said ECF Board President Patricia Meissner.
ECF is an employee-owned and managed charitable giving program. Since 1951 generous Boeing employees have contributed over $600,000,000 to local Puget Sound nonprofits. ECF grants enable local Health & Human Service agencies to purchase much-needed equipment, renovate their facilities and build new construction that directly benefit their clients. Over the years, the Employees Community Fund has funded $1,110,000 in direct grants to YMCA of Greater Seattle.
ECF grants have gone toward community projects such as aiding the homeless, stocking food banks, helping at-risk children succeed in school, providing job training for the unemployed, funding critical health services, supporting veterans’ programs and more.
About the YMCA of Greater Seattle
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is the Northwest’s leading nonprofit organization strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Founded in 1876, YGS reaches more than 253,000 people of all backgrounds, abilities and financial circumstances annually through 13 branches, two overnight camps and more than 200 program sites throughout King and south Snohomish counties. It nurtures more than 142,000 kids and teens to develop their gifts and give back to our community and engages nearly 23,000 volunteers who contribute more than 372,000 hours of service each year. Visit seattleymca.org
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