Everyone in America is familiar with the YMCA and the great work they do to strengthen communities and make sure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Did you know the YMCA is a non-profit? They rely heavily on volunteers, public and private donors to provide the support they need to serve the community. That’s why I’m excited to announce that the Cadillac Cares Houston Challenge is giving the YMCA of Greater Houston a chance to win $50,000 in free advertising to help them spread their mission locally.
The YMCA of Greater Houston is one of three charities that have been chosen by the Houston Area Cadillac Dealers to participate in this month-long challenge. The other two charities are the Children’s Museum of Houston and the Houston Food Bank, also wonderful organizations I support. These three charities are competing from May 9th through June 5th to see who can get the most votes on the Challenge Facebook page, hosted by the Houston Area Cadillac Dealers. The winner at the end of the month will receive the $50,000 in free advertising, but even the “losers” will go home with $1000 each. Isn’t that a GREAT contest?
If you’ve been reading Water Water Everywhere for long you probably know that the Katy Family YMCA is like a home away from home for me. We have a family membership and I am there working out every chance I get, which is usually several days a week. I meet my friends for time on the elliptical, I work on my Couch to 5K training on the treadmill, and I take Christ-centered Yoga class there once or twice a week. I’ve tried loads of other classes too, from Zumba to pilates. The thing is my kids love going to the Child Watch center there too and I am amazed by how well operated it is. The people who work with my kids are really awesome.
Right now my six year old is taking four weeks of swimming lessons at the Y too, so that’s another two nights a week I’m there. I usually end up in the pool with my younger child during that time too. Both the indoor and outdoor pools are impressive…what really blew me away was the long ramp for handicapped people to enter the pool using waterproof wheelchairs. Isn’t that cool? It totally fits the YMCA’s mission of making sure everyone has the opportunity for healthy living.
My son has also participated in youth sports teams through the YMCA including soccer and basketball. He loved both and they are just another example of how the Y is committed to youth development. This summer he will participate in the YMCA summer day camp program because I love what I have seen from the staff and other programs and I trust the people there a whole lot more than I did the daycamp he was at last summer.
I could go on and on about how the YMCA partners with other community organizations, like my church for example. But the Katy Family YMCA is just one of the 36 centers in the YMCA of Greater Houston. Through these centers and hundreds of other facilities the YMCA of Greater Houston serves more than 800,000 boys, girls, men and women a year.
That’s why I would LOVE it if YOU would click over to the Cadillac Cares Charity Challenge Facebook page and “Like” the YMCA of Greater Houston. You don’t even have to live here to vote, and you can vote as often as once a day!
Please vote daily!
Have you ever participated in any YMCA programs? Tell me why else you love the Y!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I have been compensated to bring your attention to this worthy cause. All opinions are my own and I swear the money has nothing to do with my opinion about how awesome the YMCA is…can you tell?