Social Responsibility Stories

Thank you to all the dedicated and exceptional volunteers who generously donate their time and energy to the SDOC Safety & Survival Swimming Program who have once again been recognized as Hometown Heroes by Modern Woodmen of America in October 2026! This marks their second time receiving this special honor, having previously been recognized in 2024. To celebrate their incredible commitment, Modern Woodmen of America hosted a special luncheon in their honor.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who made Monday’s Putt for Parkinson’s at The Oasis Ranch such a meaningful and successful event! We are incredibly grateful to The Oasis Ranch Mini Golf for hosting, and to the amazing staff, coaches, volunteers, participants, and donors who gave their time, energy, and support to this special day. Your generosity and enthusiasm helped create a fun-filled event while raising awareness and support for those impacted by Parkinson’s. Event Photos

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday, April 12 for our Parkinson’s Program Supporter Appreciation Event! We loved sharing demonstrations from our Rock Steady Boxing and Pedaling for Parkinson’s programs, enjoying great food, hearing from inspiring program participants, and spending such a fun and meaningful time together. Your support and presence mean so much as we continue to build a stronger, healthier community. Event Photos and Video.

Our Fair Oak Elementary After School Care program just completed their final rainbow representing an incredible 175 games played together in honor of the YMCA’s 175 years of impact in the USA! Over the past 1.5 months, students came together to play, connect, and most importantly, include others. This challenge encouraged them to step outside their usual groups, make new friends, and build a stronger, more welcoming community.

One Foothills Area YMCA mom recently shared how deeply the Send A Kid to Camp program has touched her family’s life. As a single parent balancing work and school, the support provided through this program was more than just financial—it was a lifeline. “When you’re the only parent trying to be a super mom, it’s such a huge help and blessing to have this kind of support for your child,” she said. Her son has thrived in both after-school care and YMCA camps, surrounded by caring staff and friends.

Thank you to everyone who made our 5th Annual Golf Tournament a success! It was a beautiful day for golf and giving back. We’re grateful to all the players, sponsors, Cross Creek, and our incredible staff and volunteers who joined us on Friday and helped make this year’s event one to remember. Congratulations to our winning teams: 1st Place: Team Bob Hill Realty; 2nd Place: Team Upcountry Fiber; 3rd Place: Team Oconee County.

On Monday, May 19, we hosted our 4th annual Putt for Parkinson’s event at Oasis Ranch in Seneca – and what an incredible day it was! We were thrilled to welcome over 300 attendees, including fighters and their families, as well as coaches and players — all coming together to support our Parkinson’s programming. It was a day filled with laughter, friendly competition, and most importantly, a strong sense of unity and purpose.

Blue Ridge After School Care Program Director Shanna Campbell and her incredible team led a heartwarming donation drive in support of the women at Magnolia House in Walhalla, a recovery program offering vital services and support. On Friday, May 9, 2025, we had the honor of delivering over 500 donated items, including beautiful handmade Mother’s Day cards created for every woman in the program.

Students at Fair Oak Elementary After School Care Program had a wonderful time participating in a community beautification project! With guidance and care, the kids planted colorful flowers in front of the school sign, brightening up the entryway. We are so grateful for all the hard work and dedication poured into the students and school each day!

We’re excited to kick off our Send a Kid to Camp fundraiser today, as part of the Y’s Annual Day of Giving! Thanks to the support of our generous community, we’ve already reached 23.1% of our $12,000 fundraising goal. Every contribution helps provide an enriching experience: a $34 gift sends a child to camp for a day, $170 sends them for a week, and $1,360 covers an entire summer.

A big thank you to The Golden Corner Lakes Sail and Power Squadron, Inc. for their generous donation in support of the SDOC Safety & Survival Swimming Program! We deeply appreciate their continued commitment to promoting water safety and ensuring children in our community develop life-saving swimming skills.

We are incredibly grateful to Psalms of Life Foundation for their generous contribution of $15,000 to our Livestrong program! Their support helps us continue offering vital cancer survivorship programs that empower individuals to reclaim their health and confidence after diagnosis. Thank you for believing in our mission and making a difference.

Reflecting on 2024, the YMCA has made incredible strides: 6,579 members served, over $2.7M in donations and pledges, $130,115 in financial assistance provided, 389 people learned to swim, 194 youth engaged in sports, and 110 volunteers contributed 3,298 hours. Thank you to our members, donors, staff, and volunteers for building a healthier, brighter future.

A huge thank you goes out to all our players, sponsors, donors, board members, and staff who made the day possible. The support and generosity from everyone involved directly benefit our Annual Campaign, which provides access to YMCA memberships, programs, and day camp opportunities for those in need, ensuring everyone has the chance to thrive.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to our Music Fundraiser on Saturday, September 14, benefiting the Livestrong at the Y cancer survivorship program! Thanks to your incredible support, we raised over $8,000 this year and welcomed around 200-250 people throughout the day. Special congratulations to our raffle winners: Kelly Holleman, Emily Cutler, Anne Ewing, Phyllis Gardner, and Joe Steinkirchner.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made our Putt for Parkinson’s event at Oasis Ranch an incredible success! This was a sold out event with a whopping 144 participants. Together, we raised an astounding $35,000 to support our Parkinson’s programming! A huge shoutout to our 25 Hole Sponsors and community members who donated 71 auction items.