Summit Area YMCA Participates in #GivingTuesdayNow for Global Unity and Giving Thanks

All Day Virtual Event, May 5, 2020 – While our doors may be closed, the Summit Area YMCA is responding to meet the needs of our community including food insecurity, blood drives, outreach to seniors, advocating to complete our census, and to post educational and fitness content free to all.

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to engage, activate, inspire and thank everyone who helps the Summit Area YMCA continue its important mission – to support each other.

At a time when we are all experiencing the pandemic the mission of the YMCA, to instill the spirit of inclusiveness and generosity, is more important than ever before. In this time of crisis, generosity and support are what bring people of all races, faiths, and political views together across the globe. We all have the power to make a positive change in the lives of others and that is a fundamental value anyone can act on.

On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, the Summit Area YMCA will be participating in #GivingTuesdayNow with a day of giving thanks to our partners, members, donors, staff and community who, by their generosity, remind us of the importance of giving back. Through its website and social media outlets, the Summit Area YMCA will host a day of virtual events – sharing stories of gratitude – from the Y to its supporters, as well as among others in our Y family.

“The Summit Area YMCA is proud to be participating in #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5th, and is excited to be a part of this global initiative. We’ve received so much support, we are humbled by the many gestures, and invigorated to continue to do more.”, said Paul Kieltyka, President and CEO.

“As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organizations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday.

“#GivingTuesdayNow is a chance for us to stand united to show that we are all in this together, beginning to end. Even as many face financial uncertainty, generosity is not about size. From calling an elderly neighbor to chat to offering translation help; from showing gratitude to our healthcare workers to donating to your local food bank, every act of kindness is a beacon of hope in this crisis. We all have something to give, and every act of human consideration and kindness matters.”

Those interested in participating in the Summit Area YMCA’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts can visit the SAY’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/summitareaymca

For more details about the GivingTuesday movement, visit the GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTuesday and #GivingTuesdayNow on Twitter. For youth interested in joining the movement, visit GivingTuesdayKids.org for inspiration and project ideas.

About: The Summit Area YMCA
The Summit Area YMCA is a 501(c)(3) not for profit that is committed to nurturing the potential of every individual, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. We are a cause driven, volunteer led, nonprofit organization working to support and strengthen the foundations of community. Founded in 1886, the Summit Area YMCA has a history steeped in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income and background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Our holistic approach to wellness focuses on building a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. During the closure of our facilities, the Summit Area YMCA continues our charitable work by offering food and blood drives, outreach to seniors, and posting free educational, health and fitness content at www.thesay.org.

About: GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eight years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity and equity around the globe.

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In 1886, we were founded as the Young Men’s Christian Association, but today, we are The Y; an association that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. We stand for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility — For a better us. We are committed to creating equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, age, disability, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive culture in which our four core values — responsibility, honesty, caring and respect — are integral to everyday operations.

Each year, as one of the area’s leading 501(c)3 charitable organizations, the Summit Area YMCA serves more than 15,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the New Jersey communities of Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit. Our history is rooted in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those in need.