EVERETT — The YMCA of Snohomish County has raised an all-time record $1.4 million in donations during its annual fund-raising campaign.
“Last year was just shy of $1.4 million,” said CEO Scott Washburn. “By going over $1.4 million, that’s a new high water mark for us.”
The money raised during the annual campaign funds much what are seen as the YMCA’s core services, from teen programs, providing child care services, even subsidized memberships for families without means.
“We use up all those funds and then we start up again next year with the next annual campaign,” Washburn said.
The group passes through 94 cents of every dollar in direct financial assistance to families and to support those core programs. The Y’s operations are supported by membership and fees.
In conjunction with the United Way of Snohomish County and corporate donors, the YMCA’s Financial Assistance Program provided $1,821,453 in direct financial assistance to more than 10,000 individuals in 2015.
In addition, $2.53 million was provided to youth and family program subsidies to benefit 32,277 children and teens across Snohomish County.
The YMCA also is running two separate campaigns to build a new branch to serve Stanwood and Camano Island and to build a new Everett facility to replace its aging branch in downtown Everett.
“We’re in the home stretch for the Stanwood-Camano effort,” Washburn said.
The Y still has $600,000-$700,000 to raise out of a total of about $17 million for the new facility.
The remainder of the $23.2 million cost would come out of the YMCA’s existing resources, Washburn said.
It is expected that construction will be finished in August, and a grand opening has tentatively been set for Sept. 3, Washburn said.
In Everett, the YMCA completed the purchase of the former Everett Public Schools administration building on Colby Avenue in November and is now drawing up design plans for the site.
The YMCA is still in its early quiet phase of fund-raising, reaching out to longtime donors in the community. Washburn said the eventual goal will be to raise $12 million toward the new Everett branch, with construction possibly starting in mid-2018.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.
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