IMPACT
REPORT
SKAGIT VALLEY FAMILY YMCA
2023-24
Letter from the CEO
Dear Y Friends, Family, and Community,
I love spring in Skagit! Our first visit to the Tulip fields was in 2019 with Darlene’s sister and family who were visiting from Saskatchewan. It was an emotional visit, standing among the awe-inspiring colorful bands of bulbs together with Darlene’s sister, who had emerged cancer-free after a year of radiation and chemotherapy. Every visit to the fields continues to be an emotional reminder of the beauty of new and renewed life and the need to recognize and express my gratitude for the loved ones in my life. Darlene and I have been season-pass holders since the festival re-opened after the pandemic.
Today, as I sit and reflect on the growth of our Y in 2023 and 2024, I am reminded of the cycle of life and renewal so well demonstrated in our fields of color. In the same ways that bulbs multiply and grow each year, punctuated by a beautiful bloom, our Y continues to grow, year after year, bringing color and life to Skagitonians of all ages.
In 2023 our primary goal was to ensure the Skagit Y remains accessible to anyone who has need. We launched Y for All, a new system of providing financial assistance and increasing access to programs, membership, and childcare to families. 514 families received financial assistance through this program. It was a year of growing our programs to meet the needs of the community, like our increased presence for the 350+ youth at the Sedro-Woolley Rec Center and new resources for youth facing unstable housing through the Anchor Community Initiative (ACI). And it was a year of building and growing relationships with partners in our community to ensure that we collectively meet the needs of the people we serve. Partners such as our local school districts, Northwest Youth Services, Skagit Public Health, Underground Ministries, Vamos Outdoors Project, and La Liga Tlaxtli, to name only a few, have greatly extended our reach here in Skagit. Thank you!
2023 was also a year of planting the seeds for future growth and expansion. We acquired 25 additional acres at Lake Sixteen, which will allow us to grow Camp Anderson and increase access to camp experiences for more Skagit youth. We also secured state funding to rebuild our Oasis Youth Shelter, a project that will commence in 2024 and allow us to almost double the capacity of the shelter, further supporting teens facing housing insecurity in our community. All of these programs are supported by your membership at our Skagit Y, and we are grateful for each member’s participation.
Much like the beauty of the fields in spring, I am inspired by the beauty in our collective and diverse Y family. Whether it be laughter echoing around Hoag, the smiles of children at our Early Learning and school-age centers, the roar of youth as they learn and enjoy sports, or the hope and optimism that permeates our programs, it's my privilege to continue learning, growing, and connecting with you on this Y journey!
We are grateful for your support along the way and invite you to consider joining our cause with a donation in support of the Skagit Y and the work we’re doing. You can donate by visiting skagitymca.org/give.
With Gratitude,
Dean Snider, CEO
YOUR Y at-a-glance
2
Athletic Facilities
10
Chilcare Locations
Members
8,100
4
Programs Serving at-Risk Youth
196
Donors
219
Volunteers
196
Employees
Sources of Funding
Source
2023
Healthy Living
$3,408,904
Youth Development
$2,613,058
Social Impact Contracts
$1,302,692
Donors & Contributions
$837,098
How a dollar is spent at the Y
Per 2022 990 Audit
13¢ - Administrative + General
3¢ - Fundraising
84¢ - Program & Services
In Skagit County
Making the Y affordable for ALL
Financial Assistance in 2023
$237,327 (Skagit Y Membership + Programs)
$88,642 (Childcare)
A charitable non-profit supporting
Skagit youth
The Y is hard at work supporting at-risk youth in our community by providing access to housing, meals, drop-in activities, and outreach programs for Skagit County teens and young adults. We care deeply about helping young people thrive in our community and providing them with the resources necessary to succeed in their journey to adulthood.
The Y’s Sedro-Woolley Rec Center, Oasis Youth Shelter, MV Hope, and Anchor Community Initiative teams are working to ensure that all feel a sense of belonging. We aim to be attentive to the “every” in everyone—especially our neighbors who might have the least access to places of belonging.
This important work would not have been possible without the generous support of countless donors in our community, many of whom are listed on the last pages of this report.
Did you know?
Donations make a tangible impact: they help us secure what young people need right when they need it. Donations help with things like buying a youth’s favorite lunch snack or helping fund their art project supplies, among other instances.
Skagit teens and young adults come to our programs for support each day, and we need your help. Please consider making a tax-exempt gift today to create positive change in our community.
Donate Today
Community Events
healthy kids day
Nearly 500 kids and adults came out for Healthy Kids Day in April 2024 - double the total from 2023. They had the opportunity to interact with over 40 local businesses and organizations providing resources for kids and parents. Kids played games, did arts and crafts, and made tie-dye t-shirts. A big thank you to the Children’s Council of Skagit County and Help Me Grow Skagit’s Family Palooza team for partnering with us on this event!
Halloween spooktacular
More than 1,100 people stopped by to partake in this mid-October event, and thanks to the generosity of our community, over $1,300 was raised to support our Y for All financial assistance program. Families wore their Halloween costumes, partook in fun carnival games, and had the opportunity to go fishing for a pumpkin in the pool!
4
Healthy Living
Where Community Comes Together
Our Y continues to be a space where people from all walks of life in Skagit come together to improve their health, socialize, and find community. In 2023, new and continued partnerships with the greater community, family-focused events, and exciting additions to our Hoag Road building empowered people to be healthier in mind, body, and spirit.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, we overhauled the Teen Center in our Hoag building, adding new exercise-based equipment. The new equipment encourages exergaming, or video game-based exercise, for people of all ages to enjoy. The new equipment was purchased with young people and teens in mind, as the games give them new and engaging ways to be active in our Y. We’re thrilled to see so many people playing the games and having fun!
5
514
Families received y for all discounts in 2023
Fitness
Our fitness program grew more robust in 2023 with the addition of new fitness classes, new equipment, and starting up fitness-based programs like Hip-Hop Dance. In 2024, we’ve added Taekwondo and Tai Chi for members to enjoy.
Fitness Class Registrations
~13,000 in 2022
~19,500 in 2023
24
AOA Lunch & Learns, Field Trips in 2023
879
text
Borcelle University
Youth Sports participants in 2023
Active Older Adults
Active Older Adults are an essential part of our Y. Between Lunch and Learn sessions and the return of field trips (with destinations including La Conner and Concrete), plus new senior-focused fitness classes and the routine Friday morning coffee hour, seniors have lots to keep them busy and engaged.
Partnerships
In 2023, we partnered with the Mount Vernon School District, Skagit Special Olympics, Vamos Outdoors Project, the Red Cross, Northwest Youth Services, Skagit County Public Health, Community Action of Skagit County, Volunteers of America of Western WA, and a myriad of other local organizations to offer resources and programs to the greater community and people of all ages.
Youth Sports
Youth Sports ballooned to new heights in 2023, with 879 kids participating in one of our sports programs. New sports offered in 2023 included Jr. NBA Basketball and Youth Volleyball, both of which were very popular. A big thank you to all the volunteer coaches, scorekeepers, and day-of event support folks who help these programs succeed!
1,960
Swim Lessons in 2023
Youth Development
352
children served
Learn. Grow. Play.
Developing the potential in children to achieve positive life-long outcomes is what drives our Youth Development initiatives. In 2023, we continued this work by supporting quality early childhood education programming at our Early Learning Centers (Birth to PreK) and School Age Before- and After-school sites and through character- and community-building programs like Camp Anderson and Y Kids Summer Camps. The year was also defined by nurturing community partnerships with the local school districts, Children of the Valley, Skagit Valley Children’s Council, and many other organizations and businesses within our rural communities for the betterment of more youth in Skagit County.
$88,642
Financial assistance awarded
Early Learning Centers
Increasing school readiness is a central pillar at our three Early Learning Centers. Children learn positive values and expand their imaginations through play and structured learning time. The combination of nurturing care and practical skills measurably lowers the achievement gap for children as they start school.
We are working to make a few of our classrooms dual-language (English & Spanish) to serve our diverse Skagit community better. We will tentatively open a dual-language preschool classroom at our Laventure ELC in Fall 2024.
School-Age Programs
As children age, our School-Age programs provide enrichment opportunities for youth that sets them on a path for improved educational outcomes, including increasing high school graduation rates and likelihood of college attendance. By teaching and demonstrating lessons in self-awareness, confidence, academic achievement, and value development, we strive to set children up to excel. In 2023, we opened a Centennial School-Age site and are working in 2024 to increase enrollment.
Our School-Age programming will expand in 2024 with the addition of an Outdoor Education Program during the school year that utilizes the great outdoor space at Camp Anderson on Lake Sixteen.
Summer Camps
The Y’s Summer Camps, which include Camp Anderson, Y Kids Summer Day Camp, and Bitty Y Day Camp, give campers the opportunity to learn social skills, develop positive relationships with their peers, and explore the beauty of Skagit County. Most of all, campers have FUN!
We doubled our property on Lake Sixteen with the purchase of 25 additional acres, which will allow us to serve even more Skagit youth at Camp Anderson and bring the community together for other programs in nature throughout the year. We are thrilled by the potential of what’s to come on Lake Sixteen!
We are partnering with Children of the Valley to provide 15 spaces per week at Camp Anderson for migrant families in 2024. We’ll serve up to 75 kids per week at Camp Anderson – this is 25 more per week than previous summers!
301
Campers
Social Impact
Youth housing, support services, and prevention.
They Y is committed to supporting at-risk youth in our community. Whether we’re providing stable and secure housing solutions, meals after school, safe places to study, play and relax, or drug abuse prevention resources, we aim to ensure teens and young adults in our community have safe spaces to belong and thrive on their journey to adulthood.
Oasis Youth Shelter
We continued to serve at-risk and homeless youth ages 13-17 from across the region at the Oasis Youth Shelter. Although Oasis typically serves a disproportionate rate of young people of color and LGBTQIA+ youth, in 2023, we saw an increase in the number of Hispanic/Latine youth accessing Oasis’s services, as well as an increase in youth who identify as transgender/nonbinary/more than one gender. 43 individual youth were served at the shelter across 1,053 bed nights, and the shelter served over 2,600 meals. Half of all exits from the shelter were to permanent, stable housing, typically with family or another relative.
The Y received a state budget allocation totaling $2.7 million to rebuild the shelter facility. This investment will allow Oasis to almost double its capacity, ensure an even more comfortable, open, and accommodating space for youth, and adapt to the needs of the housing crisis for the next generations of youth.
Oasis also received a HOPE Center contract through the Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) for shelter operations, ensuring Its programmatic sustainability for years to come. The investment came at a critical time to assist with stabilizing the shelter's workforce and accommodating increased costs for food and other goods for youth.
MV HOPE
The Mount Vernon Healthy Outcomes through Prevention Efforts (MV HOPE) Coalition takes a community-based approach to opioid and other drug prevention among school-age youth within the Mount Vernon School District. The coalition continued to fund direct service programs and environmental strategies proven to reduce substance use in youth, such as medication lockbox dispensing at community events.
The coalition’s Equity Team’s critical efforts over the last two years are paying off by strengthening the representation of Hispanic/Latine members of the coalition, normalizing bilingual Spanish and English coalition meetings, and building trust among local families.
385
youth served through outreach programs
Outreach
Outreach at the Skagit Y comprises two strategies: a free drop-in center for middle and high school-aged youth through the Sedro-Woolley Rec Center and housing case management support for youth ages 12-24 located anywhere in Skagit County. The Skagit Y partners closely with Northwest Youth Services on housing case management services to ensure geographical and young adult coverage.
After opening the Sedro-Woolley Rec Center in December 2022, we saw an incredible spike in usage of the space in 2023. Our record is 89 individual youth visiting the Rec Center in just one day. For our housing case management effort, 2023 was largely spent on solidifying pivotal referral pathways through schools, particularly in the Sedro-Woolley and Burlington-Edison School Districts, where our team now works regularly with counselors, mental health professionals, social workers, and migrant support specialists to ensure access to housing and support services.
We ended 2023 with 364 individual youth served through the Rec Center, 21 youth served with housing case management, 3,630 total contacts (or instances of meetings/visits by young people), and at least 7,281 meals provided through Outreach.
1,053
Bed nights at Oasis
Anchor Community Initiative
The Y leads Skagit County’s commitment to functionally ending youth and young adult homelessness across the state as part of the Anchor Community Initiative. In 2023, we wrapped most of the Scorecard Phase, which sets us up to ensure quality, real-time data on youth and young adults ages 12-24 who are actively experiencing homelessness through a By-Name List. The By-Name List will allow the team to start testing methods for reducing the number of actively homeless young people in 2024. Our team has been bolstered by an engaged Youth Action Board and Core Improvement Team made up of local youth with lived experience of homelessness and service providers with the shared goal of swiftly and effectively housing young people within 30 days or less.
Board of Directors
Pete Vander Meulen - President
Elizabeth Neidzwski - President Elect
Rod Cann - Treasurer
Laura Cailloux - Secretary
Gautam Kini
Oscar Rivera
Brad Methner
Miriam Miralles Mickelson
Dan Berard
Nallely Carreón-Carrillo
Audra Ramerman
Diana Peregrina (2023 former member)
Paul Pickering (2023 former member)
The Y’s legacy continues to build on what Skagitonians have built over the decades. Notice all the critical services the Y offers beyond the new building you helped build? The Y matters in many ways not as easily seen as the new Y itself. From Early Learning to Before and After School care, to youth sports and Active Older Adult activities, and with professional staff and exceptional leadership leading the way, your Y continues to make an impact. Powerful impact. Lasting impact. And a lasting legacy. Thank you for being part of that future with us as we keep growing.
Pete Vander Meulen
Board President
Mark Pearson Bike Project
Mark Pearson is a retired English teacher from Mount Vernon High School who now spends his time repairing and repurposing bicycles for youths and adults in need in the Skagit community. He has donated dozens of bikes to various organizations in the area, including the Oasis Teen Shelter, Northwest Youth Services, Children of the Valley, First Step Housing, Men's and Women's Friendship House, and others. In 2023, Mark donated 229 bikes to the community with financial help from the Haggen Foundation and community donations. The Y applies for Haggen Foundation funding on Mark’s behalf.
Memorial Funds
The Chris Mang Memorial Charity Fun Run and Walk took place in May 2023 and more than 70 people came out to participate. The Memorial Fund in Chris' name supports Skagit County Special Olympics, the Oasis Youth Shelter, and the Sedro-Woolley Rec Center, among others.
Chris Mang Run/Walk
Sponsors
Domino’s Pizza
Skagit Special Olympics
Lithtex NW
Law Office of Mari K. Doerner
Mortenson Signs
The Don Gerrior Memorial Fund was established in memory of Don Gerrior, a longtime Skagit Y member. The memorial fund improves access to the pool and water safety programs for children.
Thanks to funding from this fund, the Y hosted a Safety Around Water program in May 2023 at free/reduced cost for participants. This program taught children, particularly those in underserved communities most at risk of drowning, how to be safe around water. The 2024 session of Safety Around Water will have over 30 participants.
11 teams participated in the inaugural T-3 3v3 Basketball Tournament, put on by the T-3 Memorial Fund. The fund promotes “skills over pills” awareness and funds basketball programs at the Y.
T-3 Tournament Sponsors
Windemere Real Estate
BYK Construction
Skagit County Health Department
Mount Vernon Smile Design
Paula Plumer
The Otos Group
Cavalier Real Estate
Axthelm Construction
KarMART Automotive Group
Community Health Plan of Washington
Rayce Rudeen Foundation
Thank you to all of our generous
2023 donors and supporters!
Community Partner Sponsors
In 2023, we launched a Sponsorship program for local businesses, organizations, and families to support the Y’s Y for All Financial Assistance program and the various events hosted at the Y. Interested in becoming a sponsor and supporting the Y? Email donations@skagitymca.org to learn how you can get involved.
Astrid Aamot
Arliss Abbott
Linda Allen
Douglas and Kirsten Ambach
Glenn and Kristen Ash
Terri Bakke-Schultz
Phoebe Barnard
Fredric Bergstrom
Teresa Bessett
Brecky Bihary
Kate and Greg Black
Graeme Blake
Nina Boudinot
Beau Brockman
Gary and Susan Brown
Dawn Brown
Harold Brown
Jaye Bywater
Chris Cammock
Rod Cann
Gloria Carbert
Henry Carsberg
Javier Castaneda Gonzalez
Maddie Caswell (Starkovich)
David Cavalier
Gerry & Susan Christensen
Stan Christianson
Judith Cole
Mary Copner
Ann Curran
James Dalton
Justin Davies
David Defferding
Mariko Doerner
Bill Duffield
Yukiko Duffield
Nicole Durbin
Patti Dybdahl
Jason Easton
Joel Eberle
Julita and Rob Eleveld
St. Episcopal Church of Mount Vernon
John and Marie Erbstoeszer
Brenda Eriksen
Cynthia Faber
Boyce Walter & Annie E Memorial Foundation
Robert and Cheri Fiedler
Renee Fleury
Tucker Foundation
Aline Franklin
Teresa Furlong
Camille Geeter
Peter Gerlach
Cindy Gerrior
Reed and Susan Glesne
Mark Glesne
Kurt and Stacey Glesne
Brian Glesne
Kathy Green
Carolyn Gregg
Lydia Guel
Miranda Guimond
Kathy Hagen
Keith & Catherine Hattori
William & Linda Heron
Tim and Pat Holloran
Robert Holt
Ray Horak
Patti Horn
Francine Humphreys
Laura Hurdelbrink
Kara Janicki
Connie Jette
Jeanne & Mark Johnson
Patricia Johnson
Kat and Richard Johnson
Dale Johnson
Caryn Jorgensen
Marilyn Kenney
Richard and Saundra Knapp
Tami Koth
Carol and Douglas Krampetz
William Kring
Will L
Lori Lacy
Jere & Wende Lafollette
Jeff and Linda Larsen
Carmel Lenski
Jeff and Elizabeth Leschensky
Stefanie and Joe Lindquist
John & Kathryn Lindsay
Beth Litchman
Taylor Long
Kathryn Longfellow
Douglas and Linda MacGregor
Joan and Keith Magee
Aimee Mang
Vicktoria Manso
Zachary McAdams
Linda McAdams
Heather Mcaleer
Brad Methner
Central Methodist Church Women
Genevieve Pehlivanian
Trista Pendergrast
Paula Plumer
Sonya Powell
Lynn & Randy Rabenstein
Nancy and Timothy Raschko
Linda C Ream
Kyle & Kelly Reep
David Robinson
Sharon Robinson
Rylan Rodriguez
Robert and Rebecca Rosenfeld
Julia Rowland
Mary Jo Sanders
Jill Santiago
Kristi Schweigert
Debra & Jeffrey Scott
Anne Sidbury
Jacqueline Smart
Ricky Smith
Dean and Darlene Snider
Nancy & Larry Solheim
Claudia Stroh
Jim Thompson
Robert Thornquist
Ted Thorsen
Pete Vander Meulen
Carmelita Vazquez-hernandez
Carolyn Vinyard
Medea Westcott
Donald Willcuts
Sandi and Gene Willett
Susan Wilson
Timothy Woiwod
Jonathan Wolman
Ruth Wylie
Britt Zehe
Bay View United Methodist Church
Burlington Lutheran Church
Skagit Rotary Charitable Association
Seattle Foundation
United Way of King County
American Online Giving Foundation, INC
Linda Miller
Cynthia Mineishi
Craig Mohler
Laura and Damond Morris
Aimee Nassoiy
Kristofer Niehouse
Neil Oehring
Edward & Margaret Oleksiak
Courtney Eric
Shoshana Paige
Thomas and Marilyn Parnella
Janet Patterson
Vanguard Charitable
People's Bank
Mount Vernon Rotary Club Foundation Puget Sound Energy Foundation Windermere Real Estate / Skagit Valley Axthelm Construction
LCMSFoundation
KarMART Automotive Group
Rayce Rudeen Foundation
NW Children's Foundation
BYK Construction, Inc
Heritage Bank
Foothills Toyota
Baird Foundation Inc.
Puget Sound Energy
Milton and Miriam Waldbaum Family Foundation
RJ Produce Distributors, Inc.
Paciotti
Skagit County Dairy Women
Town of La Conner
Kona Ice - Skagit Shaved Ice LLC
United Way of Snohomish County
Frontstream
The Sells Larson Family Fund
CPI Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, LLC
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Mt. Vernon
Crane Charitable Funds and Crane A&E
Community Health Plan of Washington
MOD Super Fast Pizza, LLC
Skagit Valley Food Co-op
Skagit Community Foundation
Quil Ceda Village
Robert M. & Rebecca W. Gates Foundation
Snelson Companies, Inc.
Pledge Foundation
Family Care Network PLLC
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
Burlington Rotary Foundation
Skagit Law Group PLLC
Mount Vernon Smile Design