Greg
and Kathy Spier of Foxborough are issuing a $50,000 challenge grant to support
the Hockomock Area YMCA’s commitment to support kids and families during this
pandemic. The Spiers are matching every donation made August 10th
through September 26th up to $50,000. When the Spier Family Kindness
for Kids Challenge is met, it will result in $100,000 to benefit food security
initiatives through the Hockomock Area YMCA.
Since the pandemic started, when the Y’s doors were closed in March, the
Hockomock Area YMCA immediately began providing food for people in need and
providing emergency child care for essential personnel. As of August 7th,
152,000 meals and 15, 623 grocery bags have been
provided to people in the local communities that the YMCA serves.
Every Wednesday, since March 18th, the Hockomock Y has provided free
family-size grocery bags valued at $50 each at their branches in Foxboro,
Franklin and North Attleboro to anyone in need. Additionally, the Y has been
working with school nutrition departments and community partners to ensure that
children and families have grab and go meals for breakfast and lunch while
schools have been closed and through the summer months. As the need for food
access continues to grow, grab and go meals are now offered in Bellingham, North Attleboro, Milford and
Wrentham.
“In
these challenging times, our YMCA has been there for our community providing an
important safety net for so many kids and families,” said Ed Hurley, President
of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “I’m so proud of the work our Y has done –
reflecting our mission and values - to provide emergency support focused on the
needs of those challenged with food insecurity. Greg and Kathy Spier have been
passionate partners for so many years with our Y. This incredible challenge will help our
neighbors when they need it most and is the latest example of the Spier
family’s commitment to our YMCA and the communities we are so proud to serve.”
Greg
and Kathy Spier, long time Foxborough residents, Y members and volunteers, and
community leaders, are committed to improving the quality of life in their
community. The Spier Family’s legacy
includes the naming of the indoor and outdoor aquatics centers at the Y’s
Invensys Foxboro Branch, along with their parents, Sonja and the late Alex
Spier.
Through
the Spier Family Kindness for Kids Challenge, Kathy Spier expressed her hope
that this challenge “will inspire people to make a gift to help feed kids and
families and spread kindness and a caring hand to those who need it during a
difficult time in our communities.”
“Our
family has always believed in giving back to the community and this YMCA. We have learned from our mom and dad the
importance of paying it forward and making your community a better place.
Through this challenge, and with the support of our community, together we will
make a difference providing food access to our neighbors in need during this
pandemic,” said Greg Spier.
When asked why the Spiers are issuing this challenge, Greg shared, “Kathy and I
give because our hearts feel good when we do so, and we advocate for the Y
because we know the Y’s reputation and commitment to helping people. Now more
than ever in these uncertain times, we all need to come together to support one
another.”
Every gift matters. To learn more about this challenge and ways to make a gift,
visit www.hockymca.org/spier-challenge
To learn about other ways to support this initiative, please contact Katie
Moore at katiem@hockymca.org.
For
more information about the Y’s food securities initiatives, visit
hockymca.org/food-access.
About Hockomock Area YMCA:
Where Cause Meets Community. At the
Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area
YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to
nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of
social responsibility.
The Hockomock Area YMCA is
committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver
lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to
serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven
organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and
Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.
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| Spier Family Issues Giving Challenge At Hockomock Area YMCA |
