The Hockomock Area YMCA held its annual Campaign Breakfast on September 15th at the Gillette Stadium Putnam Club in Foxborough.
Eric Kevorkian, chair of the Board of Directors at the Hockomock Area YMCA provided welcoming remarks and noted, “This annual gathering of caring, compassionate members of our community never fails to inspire me, and never fails to remind me of why I’m involved and why what the Y does is so important.”
The Hockomock Area YMCA is more than a place; it is a cause that is committed to strengthening communities. The Y’s annual fundraising campaign, known as Reach Out, ensures this non-profit organization continues to address diverse, emerging, and critical human needs across the 15 communities they serve.
Special guest speakers included friend of the YMCA Norm Bossio and YMCA member Nadine Bullock. Bossio shared, “For over 50 years, the Hockomock Area YMCA has had a vision. You’re here today to help with that vision.” During his remarks, Bossio credits his YMCA experiences in his youth for making a difference in his life and making it his mission to continue to help and inspire others.
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| Mary Clermont, immediate past board chair and member of the Hockomock Area Y's Board of Directors |
YMCA Board of Director Mary Clermont, the Y’s immediate past chair, commented, “The Hockomock Y is our home and it’s our community. Charity starts here today. People need help and together, we can impact the lives of so many in our community.”
Hockomock Y member Nadine Bullock addressed the crowd and sharing her own family’s personal YMCA story saying, “The YMCA does a lot of good for a lot of people. I am one of those people as well.” The Bullock family received a scholarship for their children to attend summer camp sharing, “My children needed to have fun in a place with understanding, helpful people. They needed to be doing fun things for the sake of childhood itself and to experience joy and laughter. Thank you to all the people who have made camp possible for our family and to each of you for considering a scholarship donation.”
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| Nadine Bullock, the event's testimonial speaker |
The Hockomock Y’s Board of Directors issued a $50,000 challenge to event attendees, matching all leadership gifts of $500 or more. Vice Chair of the Y’s Board of Directors Farzin Karim shared her own personal story, “I benefited because someone just like one of you in this room, made a donation to the Y and allowed me to experience camp for a couple of weeks at a local YMCA. And in that experience at the Y, it changed my life. You have an opportunity to change someone’s life this morning and make a difference.”
The Hockomock Y’s goal is to raise $1.4 million for this year’s campaign. The Breakfast event raised $203,000, bringing the total raised to-date to $1.2 million for this year’s campaign. To make a gift or learn how you can volunteer, visit www.hockymca.org/give.
Jim Downs, Hockomock Area YMCA CEO thanked attendees for being at this event, believing in and supporting the Y’s mission saying, “Thank you for your trust in our Hockomock Area YMCA. For the last 5 decades, you’ve trusted us to be here when kids and families needed us most and be that critical community safety net. Our Hockomock Area YMCA is something you can always count on.”
The Y provides a safety net for thousands of individuals and families facing challenges. The Y encourages members, volunteers, neighbors and friends in the community to join them in making a gift and raising funds to provide confidential scholarship assistance and program subsidies for those facing challenges. The essence of Reach Out and a cornerstone of the Y’s mission is that nobody is turned away because of inability to pay.
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.
Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we 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 www.hockymca.org/our-cause/
