MISSOULA – The Missoula YMCA holds their annual Support Campaign each year in hopes of creating a better and healthier community.
The event kicked off Tuesday and the goal is to raise $300,000 that will be used to support the YMCA’s financial assistance program which provides scholarships to low-income individuals and families in need.
YMCA development director Julie Hofbauer says that program is one of the many reasons why this campaign is vital to the community.
“Over half the people that come to the YMCA are here because they need that financial assistance piece. They are going somewhere else in town — they are not allowed to participate if [they can’t] afford it, so they are turned away,” Hofbauer said.
“It’s really key that they have an organization they feel that they can belong to. I think overall it builds stronger communities. It makes all of us healthier when we have a place where we can go and feel welcomed,” she added.
The Missoula Family YMCA kicked off their 2019 annual support campaign on Wednesday evening in the Canyon Room at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
-Jack Ginsburg reporting for MTN News
