Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Hosts Annual Campaign Luncheon

TRAVERSE CITY: Every year, the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA hosts an event to share its successes with the community and invite others to join their cause. Last year’s theme was “Be Someone’s Superhero” and the non-profit wowed the audience with an entertaining display of just how many people they’ve helped in the areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

Some luncheon goers were in tears after video testimonials of families the Y has helped, while others were simply in awe of the entire presentation saying, “I’ve never been to such an inspirational and terrific event.”

With superhero cutouts standing tall around the room, YMCA staff in superhero capes at every entrance, powerful music serenading guests as they ate, and a cityscape lining the stage as President and CEO, Jay Buckmaster shared the Y’s story, it was hard not to be captivated by the message the Y was advocating—that each and every person can be someone’s superhero.

This year’s theme is “Opening Doors, Creating Opportunities.”

“The Annual Campaign is a series of events and efforts aimed at fundraising enough each year for us to be able to sustainably provide financial assistance and offer critical programming to those who need it most,” Buckmaster says, “and we’re very excited to kick off the campaign by inviting the community to have lunch with us, hear about what we’re doing, who we’re helping and give them a chance to be part of that story.”

While last year’s luncheon focused on telling the Y’s story and focusing on who they serve, this year’s luncheon will focus on those who have made it all possible and feature the stories of those who have been deeply impacted by the Y’s work. The Y will also discuss its goals for the coming year and how the community can help.

The Annual Campaign Luncheon is held at the Great Wolf Lodge on September 30 from noon to 1 p.m. Tickets are $20/seat or $250 to sponsor a table of 8. RSVP to Jay Buckmaster (jay@gtbayymca.org) by September 20 if you’d like to reserve a seat or sponsor a table.

About the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children—regardless of age, income or background—to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.