When you support the YMCA, you are helping create opportunities so no one in our community gets left behind. Learn more about our $17 million Community Starts Here campaign

The YMCA is a dedicated charity that exists to improve the health of our community and to help change lives for the better. Our teams work together and innovate to serve communities across Southwestern Ontario with high impact, affordable and accessible programs designed for each community.

With the support of donors like you, Y's are here to address your community’s most critical needs for all. 

  • Ys are community hubs across Southwestern Ontario that keep us connected, healthy and thriving. Working with others to support some of our most vulnerable citizens and to support the health and wellness of children, youth, adults, and seniors.
  • Ys are a safe, welcoming, and accessible space to learn languages, decrease barriers and increase opportunities for new Canadians to connect into life in Southwestern Ontario.
  • As the largest not-for-profit child care provider in Canada, Ys bring high quality, affordable child care and children’s educational services to families at over 119 locations – a critical service for our economy.
  • Ys are also the magic of camp. Fun, play, friendship and the outdoors, at a day camp close to home, or an unforgettable adventure, and leadership training at an overnight camp. 

Read our Fall 2023 Y Impact donor update here!

 

Make a gift to support one of our four impact areas: Thriving Kids and Youth, Health and Wellness, strong communities  and Amazing camp experiences. Pick one of the below areas by clicking on “Give Now” to make your donation.

Kids Start Here

Thriving kids and youth start here

We are nurturing the potential of the next generation at the Y by investing $3 million to provide children and youth with financially subsidized memberships, to run youth leadership & employment opportunities and programs that give kids a healthy start.

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Health Starts Here

Health and wellness start here

Because good health should be something everyone can access, we are investing $10 million to support family, adult and senior subsidized memberships and critical capital projects to maintain our health, fitness and aquatics centres.

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Community Starts Here

Strong Communities start here

The Y is here to help make the community a better place, so we are investing $2.5 million to build a strong and healthy Y that will provide access to skill-building programs, camp and subsidized memberships for Newcomers.

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Camp Starts Here

Amazing camp experiences for all start here

The camp experience is life-changing, so we are investing $1.5 million to send kids to camp with financial support, to provide critical maintenance and updates to our camp locations, and to run a specialized camp program for children with Autism.

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An Important Message to Our Donors
We use a company called Zeffy to process our donations. They do not charge transaction fees, so your entire donation goes directly to the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario. The platform does give you the option to add a tip to help Zeffy keep running its services, however if you don’t want to add a tip, in the confirmation message, just choose “Other” in the drop-down menu and then enter $0. The Y will still get your full donation.

Tax receipts will automatically be issued for all donations of $20 or more.
 

Contact information

If you have inquiries about making a donation, email donations@swo.ymca.ca.

Development Team Contacts:

Christina Harley


VP, Development
519.907.5500 x 1152

Angela Franceschino


Manager, Grants and Communications
519.907.5500 x 1154

Kaitlin Brotzel

Development Manager, Annual Fundraising
519-907-5500 x 1150