On Friday, March 4, 2011, YMCA Southcoast will kick-off the 2011 Annual Support Campaign with a luncheon at White’s of Westport at 11:45 a.m. A mission-driven organization dedicated to improving the well being of the community, YMCA Southcoast offers YCares Financial Assistance to families and individuals in need. This year the YMCA Southcoast 2011 Annual Support Fund has a goal of $260,000.  This assistance helps keep our wholesome and healthy programs open to everyone.  YCares makes an impact on the lives of youth and families, seniors on fixed incomes, and all of those who are struggling to survive in this economy.  YCares Financial Assistance is direct support for people in need throughout the year.

Approximately 4,000 individuals at YMCA Southcoast receive direct assistance each year towards membership, and another 1,000 receive assistance for camp and programs thanks to the YCares Financial Assistance Fund supported by the Annual Support Campaign at YMCA Southcoast.  This fund is made up of donations from individuals and businesses who believe in our mission to include “all people” from our community.   Inclusiveness is one of the things that makes the Y special.  In the past two years alone the Y has granted over $1.6 million in financial assistance, thanks to donations made to Annual Support.

To help kick off this campaign, YMCA Southcoast has invited Andy Boynton world-renown business scholar and author to be the special keynote speaker. Boynton is the Dean of the Carroll School of Management housed within Boston College. Prior to this he was a professor of strategy at the world renowned IMD in Switzerland for 10 years, where he became a faculty leader in designing outstanding executive learning experiences and consulting with firms from around the globe. At the IMD he led a faculty team that created one of the world’s top ten Executive MBA programs, as recognized by Business Week. Prior to joining the faculty at IMD, Andy was a Professor of Strategy at the Darden School, the University of Virginia.

The cost for lunch is $15, your seat can be reserved through Tuesday, March 1st by calling Jennifer Golden at 508.996.9622 x22, or tickets can be purchased online at ymcasouthcoast.org.