PEABODY — GraVoc Charitable Foundation, Inc. has made a $25,000 donation to the YMCA of Metro North.
Foundation President Catherine Gravel said the donation is part of its new Comprehensive Annual Sponsorship program.
“Each year, the lives of thousands of people change for the better because of YMCA programs and services,” said Gravel. “When you join the ‘Y,’ you are joining a diverse community of people dedicated to healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility. The Y gives back to our community every day.”
Kathleen Walsh, YMCA of Metro North CEO, was thrilled to be on the receiving end of the GraVoc Charitable Foundation’s Comprehensive Annual Sponsorship.
“Your donation will help the Y continue to help those who need it most and further, help our community thrive,” said Walsh, adding that the YMCA does not just strengthen bodies, it strengthens its community.
Walsh said the money will be used for summer camp scholarships and Y Academy scholarships. Program costs are approximately $250 per camper per week. Metro North serves more than 1,200 campers during the 10-week summer programs.
“The cost depends on certain situations, but with that many campers, the money goes pretty quickly, so this donation will really make a difference for many, many families,” she said.
Demand for YMCA summer programs is high, even compared to the last two pandemic years.
“It’s just crazy as we already have wait list after wait list after wait list,” Walsh said. “It’s extremely early for us to have such a wait-list depth like this.”
Metro North has five camp programs: Camp Eastman (Torigian Family YMCA in Peabody), Camp Hillside and gymnastic camps (Saugus Family YMCA and Gymnastics), Melstone Camp (Melrose); as well as full-day summer programs in Lynn at the new Demakes Family YMCA.
GraVoc recently committed to use a portion of its annual profits to form the GraVoc Charitable Foundation, Inc. The foundation’s purpose is to assist and engage in activities that serve charitable, educational, literary, or scientific purposes, as well as to create strong, well-organized relationships throughout the community.
“The Y is a powerful association of men, women, and children of all ages and social classes joined together by the shared passion of strengthening the community,” said Gravel. “The Y ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow, and thrive, which embodies the mission of the GraVoc Charitable Foundation.
