2018 SPY Holiday Prjoect

The core values of the YMCA are Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Over the holidays we will have first-hand opportunities for SPY athletes and parents to embrace these values. For the 3rd Annual SPY Holiday Project, we will again be adopting five families from the The Matthew Project.  

This organization provides services to in-transition District 186 families. The YMCA has a great relationship with The Matthew Project and works with them throughout the year. The SPY team practice groups will direct their own activities including shopping, wrapping, and delivery. This will aid in bringing the YMCA core values to each group and promote team bonding. More details will follow as group leads are assigned and and funds are collected

During the 2017 holiday season the team collected over $6,000. For the families assigned to each pracitce group, gifts (necessities) were purchased up to $150 per child. Families had anywhere from two to five children. After gifts were purchased another $4,000 remained. This money was given to the Strong Kids Campaign and earmarked specifically for The Matthew Project participants' swim lessons during the 2018 summer camps. ​

To provide the holiday experience we wish to, we will start with a more than achievable goal of $3,000. Of course, if the spirit is as it was in 2018, we will take all remaining funds and put them right back into the Matthew Project. 

On Monday, we will post a fundraiser on our team Facebook page. Facebook allows you to share the fundraiser, but they do take their 5% cut for fundraising. We will also be collecting cash or check donations. These can be delivered to the front desk in an evenlope: SPY Holiday Project, c/o Rob Busby. Checks should be made payable to YMCA of Springfield.

The campaign will remain open for three weeks, until December 3.

Before the conclusion of the campaign we will need five group leads or co-leads to represent each practice practice group. Leads will organize shopping and wrapping (compose an email and have a coach issue it to assigned practice group to gain participation); track spending (gift cards will be issued for shopping, receipts shall be turned in to Rob).

Practice Groups (preference of at least two parents per group with one identified as lead)

  • Beginner
  • Age Group
  • Advanced Age Group
  • Senior Prep
  • Senior