It’s always a thrilling experience to have a gathering that appreciates work that creates a strong impact. That’s exactly what the La Porte County Family YMCA experienced in hosting its 114th annual State of the Y ceremony on Thursday, February 22.
Many staff members and volunteers were recognized for their dedication to the organization at the event. Dawn Zigler, executive volunteer officer for La Porte Family YMCA, shared how the State of the Y ceremony serves as a positive reflection.
“Our esteemed stakeholders, committed board members, selfless volunteers and honored elected officials embody the strength and unity that defines our community-focused organization,” Zigler said. “Today is all about celebrating our shared commitment to building a more connected community.”
Nate Loucks, pastor at State Street Community Church, shared what this staff has meant to him and how the La Porte County Family YMCA makes it their mission to continuously take steps in the right direction.
“The YMCA staff and board members have done a great job of trying to get everything ready to grow when spring arrives,” Loucks said. “As a community stakeholder, I’m super excited for how everything will come together for this upcoming season.”
Loucks also shared his excitement for Scott Helmkamp, the new CEO of the La Porte County Family YMCA. With this being the 114th annual ceremony for the State of the Y, Helmkamp is pleased with how the community has been true to the La Porte County Family YMCA for such a long time.
“It goes to show how rooted we are in the community,” Helmkamp said. “Having the longevity of this tradition shows the magnitude that we’ve had. It also lets the people know that we’re going to be around for a long time.”
The State of the Y event also included a conversation about the plans in place for the La Porte County Family YMCA moving forward.
“We’re going to maintain a presence in serving the children in our community,” Helmkamp said. “We’re going to stay involved through our preschool programs, summer camps, and youth sports. It’s also important for us to serve parts of the population that might be underrepresented and support the schools in the summer by incorporating some of the education needs within our programming as well.”
In order to meet these needs, a collaborative effort is mandatory. Helmkamp discussed in his State of the Y address how the organization will look to continue to move forward while exemplifying qualities such as servant leadership, inclusion & equity, transparency, teamwork, and stewardship.
The annual fundraising campaign for the La Porte County Family YMCA is one way that the organization can put this on full display. Helmkamp mentioned that today was the start of this year’s campaign.
“Every year, our campaign is about raising awareness and supporting our goal to not turn anyone away with financial constraints,” Helmkamp said.
“The YMCA depends on our annual campaign to satisfy the mission of our organization. We’re always looking to ease hardship within our programming to make LaPorte County a better place.”
Ric Federighi, radio host, was also in attendance for the event. He dove into the direct impact that the annual fundraising campaign has on the citizens of La Porte County.
“The funds from the campaign are used to meet the greatest needs in our community,” Federighi said. “It gives us the capacity to connect and support more than 15,000 people each year with programs and services that make the community stronger.”
The ceremony also honored some attendees with an award presentation and the introduction of new board members. Members of the La Porte County Family YMCA can’t wait for what’s to come with a team devoted to creating a positive change for local families.
“Being that it’s just my second week as the CEO, I’m still learning every day,” Helmkamp said. “I’m looking forward to getting everybody rallied up about where we’re going as an organization. The leadership team is phenomenal and I’m extremely grateful for every staff member at the YMCA. Together, we can and we will make a difference.”
For more information on the La Porte County Family YMCA, you can visit their website.
