Give

Find Joy in Giving

Donate Now

The Y is a charity, dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With programs from A to Z—like athletics to advocacy, dance classes to disease prevention, volleyball to volunteerism—we don't just strengthen individuals, we strengthen communities.

Your support helps the Y deliver on our commitment:

  • To nurture the potential of youth through building confidence at camp, academic enrichment in safe afterschool programs, or foundational skills and values in our child care programs

  • To improve the nation’s health and well-being through combating obesity and chronic disease by providing the support and resources people need to make positive change

  • To give back and support our neighbors by empowering people with the resources to improve their lives and connect and contribute to the community, such as with job training, housing, newcomer services and opportunities to advocate for social change

  • To offer programs and services to children, adults and families who need financial assistance

Annual Campaign - The Y. So Much More™

With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, strengthening communities is our cause. At the Y, we believe that lasting personal and social change happens when we all work together. Every day we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.

When you give to your Y, you are funding life-changing programs that help thousands of children, adults and families right here in our community to learn, grow and thrive.

Every gift matters.
Everyone has a role to play.
Together, we can achieve so much more.

At the Chambersburg YMCA, proceeds from the Annual Campaign benefit the YMCA Sam's and Youth Achievers Programs.

The Chambersburg YMCA's Sam's Program started in 1956 when Ernest "Sam" Kessinger, a local grocery store owner, asked a profound question, "Is the YMCA for everyone?" General YMCA Secretary Gordon Tuttle answered emphatically "Yes" to Sam's question, for it was always intended that the YMCA would be open to all, no qualifications except interest in the association’s common goals.

Since 1956, thousands of children have participated in the YMCA’s Sam's Program. This program grew by Sam Kessinger traveling throughout the Chambersburg community identifying children who would benefit from the Y’s Sam's Night activities. Today’s program involves gymnasium activities, swimming, Christian education and socialization on Tuesday nights during the school year and day camping during the summer. The program is for children in first through seventh grades and is free to those enrolled.

This multi-cultural teen program, developed in 2006, works with aspiring teens in the Chambersburg Area School District and with the students in the Scotland School for Veteran’s Children. This program’s goal is to nurture the professional development of teens in grades eight through twelve.

This program has two primary goals. The first program goal is to further develop and enhance these students’ skills in four Categories of Knowledge. The second primary goal is to expose these students to seven different Career Clusters through the counsel of successful multi-cultural professionals.

The four Categories of Knowledge are: Communication Skills; Character Development; Diversity and Community Training and Spiritual Training.  The Career Clusters include the following professional employment areas. These areas are as follows: Health/Medical, Technology, Education, Business, Communications, Law/Government and Engineering. In addition to the professional career development the students tour college campuses and industrial sites to experience real life in those venues.

The YMCA Youth Achievers Program is an approved recipient of Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding.

Everyone has heard of the Y.  However, there is so much more to the Y than many people realize.  From exercise to education, from volleyball to volunteerism, from preschool to preventive health, the Y doesn't just strengthen bodies.  It strengthens communities. 

The Y is more than a gym.  It's a cause.  As a charity, we're dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation's health and well-being, and giving back and providing support to our neighbors.

The Chambersburg YMCA would like to offer your business the opportunity to collaborate with the Y to strengthen our community through the Y's Annual Banner Campaign.  Participation will allow your company's customized banner to be displayed in the Y's main lobby for an entire year! 

Currently, the Chambersburg YMCA has over 4000 active members from our community.  These community individuals pass through our facility on a regular basis.  Each YMCA member who sees your customized banner prominently displayed in our facility's main lobby could potentially become a new or returning customer for your business.

Together, we can make our communities stronger, but we need your help to continue our vital work.

Banner Recognition Giving Levels

Youth Developer - $3,000

Youth Mentor      - $1,500

Youth Guardian  - $750

Let your interest in youth be continued through your gift or bequest to one of the YMCA’s Endowment Funds.

The YMCA currently has two separate endowment funds. Gifts to these funds are perpetual in nature and thus help the long term financial stability of the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA.

The YMCA's "General Endowment Fund" generates income to be used for general YMCA operating expenses. Gifts to this fund will assure that future generations will receive the benefits of the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA.

The "Sam Kessinger Endowment Fund" has been created to provide income for the financial support of sponsored youth members and sponsored youth programs, and the salary of staff members who assist in or do the work started by Sam Kessinger in youth program development, outreach and visitation.

The simple steps to become a Chambersburg YMCA Heritage Club Member are as follows:

Make a planned or bequest gift to the Chambersburg YMCA from one of the six giving methods. The giving methods are as follows:

  • Life Insurance
  • Property
  • Charitable Trust
  • Life Estate
  • Cash - $3,000.00 minimum

Inform the Chambersburg YMCA of your gift or future bequest to the YMCA. You do not have to reveal the amount! Just tell us!