As 2024 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible difference you've made this year. Thanks to your support, the Y continues to be a place where lives are transformed and community thrives.
Take Paul's story, for example. Paul moved to Duluth in 2005 and started coming to the Y to play basketball. "I wanted to play basketball, even when I should have been in school," Paul admits. Over time, his visits turned into much more than just shooting hoops.
Paul met a long-time Y member who became a mentor. "He taught me how to be respectful and how to become a better person," Paul shared. "Having positive Y role models gave me a new perspective. Now, I'm the one breaking up fights instead of being part of them. I've realized I need to model the kind of behavior I want the kids I work with to have."
Today, Paul comes to the Y to support his mental health. "With three jobs, life can get stressful, but when I walk into the Y, I know 85% of the people here. It's a place where I feel wanted, and that's an amazing feeling to have," he says.
This is the kind of impact your generosity makes possible. As we end 2024, we're asking for your help to continue transforming lives like Paul's. Your end-of-year donation helps uplift others, provides a safe and welcoming space, and helps create lasting change in our community.
Donate today to be a part of something truly special at the Y.