Channel Islands YMCA Association chosen to be honored at first-ever California Nonprofits Day celebration

Lompoc Family YMCASACRAMENTO — On Wednesday, June 22, Channel Islands YMCA Association, with branches in Camarillo, Ventura, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez and Lompoc, will be honored as a Nonprofit of the Year at a celebration of California Nonprofits Day at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Channel Islands YMCA Association has been selected by Das Williams, Assemblymember for the 37th California Assembly District as an exceptional nonprofit organization in his district community. Channel Islands YMCA Association will join other nonprofit leaders from across the state being honored at this inaugural California Nonprofits Day event.

A community centered organization, the Y provides the support and opportunities necessary to empower people and communities to learn, grow and thrive. By focusing on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves health and well-being across Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The Y brings people together, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs.

“The Channel Islands YMCA is very pleased to be the recipient of this honorable recognition. The YMCA hopes that California Nonprofits Day draws public awareness to the impactful work that nonprofits across the state, like the Y, do every day. Nonprofits rely on donations and grants to thrive and awareness of nonprofit causes is vital to the work we do. A great debt of gratitude to the State of California and Das Williams.” Sally Irving, Board Chair, Channel Islands YMCA.

The award recipients will visit the Assembly Floor and then will be honored at a luncheon at Sacramento’s Sheraton Grand Hotel, with presentations from former Senate President Pro Tempore and Sacramento Mayor-Elect Darrell Steinberg, Assemblymember Rich Gordon, and Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits).

“Nonprofit organizations are vitally important to the economy and well-being of California. But too often nonprofits are ‘hidden in plain sight.’ We are thrilled that the State Assembly has passed a resolution putting the spotlight on nonprofits as an economic power that uses that power for the common good. We congratulate all of the award recipients on being honored for the great work they do every day to make California a better place,” said Jan Masaoka, CEO of California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a statewide alliance of over 10,000 organizations, representing and promoting California’s growing nonprofit sector and working to bring the full power of nonprofits to strengthening communities.

About the Channel Islands YMCA: Established in 1887, the Channel Islands YMCA is a charitable organization of seven YMCA branches serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties including: Camarillo Family YMCA, Lompoc Family YMCA, Montecito Family YMCA, Santa Barbara Family YMCA, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez, Ventura Family YMCA, and Youth and Family Services YMCA which operates Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, the St. George Family Youth Center and My Home.

The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Channel Islands YMCA serves over 46,000 individuals and provides over $1.3 million in financial assistance to families in need for child care, YMCA memberships, away and day camps, youth sports, and teen after-school programs. For more information, visit http://www.ciymca.org or call (805) 569-1103.