This is a late Birthday Appeal celebrating 1-14-63 and my 130 lb weight loss. Please consider a symbolic donation of $1, $14, $63 or $130 to help me thank the Y for their financial assistance one year ago.

I joined the YMCA a year ago as a way to accelerate my weight loss, build community and ward off depression. My social security is just above the Federal Poverty Level, so I requested and received Financial Assistance. My application included a personal note that if they provided the grant, they would have a great success story in a year.

Fast forward 10 months and they are using my story as a way to inspire donors. I'm now their "poster boy" for this campaign. God's grace works in mysterious ways.

I am so grateful for their assistance. Once I had my foot in the door, I could access a variety of opportunities to improve my physical and mental health.

My involvement at the Y has assisted me in dropping 130 pounds by committing to their group exercise and personal training programs. The weight loss is secondary to the joy I have in reclaiming some functional movement and the confidence that's spilling over into other areas of my physical and mental health.

This past year I discovered I'm on the Autism Spectrum (ASD-1). The YMCA has assisted me with setting some structure so I'm out the door every day by 9:30 am. Without that, it could be noon before I stop walking in circles wondering what I should do first.

In addition, the Y has provided a sense of community. I've become a regular at the 9:45 am classes, so on a day I was running late, I arrived just as the warmup was ending and slid into the only available station. As I tried to slip in unnoticed, four people cried out "There he is!"

I felt valued and seen. I know I belonged.

The Y has several programs for active older adults to build community and/or improve their fitness. The Y makes these programs accessible to all by providing financial support to those with lower incomes. I am so grateful to donors like you who make these programs possible.

With your help, I have increased my flexibility, strength, and overall physical and mental well being. Most importantly, I have increased my self confidence in ways that positively affect other areas of my life. I like this new person I’m becoming and can't wait to spend more time with him.

Thank you for your generosity.