Thomas Coleman

Board Member, Ocean Community YMCA – Westerly-Pawcatuck Branch

95 High Street, Westerly, RI 02891

Dear Friends and Family,

I’m reaching out because, as some of you know, I recently joined the Board of the Ocean Community YMCA and the Annual Support Campaign is incredibly important to the vitality of the Y!

The Y is so much more than a gym. It’s a welcoming place where kids build confidence through swim lessons and youth programs, families find support, and people of all ages improve their health and well-being. It creates meaningful community connections that strengthen our entire region.

This is my first year participating in the annual giving program. I was humbled to be asked to serve. I’ll admit our family of five never grew up going to the Y, and I was initially naïve about its full impact. As someone who loves numbers, I dug into the data — and I was amazed by how much the Y truly gives back to our community.

Since joining the board, my six-year-old daughter has started swim lessons and is already excelling. My wife has worked closely with Meghan Baxter, our outstanding Executive Director, to help coordinate over 500 lunches with the Warm Shelter in support of the Race for Chase summer program. These experiences have opened my eyes to the Y’s deeper mission.

Here’s why your support matters now more than ever:

• In 2025, we welcomed approximately 290 new donors who contributed nearly $100,000 — more than triple the new donor support from the prior year.

• The Westerly-Pawcatuck Branch exceeded its campaign goal, reaching about 120%, with paid pledge fulfillment at roughly 97%.

• Through the YCARES program, we provided financial assistance to approximately 5,200 individuals last year — a 30% increase from 2024 — ensuring no one is turned away due to inability to pay.

• Our branch now serves over 10,000 members, with strong growth in membership and exciting new spaces like the Sandbox Youth & Teen Center offering daily STEAM activities for kids and teens.

• During recent storms, the Y opened as a warming center, providing warm showers and relief when families needed it most.

The Ocean Community YMCA serves more than 17,000 members across its branches. One hundred percent of the funds raised in this Annual Campaign go directly to YCARES, covering memberships, swim lessons, summer camp, youth sports, senior wellness, and more for those who need help.

Without your generosity, we couldn’t offer these excellent programs or retain the dedicated staff who have served our community for many years. Our facilities in Westerly rank among the best in the country — thanks in large part to the vision and support of leaders like Chuck Royce — and your gift helps us continue that legacy while making sure cost is never a barrier.

I’ve set a personal goal to raise $10,000 this year, and I would be deeply grateful if you’d consider a gift of any amount. Every contribution — large or small — makes a real difference.

Every dollar helps keep the Y as a place where everyone belongs and everyone has the chance to thrive.

Thank you for considering this request and for supporting something that means so much to me, my family, and our entire community.

With sincere gratitude,

Thomas Coleman

Board Member

Ocean Community YMCA – Westerly-Pawcatuck Branch

P.S. A gift of $100 can help a child attend swim lessons. A gift of $500 or more can support a family for months. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier Westerly-Pawcatuck.