The YMCA – Fairfax County is part of the metropolitan DC area set of YMCAs.  Its mission is to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.  While Fairfax County one of the most affluent counties in Virginia, the resulting high cost of living makes it difficult for those of more modest incomes to make ends meet.  The working poor are particularly hard hit—those who make enough not to qualify for financial assistance available for the poor but who do not make enough to afford the cost of living in Fairfax County.  In 2010, the Fairfax County branch gave more than $300,000 in financial scholarships to kids and their families, primarily for child care and summer camp.

I have been on the Board of YMCA – Fairfax County for almost 10 years.  What I like about the Y is that it is community based and reaches out to the local businesses and communities to make our region more welcoming and more livable for everyone.  I also like the emphasis on kids’ health.  The earlier you can teach a child about the benefits of healthy eating and regular exercise, the better off that child is for the rest of his/her life.  And the working poor are too often neglected.  These are families who are doing all the right things, often holding down multiple jobs, to try and carve a better life out for their children.  The safety net is not set up to help families like these, and the Y is an organization that can step in and ease the burden.  You can find out more about the Y at www.ymcadc.org (click on “Locations” and then “Fairfax County Reston” to find out more about this particular branch).