Litehouse YMCA Receives Unique Donation During Annual Fundraiser

Though Litehouse YMCA is part of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids network, every penny raised in Lowell stays in Lowell, so when Rozema says this money helps children, she means it helps the children of Lowell; when she says it helps cancer survivors, she means it helps cancer survivors in Lowell.

By Justin Tiemeyer || contributing writer

3/5/2024

The Lowell branch of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids was organized in 1959, with the assistance of the King Memorial Fund, and August marks two years since the Litehouse Family YMCA opened its current facility at 1070 North Hudson Street. Marta Rozema is the Executive Director of Litehouse YMCA. “We’ve settled nicely into our new home,” Rozema said.

During her time with the YMCA, a career that spans over two decades, Rozema has devoted herself to teaching the community that Lowell’s YMCA is not just a place to go for exercise; it is a home away from home. In order to make sure it stays that way for all community members, regardless of age, income, or opportunity, Rozema has spent just as many years working on the organization’s annual fundraising campaign.

In 2023, the Litehouse Family YMCA raised $55,000 during their fund drive, and that money went to support childcare programs, children’s programs, membership, and the cancer survivor program. This year, the goal was to raise $45,000 by March 31, a number that the organization has already whizzed past. With a current fundraising total of $49,819, Rozema is talking about stretch goals, the first of which is to beat the previous year’s funding number. “It’s a big part of our mission,” Rozema said when asked about fundraising.

Though Litehouse YMCA is part of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids network, every penny raised in Lowell stays in Lowell, so when Rozema says this money helps children, she means it helps the children of Lowell; when she says it helps cancer survivors, she means it helps cancer survivors in Lowell.

Rozema has a personal connection to the benevolence of a well-supported local YMCA. Not too long ago, she was a single mom whose children were only able to participate in YMCA programs due to financial support. “And now, I’m happy to give back to a program that made a big impact on my family’s life,” Rozema said.

This year’s fundraising campaign is special for Rozema, not because of a particular financial milestone, but because of a unique donation from an anonymous community member. In December of 2023, Rozema spoke with an individual interested in donating, and the conversation ended with him saying, “Well, I’ve got some change at home. I’ll bring it in some day.” Last month, he stopped in with a big bag of change, followed by another even bigger bag, for a total of 115 pounds of pennies, nickels, quarters, and dimes. He had been saving his change since his significant other passed away, 20 years prior, and he gave it all to the Litehouse Family YMCA.

“That made a special place in my heart, as well,” Rozema said. “We’ve got a lot of neat stories, but this one is our most memorable.”

Each year’s annual campaign begins within the organization with donations, first from board members, then staff, and only after that, from members and the community. Rozema and her crew make phone calls, stop into local businesses, and, with the help of the YMCA’s marketing department, they share their story any way they can.

This year’s day of giving is Monday, March 4, and though this date will have come and gone by the time this article is published, Rozema wanted to talk about the exciting opportunity their anonymous donor presented. While the folks at Litehouse Family YMCA pondered how they would count and cash in the generous coin donation, an idea arose to display the coins during the day of giving and offer a prize to the person best able to guess how much all of those coins total up to. Not only will this focus the community on the fundraising task at hand, but it funnels people through the doors to witness the opportunities they may enjoy with a YMCA membership, subsidized by the fundraiser campaign or otherwise.

As for how they are going to deal with all of those coins, Rozema suggested they might do a rolling party, where volunteer staff and board members come together to count and roll up all the coins.

As for the $55,000 stretch goal, Rozema felt certain that she needs to aim for a higher number, and this reflects her faith in the generosity of the greater Lowell community. “Maybe I oughtta up that,” Rozema said. “Maybe I oughtta really give a stretch goal.”

To donate to the Litehouse Family YMCA’s annual campaign or to learn more about what the organization has to offer, call 616-897-8445, stop into the 1070 North Hudson Street facility, or check out the website at www.grymca.org/ and navigate to the Litehouse Family YMCA branch. The annual campaign ends March 31, 2024, but that just means that the additional labor dedicated to fundraising will be redirected to delivering high-quality programming to the community. The Litehouse Family YMCA is happy to accept donations year-round, believing as Rozema does that it is never too late to give.