“Y.M.C.A. NOT A CHARITY”

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 46, 18 November 1936, Page 6

“Y.M.C.A. NOT A CHARITY”

1 Reasons Why Appeals Are Made Reasons why the Young Men’s Christian Association, Wellington, must depend on the goodwill of citizens for the support of its services are explained in the annual report. “There may be those who wonder why repeated financial appeals are necessary,” states the report. “In the first place it should be emphasised that the Y.M.C.A. is not an organisation like a church, in which it would have the regular support of people who might regard the association in the same light as members of a church would regard their first loyalty and responsibility. As is well known, the association provides a. common meet-ing-grounid for all the churches; it gives a constant and practical witness to the elementary ideals which bind men of all denominations in the one spiritual brotherhood, and it. is ever on the alert to inspire the youth of the churches in the way of co-operation. It is within the very genius of the Y.M.C.A. to project its work of Christian education and idealism among a type of youth very often untouched by church organisations. These considerations, when viewed from the aspect of the association’s highest service, give some justification for its inclusion in the philanthropy and benefactions of churchmen. •‘Another factor in the situation is that the Y.M.C.A. Is not an exclusive club in which fees can be charged sufficient to meet all expenses of the club. The association deals very largely with younger men and juveniles who are unable to pay high club fees, and one obvious requirement, -therefore, is for the charges to be kept within the reach of those whose needs the association is primarily intended to serve. Many of the religious, educational, and boys’ activities would never be available if these were not provided for from funds outside the membership, and the justification for expecting other people to meet the cost of these privileges, especially in the boys’ department, is the undoubted value of this work to the general community. Many of those who receive the benefits are unable to pay any fees at all. ‘‘Furthermore, the Y.M.C.A. is not a charity in the generally-accepted sense, hence it has not figured very prominently in the benefactions of those who are charitably disposed toward the needy folk of the community. The association, therefore, cannot make an appeal mainly based on emotion. It can, however, find a reasonable basis for its appeal on the grounds of moral urgency and the necessity for every liifge centre of population to provide such a place as the Y.M.C.A. It should be emphasised that if there were no Y.M.C.A. to serve the youth of the city, then some other agency would need to be found to provide the amenities which the association gives. It is under the pressure of these obligations that the Wellington association goes to the public once in the year for at least 10 per cent, of its financial need. Surely this is little enough when compared with the services rendered. This 10 per cent, represents an annual need of just under £lOOO, nearly one half of which already comes from regularly-, recurring donations.”