Endowment Online Giving

ENDOWMENTS

Endowment gifts generate support that lasts forever. The YMCA of the Triangle’s branches and camps have over 60 endowment funds designed to ensure a strong tomorrow.

Not all YMCA endowments are set up for online giving. For a full and complete list of all endowments and non-online donation options, please visit our Endowments page.

Please select from the endowments listed below to make your online gift. To make a gift by check, please mail to YMCA of the Triangle, Attn: Philanthropy Department, 801 Corporate Center Dr., Ste 200, Raleigh, NC, 27607. To give by stock, or IRA charitable distribution, please contact Cole McLaughlin at 919-564-6689.

YMCA, Camp or Program Endowment

Association-wide Endowments

YMCA of the Triangle General Endowment

This is the YMCA of the Triangle’s main endowment fund. It is used to provide financial assistance to participants in YMCA programs and to provide for expansion, site and facility needs. All undesignated gifts to the endowment are housed in this fund.

Branch Family Endowment

Community HOPE is an academically structured mentoring and literacy YMCA program that addresses the individual learning needs of students living in affordable housing communities in Raleigh. The Branch Family Endowment provides financial support for this program.

Taylor Memorial Endowment

This fund honors Wyatt and Lil Taylor, whose unparalleled service to the YMCA of the Triangle and Camps Sea Gull and Seafarer helped us become the Association we are today.

Our largest fund, the Taylor Memorial Endowment provides financial assistance to participants in YMCA programs and also meets expansion, site and facility needs.

Doug and Jo Anna McMillan Family Endowment

Established initially to honor Jo Anna’s memory and recently expanded to celebrate retiring CEO Doug's 50 years of service to the Y, the McMillan Family Endowment helps make the YMCA of the Triangle overnight camps Sea Gull, Seafarer and Kanata) accessible to children and families who otherwise might not have the ability to share in the magic of camp.

Alexander Family YMCA Endowment

This general endowment fund for the Alexander branch supports the greatest needs at our historic Hillsborough Street location.

Jo Anna McMillan Tradition of Excellence Award

This fund rewards college-age Finley Day Camp staff who are dedicated to upholding the tradition of excellence, quality, and passion for youth established by Jo Anna Lilley McMillan during her years as Finley Day Camp Director. Recipients receive funding for educational needs or leadership training.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA Endowment

This endowment received a substantial boost in 2020 with a gift from the estate of Dr. Bob Seymour, a longtime pastor and civil rights activist who, along with his wife Pearl, was a great friend to the Y.

This fund supports the greatest needs of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA each year. Such needs include financial assistance for members and children, program costs, and facility maintenance.

Durham YMCA Endowment

Provides financial assistance for families and children in need at our Durham YMCA locations.

Hannah Viall Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Established in memory of Hannah Viall by her parents. Hannah was an active member of both the YMCA Leaders Club and Y Guides.

This endowment provides college scholarship funds for a graduating senior in the YMCA Leaders Club and also provides financial assistance for the Y Guides spring outing.

The Virginia Wendel and Frances Wynne Endowment

Established with an anonymous gift in 2019, this fund is used for financial assistance, programs, building maintenance, or any other needs at the Kraft Family YMCA.

Judy Bright Endowment

Made possible by a generous estate gift from former YMCA of the Triangle executive staff member Judy Bright, this fund provides financial assistance for families and children at our Southeast Raleigh branch.

This branch is physically attached to Southeast Raleigh Elementary School, and also has over 100 units of affordable housing on the property.

LORD Corporation Endowment

Established by the LORD Corporation in 2006 for the benefit of the Taylor Family YMCA branch. Proceeds go towards financial assistance for families and children at Taylor.

Dr. Grady Joseph Wheeler, Sr. Endowment

Dr. Wheeler’s daughter, Susan Wheeler Parker, and her husband, David Parker, created this fund to support the work of Camp Kanata and to provide financial assistance to campers with demonstrated need.

Dr. Wheeler’s granddaughter, Laura Parker Bass, was both a camper and counselor at Camp Kanata.

Camp Sea Gull & Camp Seafarer Joint Endowments

YMCA Camp Sea Gull and YMCA Camp Seafarer Endowment

Funded by camp alumni and friends, this endowment meets the greatest needs of our camps year by year. Camp Directors, the Board of Directors, and the YMCA CEO oversee disbursements.

YMCA Camp Sea Gull and YMCA Camp Seafarer Facilities Endowment

With so many buildings, boats, pools, roads, piers, bridges, and acres of land, it takes a lot of financial support to keep our Camps beautiful and safe for young people. This fund is designed to help offset these ongoing costs.

William J. Adams IV Endowment

Bill Adams was an outstanding camper, sailing counselor, and administrative staff member at Sea Gull and was known for his joyful demeanor. He passed away unexpectedly at a young age. His family created this endowment in his memory. The William J. Adams IV Regatta, the signature event for Homecoming weekends, is the primary way the community is engaged in supporting this endowment.

This fund is intended to provide financial assistance to Sea Gull and Seafarer campers, with priority given to the children of current YMCA employees, children of former camp employees, and those with single mothers.

Axelrod Endowment

The fund was established by Michael E. and Lillie Silver Axelrod in 2014 to assist campers who need financial assistance to attend Camp Sea Gull or Seafarer.

Burnie Batchelor Family Camper Scholarship Endowment

Established in 2015 by Jerry Batchelor in memory of her husband Burnie and the rest of the family. Burnie was the Camp photographer for 40 years and wore his iconic red socks to take cabin portraits.

The purpose of this endowment is to provide annual funds for financial assistance equally at Camps Sea Gull and Seafarer.

Newman Family Medical Scholarship Endowment

In 2021, Dr. Kurt Newman, along with his wife, Allison, and sons, Robert and Jack, established this fund to develop a medical scholarship program at Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer to support the retention of returning senior counselor.

This program will engage summer staff members who desire to pursue a medical degree in the future, and it will provide them with the opportunity to gain clinical experience with volunteer physicians, a physician mentor relationship, and participate in a cohort with other medical scholars.

Griffith Staff Legacy Endowment

Created by former Camp directors Lloyd and Cille Griffith, this fund is an expression of gratitude to former Sea Gull and Seafarer employees. It provides scholarships to children of former staff; this may include Camp staff of any kind (past cabin counselor, housekeeper, grounds, director, cook, etc).

Lynn Moss Leadership Endowment

This fund was established in 2017 by volunteers to honor Lynn’s tenure as Seafarer’s Director for 12 years. It is a dedicated funding source to support the leadership development of Sea Gull and Seafarer’s team of directors.

Because of the endowment, staff will have opportunities to grow as professionals and gain the necessary skills required to lead a new generation of summer staff.

Camp Seafarer Endowmnets

Mother Duck Endowment

Founded in 2019 by Alice Thoman Melott and supported by several of her fellow Seafarer alumnae, this fund’s purpose is to send girls to Camp Seafarer: daughters of single moms and essential workers like teachers, nurses, front-line and first responders, wellness and restaurant staffs.

Camp Seafarer Marathon Endowment

The Run a Kid to Camp program began in the summer of 2000 when three members of the leadership staff approached the team of directors with an idea to raise money for camperships. All three had previously run a marathon to raise money for other organizations, and their idea was to use the marathon and fundraising concept as an opportunity to bring more children to Camp. They referenced how when something has shaped your life, your being, and your relationship to the world around you, there is an unwavering commitment and loyalty.

From its inception, the Seafarer Marathon Endowment has given priority to girls from single-parent households and hundreds have now run full and half marathons and raised money to grow this fund.

Camp Seafarer Sailing Endowment

This fund was established by Bill and Barbara Turnage Linton in 2009 to support the Seafarer Sailing Program. Barb and her sister, Brenda, were on the sailing staff at Seafarer in the 1980s, and Barb and Bill have had three children go to camp.

The life lessons that Barb learned through sailing and caring for boats at Seafarer led her to want to pass along similar experiences to future campers.

Penn and Amy Clarke Endowment

We are grateful for the vision of Penn and Amy Clarke who established this endowment and its award which recognizes a Camp Sea Gull IV camper who exemplifies leadership, friendliness and integrity while excelling on the Land Program activities through high achievement.

The remaining disbursement funds are allocated to facilities and the preservation/presentation of history at Camp.