Mentoring pair loves playing sports at the Y

Manny Burhama loves sports, being active and going to the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA for basketball, soccer, swimming and more.

So it was natural that when it was time for the 11-year-old to get a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Y Sports Director Qwinton Wilder was who Manny wanted in that role.

“We play basketball and do a lot of fun stuff together,” Burhama said.

Wilder has served as Manny’s Big Brother in Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past year.

“It’s been fun to help with the future generation and have him experience the positive community we have here at the Y,” Wilder said.

The Y holds an Annual Campaign to pay for youth memberships like it does for those enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters. This Annual Campaign ensures the Y never turns anyone away for the inability to pay, with a bulk of the funds going to youth scholarships to the facility, not just those enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“The Y is wonderful in the fact that they provide scholarships for our BIg and Little matches,” said Brookelyn Schlawin, executive director of Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters. “The Y is a safe place for them to be and they have a lot of activities for them to choose from.”

To impact the future generation, consider donating to the Y Annual Campaign. To donate to the Y Annual Campaign send a check to the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, 108 Washington St., Marshalltown, IA 51058, or donate online at www.ymca-ywca.org/donate.