From the Y to the Next Level: We Need a Village

If you’ve been around YMCA youth sports, you’ve probably seen Joss ‘lynne. She’s been a fixture here since 2017. She started with biddy ball, found her spark in volleyball, and has basically lived on the courts ever since. She’s the kind of kid who works hard, stays late, and always shows up for her teammates.

In 2023, Joss’lynne did something brave. she tried out for the Klamath Basin Bombers volleyball travel team. She made the team, which is a huge deal. But then came the hard part, because of the cost, she had to say no. That’s a tough pill for a kid to swallow.

The reality in our town is that 1 in 4 families are living in poverty. We have so many parents doing their absolute best, but they’re living paycheck to paycheck. When you’re just trying to keep the lights on, “club sports” and “travel fees” feel like they’re on another planet. But we don’t think a kid’s potential should be limited by their zip code or their bank account.

The YMCA is stepping up, but we can’t do it alone. Thanks to some amazing local support, Joss’lynne is officially headed to the Bombers 14U team for the 2026 season.

Let’s Keep This Going

We don’t want Joss’lynne to be a one-time story. We want this to be the standard. Our goal is to find a kid from every YMCA youth sport, the ones who show the most “Y Heart” and help them bridge that gap to the next level.

Thousands of kids play at the Y on scholarships already, but for those who have the talent to go further, we want to be the “village” that gets them there.

100% of these donations go toward making sure our local athletes don’t have to quit just because things are tight at home.

Let’s give these kids the shot they’ve earned.