Introduction:

I've been in this business for 10 years. Yet every time we consider awarding a new grant, I feel like I'm about to go on a first date with someone I just met.

I find myself asking the obvious questions: Do we have enough in common? Do we share the same goals? Do we respect each other? Can we work hard to build something that lasts? Bottom line--are we a good match?

To me, that gets to the heart of what funding is all about. Finding the right relationship--one built on mutual interests, trust, and an ability to work together as partners.

Which leads me to three very simple points I'd like to make this afternoon.

First of all--The YMCA and the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund and Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund are indeed a good match. And that's because we share a vision of strong, vibrant communities that offer a wide-range of opportunities for children and families to enrich and better their lives. I've heard that the YMCA stands for everyone; so do we.

My next point is that this common purpose has enabled us to work together as exemplary community partners on two groundbreaking initiatives. One has been our support for the training of staff--particularly adults who serve youth--throughout YMCAs nationwide. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that well-trained staff are essential for delivering better, more effective services for young people.

The other work we've done together has resulted in the creation of a network of literary centers throughout the YMCA. The success of that program--particularly the strong response in communities where these literary centers have been operating--has since led to a decision to make the arts and humanities an integral part of the Y's strategic focus.

And finally, the third point I want to make today, is that the true test of our partnership lies with each of you. For you are the real source of the Y's boundless potential. Although we provide "seed" money to get these programs off the ground, their ultimate success stems from your hard work.

If your program fails, then we have failed. Likewise, your success becomes our success. In other words, without you, we simply would have little to show for our efforts.

So, returning to my first point, let me tell you exactly what we have in common.

Your mission is to create programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

The Funds' missions are two-fold. On the DeWitt side we strive to improve the quality of educational and career opportunities for all school-age youth, especially for those in low-income communities. We accomplish this in lots of ways--including support for staff development in youth-serving organizations and other community-based organizations.
On the Lila side we invest in programs that enhance the cultural life of communities and encourage people to make the arts part of their everyday lives. For example, we increase opportunities for people to participate in theater, music, dance, and the visual, literary and folk arts.

We also invest in improving urban parks and support efforts to increase and enhance literacy instruction for adults.

Talk about a good match! If providing more kids, especially disadvantaged ones, with better educational and job opportunities and if encouraging more folks to enrich their lives by becoming more involved in cultural activities doesn't ultimately nourish the mind, body and spirit, then I don't know what does.

In a few minutes I'll tell you more about the power of our partnership--how together we are helping to "build strong kids, strong families and strong communities."

But first, let me tell you about another project that shares our goals--one that truly puts our partnership on the cutting edge.

Less than two months ago I was privileged to travel to Philadelphia to attend The Presidents' Summit for America's Future.

I was gratified to learn that the goals of this historic conference mesh beautifully with ours and that all of us here in this room have already taken a giant leap into the future that our country's leaders envision.

For what the Summit leaders want is what we're already doing: Giving our children access to safe places and structured activities during non-school hours, maintaining relationships between children and caring adults, teaching kids marketable skills, and providing them an opportunity to give back to others in the same spirit of community service.

But why all this hoopla about investing in our kids and in our communities? Why now?

Because this is a very different country than the one you or I grew up in--demographically, educationally, economically and socially.