Last week Jersey Mikes presented the YMCA of Coastal Georgia with a generous check in the amount of $16,314.73. This is the total that was raised during the organization’s “Month of Giving”. These funds will benefit the YMCA’s Y Readers, an academic enrichment program that aims to help children falling behind academically to hop the achievement gap in the area of literacy. This program will be offered at five of the YMCA’S Pryme Tyme sites in Chatham County for the 2015-2016 school year. The five participating elementary schools are; Hodge, Brock, Haven, Gould and Garden City.

This was Jersey Mike’s 5th annual “Month of Giving”. This is a national effort in which the organization pairs up with its’ customers to raise money for a charity. The YMCA of Coastal Georgia was selected as the local charity partner for the low country. 

The “Month of Giving” took place this past March. During the month customers were invited to come in to their local Jersey Mike’s restaurant and make a donation to the designated charity partner. The campaign culminated with Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 25, a daylong nationwide event when 100 percent of the day’s sales were donated.

Thanks to the gift from Jersey Mike’s, Y Readers will be available to the students identified in need of the program at no additional cost.  A certified teacher will meet with students daily to work on improving and sustaining their reading skills. The children will be broken up into groups based on their age so that each child will receive the individual attention they need to help them succeed.

Joel Smoker, President/CEO of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, says, “We are incredibly appreciative to Jersey Mikes for reaching out and selecting the YMCA of Coastal Georgia as the benefactor of this year’s “Month of Giving”. He added, “This donation couldn’t have come at a more fortuitous time as we approach the new school year. The proceeds from these efforts will allow us to invest even more in our community through the Y Readers program. As we expand this initiative into these five elementary schools, we are eager to empower youth and help tackle the achievement gap locally.”