Malden YMCA
The Challenge
Founded in 1881, the Malden YMCA has been providing vital community services for the community’s most vulnerable citizens. With 217 staff and 60 volunteers, the non-profit agency provides services to over 14,000 individuals each year. Operating from downtown Malden with community outreach sites also in Medford, the YMCA serves residents of all ages.
The Malden Y has created a range of programs in three broad areas–Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. To help fund and fulfill its mission in these areas, and similar to most non-profit organizations, the Malden YMCA is always looking to save money so it can put more resources into its important community programs. But, when it came to energy needs, finding savings always seemed complicated; the moment the Y thought it had it figured out, new energy challenge popped up—new policies, new regulations and new pricing for electricity and natural gas. Rather than spending all their time on maximizing programs for teens and adults, the staff found themselves needing to pay more attention to energy costs present and future—and how to get some budget control and certainty over the necessary costs.
The Action
Enter PowerOptions. Through a new shared services program offered by and for all YMCA organizations, The Malden Y in 2003 stepped up and its membership with PowerOptions began and remains in place today.
“Being a small nonprofit, we don’t have the staff and expertise to do what PowerOptions does.”
Debbie Amaral
The Results
While saving money and having certainty on energy costs helps fuel the missions of the major hospitals, universities and housing agencies that are also members of PowerOptions, with its savings, the Malden Y is able to devote more time and funding to many community programs—including its growing STEM effort for teenagers. Called Full STEM Ahead, the effort provides opportunities to middle and high school students in robotics, chemical engineering and other sciences.
Recently, PowerOptions boosted its everyday energy savings benefit and awarded the Malden Y a special “20 for 20” $10,000 gift, a part of the PowerOptions’ 20th anniversary year celebration. “PowerOptions has once again stayed true to its motto of ‘Powering the Mission of Nonprofits’ by supporting the Malden YMCA with this donation to help fund our Full STEM ahead program. We appreciate all that they do,” said Amaral.
Over the past 20 years, PowerOptions has delivered more than $2 billion in energy while pursuing its own mission of saving nonprofits and public entities time and money on energy, so those institutions—like the Malden YMCA– can direct more resources toward their own important missions. As part of its 20th anniversary, PowerOptions decided to push the boundaries of that mission and give back to members by awarding 20 $10,000 gifts directly into members’ organizations, helping them keep pace with technology advancements, better prepare for their energy futures, or enhance existing agency programs.
