December 2025 | eNewsletter

Dear Friends,

This season always invites reflection, and when I look back on this year, I think not just of what we accomplished, but how we worked and who is by our side. Our team and community leaned on one another when things were hard; we adapted protocols and programs quickly to support participants and families through intensified immigration enforcement, the slashing of federal funding and benefit programs, and the WCCUSD teachers strike; and we kept responding with care and leading with the core values we share. That’s the strength of this community, and it reminds me that hope is active and communal.

As we close out 2025, we’re also in the middle of our biggest fundraising campaign of the year. Last year at this time, YES supporters raised $107,000 for YES’s year-round programs. This season, we’ve raised $74,000 toward our $100,000 year-end goal, and every gift helps keep our programs free, accessible, and responsive to our community.

Whether you’ve given before or are thinking about your first gift, your contribution fuels the outdoor experiences and leadership that make YES programs possible. 

If you haven’t already done so, you can explore the impact of your support in our latest annual report, which captures the story of our previous fiscal year in numbers, photos, and voices from across the organization. It’s a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together.

And to leave you with something to look forward to, please save the date for our annual Fund-Racer at the Richmond Marina on February 28, 2026. It’s energetic, a little competitive (in the best way), and a great way to spend time outdoors in community. Read on to see how you can join in.

Thank you for being a part of YES--for reading, giving, participating, and believing in what we’re building together. I’m grateful for you, and excited for what’s ahead.

In community,

Eric Aaholm, Executive Director

2024-25 Annual Report

Central to YES’s work in nurturing community leaders is radical hope.

Our hope is rooted in our history, shaped by our community, and powered by our imagination and belief in what’s possible. It’s the belief that the future can be made better by all of us. By any of us… [Read more]

Save the date!

Fundracer 2026: February 28th

We’re back as the official nonprofit partner of Brazen Racing’s 2026 Victory Race! Walk, jog, or run alongside YES youth, families, staff, volunteers, and friends in support of our work.

Here's what you can do right now:

• Register to participate: Take advantage of the early bird pricing before it goes up.
• Start a fundraising team: Get your friends, family, or colleagues together and create a fundraising team to support YES. You can share a goal for the race or a value for our work and community to rally your supporters around. Learn more and get started here.
• Spread the word: Get your friends and family to sign-up with you or ask about volunteering with YES for the event.

Thank you, volunteers! 💚 

One of our favorite things about this season is being able to celebrate the volunteers who bring our work to life. Earlier this month, we gathered in Alvarado Park with friends and supporters, some brand new to our work and some who have been with us for 20+ years! Throughout the morning, we got to explore the park, reconnect, unwind, and say THANK YOU.

If you want to become a part of this special group, click the button below to apply to volunteer with our programs.

December 31st is the deadline to make a tax-deductible donation for 2025! Here’s how you can make a contribution:

Online

You can make your secure donation online at yesfamilies.org/donate. 

By Check

Checks dated in 2025 are eligible for this year. Please mail gifts to:

YES Nature to Neighborhoods

3029 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804

Gift of stock

To make a gift of stock or securities, send a completed securities transfer form to Devika Saxena, devika@yesfamilies.org.

Employee Matching

Many companies, from large conglomerates to mom-and-pop shops, have an employee match program, which can double, or even triple, your donation. A quick request with proof of your gift may be all it takes. Click here to check if you or your partner’s employer offers a matching program, or contact your Human Resources representative.

IRA Charitable Rollover

If you are age 70.5 or older, you can make a gift directly to YES from your IRA as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). A QCD counts toward your required minimum distribution, may reduce your taxable income, and can be a tax-wise way to support our programs. Simply let us know your intention and then ask your IRA custodian to direct your gift to YES Nature to Neighborhoods (EIN: 03-0458294).