During the past year more than 16,000 people received financial assistance of more than $2.5 million to participate in programs at the YMCA of the Brandywine Valley.

Those figures are from Denise Day, president and CEO. The local businesses who helped make the financial assistance possible as association sponsors were ServiceMark, Fulton Bank, CTDI, Precision, Auto Dealers Caring for Kids Foundation, Krapf Bus Co., Susquehanna Bank, Western Pest Services, NSM Insurance Group and First Niagara.

The Y’s plans to unite with the YMCA of the Upper Main Line to form the YMCA of Greater Brandywine are on schedule for January.

Meanwhile, this holiday season the Y is saying thank you during Gift of Health Days and allowing members to bring up to four guests to use the Y without charge through Jan. 3.