Meadowlands Area Young Mens Christian Association

THE MEADOWLANDS AREA YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (THE "YMCA") IS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE RESIDENTIAL AND CORPORATE COMMUNITIES IN THE MEADOWLANDS AREA BY OFFERING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY BODIES, MINDS, AND SPIRITS; SO THAT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, RACES AND RELIGIONS, CAN PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS WHICH INSTILL CHRISTIAN VALUES TO HELP THEM DEVELOP AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS CITIZENS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITY IS THE YMCA'S CAUSE, AS LASTING PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE COMES ABOUT WHEN WE ALL WORK TOGETHER. THE YMCA FOCUSES THEIR WORK IN THREE AREAS: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. EVERYONE IS WELCOME AT THE YMCA, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE YMCA IS FOUNDED AND LED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY; VOLUNTEERS ALSO SERVE AS MENTORS, COACHES, PROGRAM LEADERS, INSTRUCTORS, AND MORE.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT- WE BRING OUR CORE VALUES OF RESPECT, HONESTY, CARING AND RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE BY PROVIDING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PARENTS AND CHILDREN CAN ENGAGE IN POSITIVE ACTIVITIES THAT HELP BUILD THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. THROUGH OUR SUMMER CAMPS, AQUATICS, ENRICHMENT, CHILDCARE AND DAY CARE PROGRAMS WE STRIVE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS THAT HELP GUIDE AND SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN TO DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS THAT HELP THEM IN THEIR FUTURE.

HEALTHY LIVING - WE ARE SERVING OVER 16,000 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS BY IMPROVING THE COMMUNITIES' HEALTH AND WELLBEING. BY EXTENDING HEALTH CARE TO COMMUNITY SETTINGS, WE IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES AND HELP REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR INDIVIDUALS, EMPLOYERS, AND INSURERS. INCLUDING EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR CAUSE, AS SUCH WE OFFER PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR OLDER ADULTS. WE BEGAN WORKING WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TO HOLD BLOOD DRIVES WHICH RESULTED IN 12 BLOOD DRIVES THAT COLLECTED ENOUGH BLOOD TO SAVE MORE THAN 1,500 LIVES. TO HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH FOOD INSECURITIES, WE CONTINUE TO BE A FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE FOR THE GREAT BERGEN AREA AND HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN 1,800,000 MEALS TO OVER 110,000 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. THIS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY- WE RUN AFTER SCHOOL CARE AND TUTORING IN MOONACHIE. THE PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS MEET STATE AND LOCAL STUDENT STANDARDS IN CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS SUCH AS READING AND MATH; OFFERS STUDENTS A BROAD ARRAY OF ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT CAN COMPLEMENT THEIR REGULAR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS; AND OFFERS LITERACY AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO TEACH ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ("ESL").

21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER -THE MEADOWLANDS AREA YMCA WILL BE PROVIDING A FREE BEFORE AND AFTER CARE PROGRAM THAT IS RICH IN ACADEMIC REMEDIATION AND ENRICHMENT TO THE STUDENTS AT THE ROBERT L. CRAIG SCHOOL IN MOONACHIE. THIS 21ST CENTURY PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A STRONG REMEDIATION PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES SPECIFIC LEARNING GAPS AND SKILLS IDENTIFIED BY CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND NJASK TESTS. CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN MATHEMATICS AND LANGUAGE ARTS WILL CONDUCT ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING, HOMEWORK HELP AND SMALL-GROUP INSTRUCTION. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE STUDY ISLAND, READ 180, SKILL BUILDING CHALLENGE ACTIVITIES AND A WIDE VARIETY OF ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS DRAMA CLUB, MUSICAL THEATER, MARTIAL ARTS AND BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES INCLUDING (BULLYING INTERVENTION STRATEGIES THAT WORK), MAD SCIENCE, HOBBY QUEST, ROBOTICS, SWIM LESSONS AND EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS. FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER-THE MEADOWLANDS FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER ("FSC") IS A FAMILY CENTERED, COMMUNITY BASED, NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING PLACE FOR ALL BERGEN COUNTY RESIDENTS. FAMILIES CAN COME TO THE FSC TO RECEIVE SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND SERVICES THAT HELP REDUCE ISOLATION AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FAMILIES. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE FSC IS TO PREVENT CHILD MALTREATMENT BY STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY TIES. THE FSC HELP FAMILIES ACHIEVE THESE GOALS BY OFFERING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS: PARENTING COURSES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, JOB READINESS, ESL CLASSES AND MORE. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE MEADOWLANDS FSC IS OPERATED BY THE MEADOWLANDS YMCA WITH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING.