Young Mens Christian Association Of Lafayette

THE LAFAYETTE FAMILY YMCA IS A VOLUNTEER LED PUBLIC CHARITY THAT INCLUDES MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, RACES,AND RELIGIONS. OUR MISSION IS TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: Y CHILD CARE - OUR Y SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM SERVES OVER 785 CHILDREN A DAY; 37 PERCENT OF FAMILIES PAY LESS THAN THE FULL FEE. THE "OPEN DOOR" PROGRAM ASSISTS FAMILIES WITH NEED BASED ON THEIR INCOME. THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO HELP THE WHOLE CHILD GROWTH WITH HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, WATER SAFETY, VALUES INSTRUCTION AND A SAFE PLACE TO BE. LICENSED CHILD CARE - OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS OFFER HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR INFANTS TO SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, BOTH FULL AND PART-TIME, WHICH PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUTH CAN DEVELOP SELF- ESTEEM, GOOD VALUES, AND AN APPRECIATION OF CHARITABLE SERVICE. WOVEN INTO THE FABRICS OF THE YMCA MISSION IS A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. WE PARTNER WITH UNITED WAY SO THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AQUATICS - YMCA AQUATICS PROGRAMS ARE PART OF THE Y'S OVERALL GOAL OF BUILDING HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SPECIFIC SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY SKILLS, THE Y PROMOTES GOOD HEALTH THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE. THE Y ALSO PROMOTES TEAMWORK, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND LEADERSHIP. THESE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT FEES AFFORDABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE FULL FEE. ADDITIONALLY, THE YMCA OFFERS A FREE WATER SAFETY WEEK CALLED "SPLASH".

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS - YMCA'S OFFER A LIFELONG PROGRESSION OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, EXPERIENCES, AND EDUCATION, INCLUDING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE PRESCHOOL PARENT/CHILD CLASSES, GROUP FITNESS CLASSES, STRENGTH TRAINING AND SENIOR FITNESS. YMCA'S FOCUS ON HEALTHY LIVING BY ADVOCATING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FROM THE INSIDE OUT - THE SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. THE YMCA PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH THE SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND ENVIRONMENTS THEY NEED FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL PURSUIT OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS OUR NATION STRUGGLES WITH AN OBESITY CRISIS. FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND INDIVIDUALS SEARCH FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. WE BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND OFFER RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL NETWORKS THAT BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND STRENGTHEN BONDS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND OPEN TO ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS.

YMCA PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ATTRACT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ALL ABILITIES, AND ALL INCOMES. YMCA OFFERS A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE WHERE NEW EXERCISERS CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE AND RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH. MOST PEOPLE CAN AFFORD LOW-COST YMCA HEALTH AND FITNESS PROGRAMS. YMCA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICIES HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO EXERCISE AND TO HAVE ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE, GAIN ACCESS TO THE YMCA. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - OUR YMCA IS A LEADER IN NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. EVERY DAY, OUR YMCA HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE DEEPEN POSITIVE VALUES, THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, AND THEIR MOTIVATION TO LEARN. OUR YMCA PROGRAMS, SUCH AS Y SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE, LICENSED CHILD CARE, STRAIGHT ARROW SUMMER DAY CAMP, PRESCHOOL AND AQUATIC PROGRAMS, OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. EXPENSES INCLUDE SUBSIDIES AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT ENABLES 37% OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE. YOUTH/TEEN PROGRAMS - YMCA YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS HELP KIDS DEVELOP SELF- ESTEEM AND GOOD VALUES, INCLUDING COOPERATION, RESPECT FOR THE BODY, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC. YOUTH SPORTS FOCUS ON THE FULL AND EQUAL PARTICIPATION OF ALL. YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE SPORTS BUILD LIFELONG POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND HABITS OF HEALTHY EXERCISE. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES MAKE THE YMCA YOUTH/TEEN PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR ALL THOSE IN FINANCIAL NEED. CAMP STRAIGHT ARROW - CAMP STRAIGHT ARROW IS A SUMMER DAY CAMP THAT HAS PROVIDED CAMPING EXPERIENCES FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN. FOR OVER 100 YEARS, YMCA'S HAVE PROVIDED CAMPING EXPERIENCES FOR MILLIONS OF CHILDREN. SINCE 1978, STRAIGHT ARROW DAY CAMP HAS OFFERED CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY NATURE AND THE OUT-OF-DOORS. THE GOAL OF CAMP IS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS GROW PERSONALLY, CLARIFY VALUES, DEVELOP SPECIFIC SKILLS, IMPROVE PERSONAL AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, BECOME BETTER LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS, APPRECIATE DIVERSITY AND HAVE FUN. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - OUR YMCA BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS FOR 130 YEARS. Y PROGRAMS SUCH AS ANNUAL SUPPORT CAMPAIGN, HEALTHY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH IU HEALTH, FRANCISCAN HEALTH, IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, AND YMCA ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW WE DELIVER TRAINING, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT THAT EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS TO EFFECT CHANGE, BRIDGE GAPS, AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES. IN 2020, WE ENGAGED 375 PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS IN ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO THRIVE.