Mattoon Area Young Mens Christian Association

OUR MISSION IS TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THE MATTOON AREA FAMILY YMCA HAS DEVELOPED A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY YOUTH AND TEEN. PROGRAMS SUCH AS OUR YOUTH SPORTS, HOME SCHOOL, ESPORTS, YOUTH FREE WEIGHT TRAINING, SUMMER CAMP, BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, AND SWIM LESSONS HELP OUR YOUTH CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS, AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH, AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. LAST YEAR OVER 2,215 INDIVIDUAL YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THESE PROGRAMS. EXPENSES INCLUDE SUBSIDIES AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT MAKE PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE FOR 40% OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE ENGAGE. 1,286 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS THAT WORK TO PROMOTE TEAMWORK AND SPORTSMANSHIP. OUR YOUTH FREE WEIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXERCISE TOGETHER IN A SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT. YOUTH SWIM LESSONS PROVIDE OUR AREA YOUTH WITH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS-HOW TO BE SAFE AROUND WATER.

HEALTHY LIVING - THE Y IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HELP BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH, AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN, AND SHARED INTERESTS. AS A RESULT, PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE THEIR PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, AND EMOTIONAL GOALS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS OUR COUNTRY STRUGGLES WITH OBESITY AND CHRONIC ILLNESS CRISIS AS WELL AS A NATIONWIDE PANDEMIC AS FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH WORK/LIFE BALANCE, AND INDIVIDUALS SEARCH FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT, OUR HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND OPEN TO ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES, AND INCOME LEVELS. IN THE LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED 266,629 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE FACED ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. WE HAD OVER 150,590 VISITS TO OUR FACILITY THIS PAST YEAR WITH INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN OUR HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE CYCLING, BODYPUMP, DANCE CLASSES, TAI CHI, ACTIVE OLDER ADULT CLASSES, OR OTHER WELLNESS CLASSES, SWIM LESSONS, LAP SWIMMING, AQUATIC CLASSES, WELLNESS CENTER, YOUTH SPORTS, WALKING TRACK. OUR PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR INFANTS THROUGH SENIORS. THE YMCA'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM WE OFFER HELPS ADULTS AT HIGH RISK OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES REDUCE THEIR RISK FOR DEVELOPING THE DISEASE BY TAKING STEPS THAT WILL IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. RESEARCH BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH HAS SHOWN THAT PROGRAMS LIKE THE YMCA'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES BY 58%, AND 71% IN ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 60. WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON OUR EVIDENCE BASED HEALTH INTERVENTION PROGRAMS WITH THE RECENT ADDITION OF OUR BLOOD PRESSURE SELF- MONITORING AND HEALTHY HEARTS PROGRAMS.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - OUR Y BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. UTILIZING WHAT WE HEAR HELPS US IN DEVELOPING OUR LIST OF PROGRAM OFFERINGS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. MEMBERSHIP FOR ALL IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE DELIVER TRAINING, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT THAT EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS TO EFFECT CHANGE, BRIDGE GAPS, AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES. LAST YEAR WE SERVED AT OUR HIGHEST 6,211 MEMBERS AND HAD OVER 422 VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEER OVER 5,947 HOURS TOWARDS PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO THRIVE. OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION WITH AREA BUSINESSES ON COMMUNITY EVENTS. OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, AREA NURSING HOMES AND SENDS CARDS TO ACTIVE MILITARY. OUR SENIOR STAFF IS ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUBS INCLUDING ROTARY CLUB, CHURCH YOUTH GROUPS, ONE STOP COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS AND PEACE MEALS. WE COLLABORATE WITH THE LOCAL HOSPITAL OFFERING MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE THEIR WORKOUTS EITHER AT THE HOSPITAL HEALTHY LIVING CENTER OR THE YMCA FACILITY. WE ALLOW OTHER GROUPS TO COME IN AND USE THE Y FOR MEETINGS, CLASSES AND SEMINARS. ALL YMCA STAFF IS CERTIFIED IN CPR AND THIS IS ALSO A SERVICE WE OFFER TO OUR COMMUNITIES.