YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF South Boston and Halifax County Inc

THE YMCA OF SOUTH BOSTON AND HALIFAX COUNTY IS A CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT INCLUDES MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, RACES AND RELIGIONS. WE ARE DEDICATED TO BUILDING STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES, AND STRONG COMMUNITIES BY PUTTING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, STRONG VALUES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY INTERACTION, AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING. ALL PERSONS ARE WELCOME AT OUR YMCA, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. OUR YMCA IS FOUNDED AND LED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY; VOLUNTEERS ALSO SERVE AS MENTORS, COACHES, PROGRAM LEADERS, INSTRUCTORS AND MORE. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG, ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL IN SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY.

PERCENTAGE OF ALLOCATED EXPENSES 70% CENTRAL TO THE PURPOSE OF THE YMCA OF SOUTH BOSTON/HALIFAX COUNTY IS OUR FOCUS ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THE YMCA TO BE THE LEADER IN PROVIDING OUR YOUTH WITH CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS. WE ARE THE ONLY STATE LICENSED NON-PROFIT CHILD CARE PROVIDER IN OUR COUNTY. WE ARE LICENSED FOR 45 YOUTH IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE PROGRAM AND WE CONSISTENTLY ARE AT CAPACITY. BEING THAT WE ARE SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY, OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TRADITIONALLY RUN BY MUNICIPAL RECREATION DEPARTMENTS. OUR YMCA PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN DRAWING ON DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE BOTH FULL AND PART TIME OPTIONS TO SERVE A WIDE RANGE OF FAMILY SCHEDULING NEEDS. WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THE YMCA MISSION IS A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. YMCA CHILDCARE PROGRAMS RELIEVE THE BURDEN OF BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN OUR CARE TO REMAIN GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE THRIVING IN A SAFE, DEVELOPMENTALLY SOUND ENVIRONMENT. THE YMCA PROVIDES TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES. OVER $12,000 WAS AWARDED TO FAMILIES TO DEFRAY THEIR FEES THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE AID TO FAMILIES WHO NEED HELP DUE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ETC. BY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. WE ALSO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT EMPHASIZE PARENT EDUCATION AND HELP PARENTS LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO RAISE HEALTHY, HAPPY CHILDREN WHO DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM AND MORAL AND ETHICAL VALUES. PARTICIPANTS SERVED: 175

HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES DEVELOP HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY IS AT THE CORE OF THE YMCA MOVEMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE CREATE REALISTIC GOALS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND EMPHASIZE DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE, PROPER NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, FAMILIES AND ADULTS PROMOTE TEAMWORK, INTERACTION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL SKILLS. OUR "ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS PROGRAM" IS A PROGRAM THAT KEEPS SENIORS ACTIVE AND FLEXIBLE; OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS HELPS TO DEVELOP PHYSICAL SKILLS IN YOUTH AGES 6-12. OUR SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT AFFORDABLE FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FULL FEE. IN LIGHT OF THE RISING OBESITY RATES IN THIS COUNTRY, OUR YMCA PARTICIPATES IN THE ACTIVATE AMERICA INITIATIVE AND ENGAGES IN A VARIETY OF EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO HELP THE "AT RISK POPULATION" DEVELOP HABITS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES. PARTICIPANTS SERVED: 3500

OTHER POSSIBLE NON-MEASURABLE PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS: A. DEVELOP VALUES FOR DAILY LIVING: DEVELOP MORAL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR BASED ON JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES. B. APPRECIATE DIVERSITY: RESPECT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, RACES, RELIGIONS, CULTURES, AND BELIEFS. C. BECOME LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS; LEARN THE GIVE AND TAKE NECESSARY TO WORK TOWARD THE COMMON GOOD. D. DEVELOP SPECIFIC SKILLS: ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE AND WAYS TO GROW IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS THE YMCA OF SOUTH BOSTON/HALIFAX COUNTY ADDS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE AS A PREFACE TO LISTING SPECIFIC PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS: STRATEGIC GOALS A. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH WHICH SHAPE VALUES AND ENCOURAGE LIFELONG COMMUNITY SERVICE . B. PROVIDE ACTIVITIES WHICH SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN ALL FAMILIES. C. ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. D. PROVIDE OLDER ADULTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE QUALITY OF LIFE. E. ATTRACT DIVERSE STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND MEMBERS WHICH REFLECT AND FOSTER PARTICIPATION IN OUR REGION AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY. OPERATING PRINCIPLES A. VALUING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS B. FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG MEMBERS C. DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS D. SERVING AS A CATALYST IN ADDRESSING COMMUNITY ISSUES E. SECURING THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE OUR PROGRAM GOALS F. EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WHAT THE YMCA IS ALL ABOUT G. MAINTAINING HIGH QUALITY FACILITIES, PROGRAMS AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS. PROGRAM STATEMENT: YMCA OF SOUTH BOSTON/HALIFAX COUNTY PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, FAITHS, ETHNIC GROUPS AND INCOMES. THE YMCA OF SOUTH BOSTON/HALIFAX COUNTY OFFERS A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE WHERE PARTICIPANTS FEEL COMFORTABLE AND RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH. YMCA PROGRAMS HELP DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE, BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS, AND INCREASED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT AFFORDABLE FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT-LARGE, WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FULL FEE.