Central Florida Young Mens Christian Association

SINCE 1885, THE YMCA HAS BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WITH A MISSION TO THE IMPROVE LIVES OF ALL AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY THROUGH A FOCUS ON HEALTHY LIVING, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE Y, IN TANDEM WITH OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 137 YEARS, HAVE EXPERIENCED PERIODS OF RAPID GROWTH AND SEASONS OF HARDSHIP. WHEN FACED WITH DIFFICULTIES, AS THE Y CURRENTLY IS EXPERIENCING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ECONOMIC HEADWINDS, THE RESILIENCE AND LEADERSHIP DEMONSTRATED BY DEDICATED COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, DONORS, MEMBERS, STAFF, AND PARTNERS, HAS UPHELD THE Y SO THAT IT COULD CONTINUE CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES:THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS COMMITTED NOT ONLY TO STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO IN STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. USING OUR FAMILY CENTERS AND WEBSITE AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR HEALTHY LIVING, THE Y OFFERS A PLETHORA OF PROGRAMS FROM YOUTH FITNESS PROGRAMS TO PERSONAL TRAINING FOR ADULTS AND GROUP EXERCISE PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS, ALL FOCUSED TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIVING HABITS. WITH FAMILIES MAKING UP 50% OF Y MEMBERSHIPS, THE Y WORKS TO CONNECT FAMILIES THROUGH FITNESS AND WEEKLY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING NUTRITION EDUCATION AND CLASSES. ACROSS OUR 14 FAMILY CENTERS, THE Y OFFERED OVER 1,852 GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES MONTHLY, INCLUDING AQUA-ZUMBA, CORE TRAINING, CYCLING, OUTSIDE CLASSES, VIRTUAL CLASSES, STRENGTH TRAINING AND MANY MORE ALL WITH ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE. SIMILARLY, Y STAFF WORKED WITH INDIVIDUALS ON OUR WELLNESS FLOORS TO HELP CREATE A PERSONALIZED PROGRAM TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL HEALTH GOALS, INCLUDING THE USE OF TRADITIONAL WELLNESS PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS TREADMILLS AND OTHER MACHINES. ADDITIONALLY, WITH ONE IN TWO ADULTS BEING DIAGNOSED WITH ONE OR MORE CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, THE Y IS FOCUSING ON LEVERAGING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS, REDUCE RISKS OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS, AND RECLAIM HEALTH AFTER DIAGNOSIS. THE Y ALSO WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP LAST YEAR WITH SEVERAL LOCAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN ARRAY OF HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN PERSON AND ONLINE. THESE ACTIVITIES, COUPLED WITH OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AT OUR YS, IMPACTED OVER 240,000 INDIVIDUALS AND STRENGTHENED THE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA SERVES BY IMPROVING HEALTH, WELLNESS AND CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IS A KEY AREA OF IMPACT FOR THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, FOCUSED ON NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD FROM CRADLE TO CAREER THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT INSTILL VALUES AND TEAMWORK WHILE GROWING READING/ACHIEVEMENT AND WELLNESS. THE Y'S EDUCATION INITIATIVE OBJECTIVE IS TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE Y'S CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL READINESS AND SCHOOL SUCCESS OF CHILDREN. BEFORE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, AND AGAIN AFTER REOPENING IN 2020, THE Y CARED FOR HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN DAILY IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND USED EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY LEARNING IN ITS TWO YMCA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD, WHICH SERVED OVER 350 CHILDREN PER DAY DURING A PANDEMIC-SHORTENED YEAR. SIMILARLY, CLOSE TO 12,000 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, LOCATED DIRECTLY IN 30 SCHOOLS ACROSS ORANGE, OSCEOLA AND LAKE COUNTIES, WERE PROVIDED HANDS-ON READING, SCIENCE AND MATH ACTIVITIES, ALONG WITH CAREER MENTORING, MUSIC AND ARTS. THIS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING AN INNOVATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO SEEN IN SUMMER LEARNING AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME LEARNING TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, WITH LAST YEAR INCLUDING 3,300 KIDS ATTENDING WEEKLY SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AT 6 YMCA LOCATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, YOUTH PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON WELLNESS TO REDUCE CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND TEACH HEALTHY HABITS. IN 2021, MORE THAN 7,000 KIDS LEARNED VALUES, SPORTSMANSHIP AND CONFIDENCE WHILE BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE IN Y YOUTH SPORTS. MOREOVER, HUNDREDS DEVELOPED CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT WITH YMCA TEEN BOARDS, THE Y CHRISTIAN YOUTH CONFERENCES AND YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. THE Y ALSO HOSTED ITS ANNUAL HEALTHY KIDS DAY IN APRIL VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON AT ALL YMCAS IN APRIL 2021 WHICH WAS OFFERED FREE TO ALL KIDS AND FAMILIES TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY HABITS AND FAMILY TOGETHERNESS. NEW IN 2021, THE Y ALSO PILOTED AN E-SPORTS PROGRAM FOR TEENS AS A NEW WAY TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN GROUP ACTIVITIES SET WITHIN A SAFE, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT.THE Y CONTINUES TO WORK DAILY TOWARD HELPING NURTURE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF ALL OF OUR YOUTH SO THEY CAN HAVE SMALLER BARRIERS AND BIGGER DREAMS.

AQUATICS: WITH WATER EVERYWHERE IN FLORIDA, THE Y KNOWS THAT SWIMMING IS A LIFE SKILL THAT EVERY CHILD MUST LEARN TO STAY SAFE, SECURE AND ENJOY THE WATER. AND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE FROM INFANTS TO SENIORS, THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS INVESTED IN AN AQUATICS PROGRAM THAT RANGES FROM DROWNING PREVENTION (SAFE START) TO INTRODUCTORY SWIMMING AND SWIM LESSONS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS. BUT FOR THE Y IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE REALITY THAT WITH DROWNING AS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN FLORIDA FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR (4) YEARS. TO COMBAT THE RISK OF DROWNING, THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS TEAMED WITH DR. PHILLIPS CHARITIES AND INFANT SWIMMING RESOURCE TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER "SAFE START," WHICH IS A DROWNING-PREVENTION SWIM CLASS OFFERED TO INFANTS AS YOUNG AS SIX (6) MONTHS. SAFE START TEACHES KIDS HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE WATER BY HOLDING THEIR BREATH UNDERWATER AND HOW TO ROLL OVER AND FLOAT. SAFE START PROVIDES A SOLUTION TO KEEP KIDS SAFE IN AND AROUND WATER, ONE INFANT AT A TIME. IN 2021 DESPITE FACING CONTINUED SETBACKS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, 337 CHILDREN AGES SIX (6) MONTHS TO SIX (6) YEARS OF AGE, WERE SAFELY ENROLLED AND TAUGHT IN SAFE START, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO OVER 19,300 KIDS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM SINCE 1999. LIKEWISE, THE Y WAS ALSO ABLE TO STILL PROVIDE SWIM LESSONS TO 10,008 ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN 2021. PLUS, THE Y OFFERS AN ARRAY OF AQUATIC FITNESS CLASSES FOR ADULTS IN SENIORS, SUCH AS SHALLOW WATER FITNESS, SWIM WORKOUT AND AQUAFIT. THE RESULT OF THIS COMMITMENT FROM THE Y IS A STRONG AQUATICS PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES NOT ONLY WATER SAFETY, BUT SWIM PROFICIENCY. WITH 20 INDOOR AND OUTDOOR POOLS, THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA REMAINS A LEADING COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FOR WATER SAFETY AND FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT AQUATICS CAN HAVE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL AGES.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITITATIVES: AT THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK, SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS, AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE BY UNITING ALL PEOPLE THROUGH THE Y MISSION. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THE Y, LIKE BECOMING A VOLUNTEER, MEMBER, OR DONOR. IN FACT, AS A VOLUNTEER-BASED ORGANIZATION, THE Y DEPENDS UPON VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO RUN PROGRAMS. THE NEEDS FACED BY THE COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN UNPRECEDENTED. DESPITE REDUCED STAFFING, RESOURCES AND FACILITIES, THE Y CONTINUED TO FIND WAYS TO SERVE. IN 2021, ABOUT 971 INDIVIDUALS SERVED AS Y VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO HELP MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND EVERYONE IN THEM STRONGER THAN EVER. THE Y'S SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS FOCUSED ON BRINGING OUR CAUSE TO LIFE BY GIVING BACK AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR NEIGHBORS. OVER $1.2 MILLION IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED IN 2021 TO FUND SERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND MEMBERSHIPS FOR THOSE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.THROUGH A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DR. PHILLIPS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, THE Y WAS ABLE TO HOST A SERIES OF OVER 100 OUTDOOR FITNESS CLASSES AS PART OF THEIR "FRONT YARD FESTIVAL" THAT WERE FREE TO THE PUBLIC, HELPING 758 CENTRAL FLORIDIANS LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. THE Y ALSO OFFERED FREE FACEBOOK LIVE HEALTHY EATING COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS AND "BETTER US" VIRTUAL WELLNESS CHALLENGES, ENGAGING APPROXIMATELY 900 RESIDENTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OCALA FOOD BANK, SIMPLY FRESH, PARTNER SEED, HEALTHY WEST ORANGE, AND US HUNGER, Y STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS DISTRIBUTED 4,511 BOXES OF FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED AT Y LOCATIONS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONEBLOOD, THE Y ALSO HOSTED BLOOD DRIVES IN ALL SIX COUNTIES, HELPING TO SECURE 231 PINTS OF BLOOD, EQUATING TO SAVING THE LIVES OF 693 NEIGHBORS. THE WAYNE DENSCH, SOUTH ORLANDO, ROPER, J. DOUGLAS WILLIAMS, AND OVIEDO YMCAS ALSO BECAME VACCINATIONS SITES, PROVIDING 1,299 NEIGHBORS IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITH FREE VACCINATIONS. THE WAYNE DENSCH YMCA ALSO HOSTED A BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATION TO SUPPLY OVER 900 STUDENTS WITH BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND RELATED SERVICES TO HELP PREPARE KIDS TO LEARN AND THRIVE IN SCHOOL. AS PART OF THE Y'S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE, THE Y ALSO LOOKS AFTER THE SPIRITUAL CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2021, THE Y HOSTED ITS ANNUAL ARTHUR "PAPPY" KENNEDY PRAYER BREAKFAST VIRTUALLY DUE TO COVID, ENGAGING 3,867 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN NEED OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE Y ALSO HOSTED ITS ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF PRAYER BREAKFAST VIRTUALLY WITH AN ESTIMATED REACH OF 8,605 RESIDENTS. ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE Y'S WEBSITE IS A VIRTUAL PRAYER WALL. IN 2021, 120 PRAYER REQUESTS WERE SUBMITTED ONLINE AND PRAYED FOR BY THE Y'S CHAPLAIN AND MISSION COMMITTEE. THROUGH THESE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVES, THE Y AIMS TO HOLDS TRUE TO ITS MISSION "TO IMPROVE LIVES OF ALL IN CENTRAL FLORIDA BY CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON CHRISTIAN VALUES THAT STRENGTHEN THE SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY."