Cleveland County Family Young Mens Christian Association Inc

THE MISSION OF THE YMCA IS TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL. THE Y MISSION IS ALSO TO ADVANCE OUR CAUSE OF STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

HEALTHY LIVING: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THE Y IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. WELL-BEING MEANS A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. WE BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH, AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. THE YMCA HAS IDENTIFIED THE GROWING NATIONAL OBESITY RATES IN THIS COUNTRY AS A CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND OUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE DEVELOP NEW SKILLS AND GROW IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY BY SETTING REALISTIC GOALS FOR SELF IMPROVEMENT AND DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, PROPER NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INTERACTION, TEAMWORK, AND DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND SELF-ESTEEM. MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE MADE AVAILABLE FREE TO MEMBERS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL YMCA PROGRAMS AND MEMBERSHIPS. IN 2021, WE PROVIDED 135,671 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE FACED ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. THE YMCA PROVIDES HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PROGRAMMING FOR PERSONS WITH INDIVIDUAL WORKOUTS, CORPORATE PROGRAMMING, AND SMALL GROUP ACTIVITES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE PILATES, YOGA AND ZUMBA CLASSES, CPR, AED & FIRST AID TRAINING, AS WELL AS GENERAL FITNESS PROGRAMS AND INFORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN DIET, NUTRITION, AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT. OUR AQUATIC PROGRAMS OFFER A PREVENTATIVE SOLUTION TO TRAUMATIC INCIDENTS AROUND THE WATER AND GIVE A THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE TO POST-SURGERY PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ARTHRITIS AND PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WE OFFER NOT ONLY SWIMMING INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSES, BUT ALSO ADULT AQUATIC EXERCISE PROGRAMS. WE OFFER A WATER WALKING PROGRAM AND ARTHRITIS AQUATIC CLASSES WHICH INCREASE JOINT FLEXIBILITY AND HELP RELIEVE PAIN; A WELCOME ALTERNATIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE USUALLY SHUT OUT OF REGULAR EXERCISE CLASSES. ALSO AS A WAY TO PROMOTE THE YMCA IDEA OF A HEALTHY BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT, WE OFFER THE USE OF THE YMCA FACILITIES FOR ALL AREA CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOLS AS A PLACE TO USE FOR AFTER PROM AND AFTER GRADUATION PARTIES. THE FACILITY IS USED BY MANY SCHOOLS, STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS A HEALTHY, FUN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE AND TOTALLY DRUG FREE. THE YMCA FUNCTIONS WITH THE HELP OF DONATED TIME BY BOTH POLICY MAKING VOLUNTEERS AND PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: YOUTH & FAMILY OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL KIDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. THE KEY FOCUS OF YMCA YOUTH PROGRAMMING IS TO FOSTER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, NOT ONLY IN CHILDREN BUT ALSO IN THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP MORAL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, SELF-ESTEEM AND LEADERSHIP. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FOUR CORE VALUES- CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY. PARENTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN POLICY AND PROGRAM DECISIONS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN EVALUATION SESSIONS AND ON VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES. THE PRIMETIME PROGRAMS IN MANY CASES ALLOW PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN TO REMAIN GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE WELL CARED FOR IN A SAFE CLEAN, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE FOR ELEMENTARY AGED YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL TO EASE THE PARENTAL STRAIN OF ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION AND HAVING THE CHILDREN HOME ALONE UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO RETURN FROM WORK. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH NORMAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDING PRE-K SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL'S OUT CAMPS ARE EDUCATIONAL, PROMOTE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH AND A RESPECT FOR BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL. THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND WELL-TRAINED LEADERSHIP, THESE SPECIAL CAMPING ACTIVITIES SEEK TO HELP PARTICIPANTS ACHIEVE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. FAMILY OPPORTUNITIES FOR USE OF THE YMCA FACILITIES HELP ALL INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE FAMILY UNIT GROW AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN FAMILY. ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES PROVIDE CHILDREN AND PARENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE AND FOSTER THE COMPANIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD. THE YMCA OFFERS YOUTH BASKETBALL, T-BALL AND SOCCER. THIS HELPS TEACH THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAM SPIRIT IN THE FACT THAT EVERYONE ON THE TEAM MUST PLAY IN THE GAME. PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN VOLUNTEER AS COACHES TO HELP THE CHILDREN LEARN NOT ONLY THE RULES OF THE SPORTS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LESSONS OF SHARING AND SELF-ESTEEM. YMCA ALSO OFFERS TRACK, SWIM TEAM, AND SPLASH-N-DASH PROGRAMS. THREE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FREE TO THE COMMUNITY ARE MOVIE DAY, HEALTHY KIDS DAY, BACK TO SCHOOL BASH AND GIRL'S NIGHT ART. AS IS ALL YMCA PROGRAMS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR THE YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE PROGRAM DUES. NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED SERVICE FOR INABILITY TO PAY.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: AS A LEADING NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, THE Y WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO SOCIAL CHALLENGES AND REMAINS TO THIS DAY A LIFELINE IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE Y UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES THAT KEEP INDIVIDUALS FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND RESPONDS WITH SERVICES AND SUPPORT WHICH HELP PEOPLE TO BE SELF-RELIANT, PRODUCTIVE AND CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY. EACH Y RESPONDS TO THE UNIQUE ISSUES INFLUENCING THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDES SUPPORT THROUGH SERVICES FOCUSED ON CRITICAL AREAS, SUCH AS CHILD WELFARE, COMMUNITY HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE OR FAMILY SERVICES. TO BRING ABOUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE, INDIVIDUALS NEED ONGOING ENCOURAGEMENT AND TOOLS. WE'RE HERE DAY- IN AND DAY-OUT TO PROVIDE RESOURCES OUR COMMUNITIES NEED. THE Y ADDRESSES SOCIAL ISSUES THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR OUR SENIORS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES. THE Y SUPPORTS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS BY NEVER TURNING ANYONE AWAY DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO PAY FOR A PROGRAM OR SERVICE. OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE Y MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS THAT CAN ASSIST THEM IN REACHING THEIR GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL. THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, AND THE DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS THE Y IS ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.