Ymca Of Metropolitan Fort Worth

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

HEALTHY LIVING- IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THE YMCA IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. WITH A MISSION CENTERED ON BALANCE, THE Y BRINGS FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGES GOOD HEALTH AND FOSTERS CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN, AND SHARED INTERESTS. --------IN 2021, HEALTHY LIVING STILL LOOKED DIFFERENT AS WE ENGAGED IN VIRTUAL FITNESS, Y ON THE FLY BUSES THAT BROUGHT WELLNESS TO COMMUNITIES, OUTREACH TO SENIOR POPULATIONS, HELP OUR MEMBERS MANAGE STRESS, MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND WORKED TO RE-CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES AS THE PANDEMIC RECEDES. WELL-BEING INCLUDES HAVING A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY. YMCA HEALTH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE THE VALUE OF PREVENTION THROUGH GOOD EXERCISE HABITS AND OVERALL ENHANCED WELL-BEING, INCLUDING NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. THROUGH FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH ENHANCEMENT, PERSONAL FITNESS EVALUATIONS, AND GROUP EXERCISES, THE YMCA PROMOTES HEALTHY LIFE STYLES FOR ALL. COMMUNITY INTEGRATED HEALTH IS THE EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THE LINKAGES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES (LIKE THE YMCA'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM) IN ORDER TO HELP INDIVIDUALS PREVENT, DELAY, OR LIVE BETTER WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS. COMMUNITY INTEGRATED HEALTH: INCREASES ACCESS TO CARE LOWERS COSTS PREVENTS AND ADDRESSES CHRONIC DISEASE REDUCES THE EFFECTS OF SOME SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH COMMUNITY INTEGRATED HEALTH WORK IS ALREADY HAPPENING AT YS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THEY WORK TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL THROUGH OUR SUITE OF CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. YMCA'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA CANCER SURVIVOR PROGRAM ENHANCEFITNESS BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MONITORING AND MORE PROGRAMS THAT TARGET CHRONIC DISEASES THE ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS PROGRAM STRESSES A THREE-WAY APPROACH TO WORK WITH SENIORS, INVOLVING HEALTH AND FITNESS, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERISM. TO THIS END, SPECIAL EXERCISE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND SENIORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTEER IN PROVIDING PROGRAMS TO OTHERS. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAM OUTINGS ALSO COMBAT SENIOR ISOLATION, A COMMUNITY-WIDE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BY UNITED WAY OF TARRANT COUNTY. THE YMCA'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM (YDPP) HELPS THOSE AT HIGH RISK ADOPT AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND REDUCE THEIR CHANCE OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES. YDPP IS BASED ON THE LANDMARK DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH (NIH) AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), WHICH SHOWED THAT BY EATING HEALTHIER , INCREASING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND LOSING A SMALL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT, A PERSON WITH PRE-DIABETES CAN PREVENT OR DELAY THE ONSET OF TYPE 2 DIABETES BY 58%. -------BY THE NUMBERS, 19,369 SENIORS ENGAGED IN HEALTHY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING OUR VIRTUAL CLASSES DURING THE SHUTDOWN. TOWARD THAT PURPOSE, WE HAVE PROVIDED OUR PARTICIPANTS IN HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS WITH NEED-BASED ASSISTANCE TOTALING $620,000.

THE Y NURTURES THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN BY SUPPORTING THEIR UNIQUE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY THROUGH HOLISTIC PROGRAMMING. FROM CRADLE TO CAREER, THE Y PROVIDES ALL YOUTH WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. THE Y. FOR A BETTER US. AS WE BEGAN TO WELCOME KIDS BACK TO OUR PROGRAMS, THEY WERE EXCITED TO BE WITH THE Y IN 2021. --------BY THE NUMBERS IN 2021..... 6,248 KIDS LEARNED COOPERATION, NEW SKILLS AND TEAMWORK THROUGH YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS; 3,664 ENGAGED IN TUTORING, HEALTHY MOVEMENT AND STEM ACTIVITIES IN CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM. 165 KIDS PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN IN OUR EARLY LEARNING CENTERS; 426 YOUTH MADE FRIENDS, CREATED LASTING MEMORIES AND UNPLUGGED FROM TECHNOLOGY AT SUMMER CAMP; 6,431 IMPROVED STROKES, COMPETED IN SWIM TEAM AND LEARNED WATER SAFETY THROUGH Y AQUATIC PROGRAMS; 386 TEENS PARTICIPATED IN KNOWLEDGE-BASED SKILL AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS INCLUDING YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT, FUTURE LEADERS AND ADVENTURE GUIDES. ALSO, 3,163 YOUTH ENGAGED IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THROUGH OUTDOOR SCIENCE CLASSES DURING YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT YMCA CAMP CARTER. DURING 2021, WE AWARDED $241,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TOWARDS YMCA PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR DONORS. --------OVERNIGHT, DAY OR SPECIALTY CAMPS AT THE Y SHARE ONE THING: THEY'RE ABOUT DISCOVERY. KIDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE NATURE, FIND THEIR TALENTS, TRY NEW ACTIVITIES, GAIN INDEPENDENCE AND MAKE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES. AND, OF COURSE, WE MAKE SURE KIDS HAVE FUN AS WELL! --------YMCA PRESCHOOL - WITH SO MANY DEMANDS ON TODAY'S FAMILIES AND THE INCREASED FOCUS ON EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, FAMILIES NEED ALL THE SUPPORT THEY CAN GET TO NURTURE THEIR CHILDREN'S POTENTIAL. THAT'S WHY CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AT THE Y FOCUS ON HOLISTICALLY NURTURING CHILD DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING A SAFE AND HEALTHY PLACE TO LEARN FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS, DEVELOP HEALTHY, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILD SELF-RELIANCE THROUGH THE Y VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY. THE YMCA OPERATES PRE-SCHOOLS AT THE AMON G. CARTER, JR DOWNTOWN YMCA, AND THE BUTLER HOUSING COMMUNITY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FORT WORTH HOUSING AUTHORITY. -------RESIDENT CAMP - CAMP PROGRAMS HELP DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION FOR NATURE AND PROVIDE MANY URBAN YOUNGSTERS EXPOSURES TO A NATURAL SETTING. YMCA CAMPING PROGRAMS ARE EDUCATIONAL; THEY PROMOTE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH, AND A RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. OFFERINGS INCLUDE DAY CAMP AND OVERNIGHT CAMP, AND SPECIALTY CAMPS FOR CHILDREN WITH VERY LIMITED OR NO EYESIGHT. YMCA CAMP CARTER HAS AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION CURRICULUM THAT SERVES SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. -------YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS - THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE AN APPRECIATION OF ONE'S OWN WORTH. WHATEVER THE SPORT, THE FOCUS IS ON FULL AND EQUAL PARTICIPATION. WIN OR LOSE, YMCA YOUTH SPORT PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILL, HEALTH AND FITNESS, SAFETY, COOPERATION, SELF-ESTEEM, AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS. --------YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT - A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH THAT PROVIDES A "HANDS-ON" APPROACH TO LEARNING ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT AND ITS LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES. YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT PROVIDES GOOD ROLE MODELS TO HELP TEENS DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM, GOOD VALUES, INCLUDING COOPERATION, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC. YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT CREATES VALUE FOR OUR KIDS AND HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE! --------AQUATICS - SWIMMING IS A LIFE SKILL AS WELL AS GREAT EXERCISE AND A CHALLENGING SPORT. AQUATICS PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA INCLUDE SAFETY AROUND WATER, SWIM LESSONS, FAMILY SWIM, SWIM TEAMS, AND WATER AEROBICS. THE YMCA WORKS TO PROVIDE MANY KINDS OF ADAPTIVE SWIM PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND TAKES WATER SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY. --------THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN FORT WORTH IS AN ADVOCATE FOR WATER SAFETY IN ITS COMMUNITY, PARTNERING WITH THE FORT WORTH DROWNING PREVENTION COALITION TO OFFER WATER SAFETY CLASSES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SPECIFIC SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY SKILLS, THEY PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE. THEY ALSO PROMOTE TEAMWORK, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND LEADERSHIP. --------TEEN LEADERSHIP - SEVERAL Y BRANCHES PROVIDE LEADERS AND COUNSELORS IN TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO TRAIN FUTURE LEADERS AND TO ENCOURAGE TEEN LEADERSHIP. THESE TEEN VOLUNTEERS ASSIST GROUP LEADERS IN SUMMER CAMP, SWIM TEAM, AND JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS.

WITH OUR DOORS OPEN TO ALL, WE WORK EVERY DAY TO CONNECT PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO NEED US MOST; OUR MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTERS, AND STAFF DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE BY GIVING BACK TOGETHER. THE YMCA RAISES FUNDS EACH YEAR TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS WHEN THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE FULL COST. -------IN 2020, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TOOK CENTER STAGE AS WE MOBILIZED OUR Y ON THE FLY BUSES TO BRING YMCA PROGRAMS DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES IN THE METROPOLITAN FORT WORTH AREA. WE SERVED 204,050 MEALS TO 18,061 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC. VOLUNTEERISM IS ALSO A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION. VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE AS COACHES, BOARD MEMBERS, MENTORS, FACILITY PROJECTS, EVENT STAFF, OFFICE WORK, READING TO CHILDREN, AND OTHER AREAS. IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT THAT OUR ORGANIZATION COULD NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT. THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN FORT WORTH IS AN ADVOCATE FOR WATER SAFETY IN ITS COMMUNITY, PARTNERING WITH THE FORT WORTH DROWNING PREVENTION COALITION TO OFFER WATER SAFETY CLASSES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SPECIFIC SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY SKILLS, THEY PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE. THEY ALSO PROMOTE TEAMWORK, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND LEADERSHIP.