The Y's Impact

The Y serves the community in numerous ways; however, to help members and the public better understand our impact the Y will communicate our impact in three focus areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Here are examples of just a few of the many programs offered by our Y.

Youth Development
Members and participants have long enjoyed YMCA youth development programs that are designed to nurture the potential of children and teens. These programs and their visibility will be enhanced by this new focus, enabling the Y to have an even greater impact in our community.

The Y is particularly adept at using youth development programs as tools to change the lives of youth and teens for the better. Just think about the youth sports programs offered by our Y like: basketball, baseball, t-ball, flag football, volleyball, track and field, and swim teams, and you can see how we teach skills and values that help mold youth and teens into caring and responsible adults. Or, think about the aquatics, health and well-being and leadership development programs we offer at the Artisan at Rush Creek Apartments and the Rush Creek Apartments and you will understand the impact the Y is having with the youth, teens and families in these moderate-income apartment communities. Or, consider the lives that are changed through the participation of children and families in our before- and afterschool, summer camp, KidZone, Father/Child and teen programs!

Healthy Living
YMCA Activate America®, the Y’s response to America’s health crisis, focuses the Y’s effort to improve health and well-being and change lives for the better in local communities across America. We are working to address the needs of health seekers, individuals who may need additional support to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Amidst our current health crisis with childhood obesity, overweight and diabetes, the Y is a beacon of hope in our community. We are working with children, parents, educators and healthcare professionals to address this crisis locally and nationally. Each year hundreds of children and their families locally, and thousands nationally, participate in YMCA Health Kids Day®, the Y’s effort to promote healthy living and good nutrition.

Promoting healthy living requires more than just providing health and well-being programs, facilities and equipment. While these tools are important components of what we do, the uniqueness of the Y is our people—the members, volunteers and staff who are the YMCA—and the impact they make on individual lives. The Y provides a sense of community, or connectedness, which allows members to form friendships and fellowship with other members, staff and volunteers who share common goals and values.

Y programs that support healthy living include: group exercise, cycle, and nutrition classes, personal training, water activities, Father/Child programs, Community Prayer Breakfast, lunch ‘n learns, community gardens, and group fieldtrips, just to name a few.

Social Responsibility
Another important focus of the Y is social responsibility, our desire to motivate people to support their neighbors and the larger community. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the work we do through collaboration with others in our community. Collaboration helps leverage limited resources and creates synergy to address community problems. Our Y is proud to be involved in a number of collaborations, including:

· The YMCA Activates After School – This United Way FitFuture® program is offered at five elementary schools in Arlington and Mansfield. The project, which is designed to combat childhood obesity serves 175 youth in our afterschool program and includes physical activity and nutrition. A number of the students have gotten to grow their own vegetables in community gardens at their schools. Collaborators include: United Way of Tarrant County, AgriLIFE Extension, Methodist Hospital of Dallas, Texas Health Resources, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Texas Health Resources, Tarrant County Public Health and the Arlington Public Library.

· Our Community, Our Kids – I have the privilege of chairing the Policy Committee of Our Community, Our Kids, a newly formed collaboration that will address gangs and youth violence in Arlington, Mansfield and southeast Tarrant County. The financial and societal impacts of gangs and youth violence are staggering. The collaboration seeks to: reduce gang involvement and youth violence, develop a continuum of services for area youth, increase communication and civic engagement, improve student achievement, and prepare youth for careers after high school. Our partners include: the City of Arlington, Arlington Independent School District, the City of Mansfield, Mansfield Independent School District, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Tarrant County Commissioner, Arlington Police Department, Arlington Parks and Recreation Department, Arlington Public Library, Arlington Alliance for Youth, Boys and Girls Club of Arlington, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Tarrant County Juvenile Services, and The University of Texas at Arlington.

· Community Prayer Breakfast – The annual Community Prayer Breakfast brings together over 150 clergy, community leaders and Y members for prayer, inspiration and music to reinforce our faith, and to support youth, adults and families in our community.

· The Miracle League – The Miracle League, offered in partnership with the Miracle League of DFW and the City of Arlington, provides a baseball program for children with developmental disabilities where every child plays every inning and every game ends in a tie. Players are assigned volunteer buddies who help them bat and traverse the bases. Parents and children alike enjoy fun, fellowship and physical activity in the out of doors.

· Special Friends – This program offers activities for special needs adults four afternoons each week, providing fun, fellowship and exercise for them and a respite for their caregivers. Members, volunteers and staff make our “Special Friends” welcome at the Y.

· 21st Century Learning Centers – Y staff members collaborate with the Arlington Independent School District on 21st Century Learning Grants at five schools, to provide sports, recreation and leadership development programs to over 500 teens.
Volunteerism and giving is another important facet of social responsibility. Each year hundreds of Y volunteers serve untold hours on Y boards and committees and help in fundraising efforts designed to make a difference in the lives of youth, adults and families in our community. Examples of volunteering and giving include:

· Strong Kids Campaign – Volunteers help raise over $400,000 annually to provide financial assistance to ensure everyone in our community has access to Y programs and services.

· Boards and Committees – Volunteer leaders from throughout the community serve on the Corporate Board, Branch Advisory Boards and numerous committees, and help to raise funds and provide insights into community needs. Volunteers on the Corporate Board also set policy and employ and supervise yours truly, the President/CEO.

· Taste of Arlington – Volunteers and staff from the Y partner with Theatre Arlington to raise funds to help support youth programs of both organizations. Participants enjoy fellowship, learn about the Y and Theatre Arlington, enjoy music and other entertainment, and get to sample food and beverages from some of the finest area restaurants.

Next time I'll discuss what an exciting time this is for "the Y!"