Founded in 1903, the ymca ( "y") is one of the oldest human services organizations in the east bay and a leader in providing innovative programs that build health in spirit, mind, and body. The "y" offers a wide range of health, wellness, child care, and youth development programs in berkeley, emeryville, albany, as well as east, central, and south contra costa county communities. With a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the "y" nurtures the potential of every youth, improves our communities' health and well-being, and provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors. At the "y", no one is turned away due to their inability to pay. We serve more than 45,000 people each year.

Human Services , Young Mens or Womens Associations

Youth development - 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. That is why we help young people cultivate the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. Our ymca programs, such as head start, early head start and state preschool programs, along with before and after school enrichment programs offer a range of experiences that enrich cognitive, social, physical and emotional growth of younger children, while teen center programs such as our y-scholars program, youth institute and youth and government teach high school and middle school students' leadership, social and life skills such as communication, public speaking, persuasive debate, and teamwork. These programs address challenges faced by our community's low income and at risk students and help to prepare them for higher education, skill building, and workforce development through social-enterprise models. Other youth development programs include youth sports, fit kids, teen fitness, seasonal camps, special needs programs, youth aquatics and much more. healthy living - the ymca is a leading voice on health and well-being. We bring families closer together, encourage good health and foster connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, people in our community are receiving the support, guidance and resources they need to achieve greater health in spirit, mind and body. This is particularly important as our nation struggles with an obesity crisis, families struggle with work/life balance and individuals search for personal fulfillment. In addition to adult fitness and group exercise classes, our healthy living programs include programs such as project recovery (stroke/injury), healthy heart (cardiac), healthy changes, y-diabetes prevention, health screening, adventure guides, walking groups, and other recreational activities. social responsibility - our ymca believes in giving back and supporting our neighbors. We have been listening and responding to our community's most critical social needs. We engage ymca members, participants and volunteers in activities that strengthen our community and pave the way for future generations to thrive. Our berkeley branch provides affordable residence facilities for those who possess limited financial resources and can benefit from the support of the associations' program while encouraging intercultural and international respect in pursuit of world peace and understanding. in december 2009, the association arranged new market tax credit ("nmtc") financing as partial funding to renovate the property ("teen center" building) gifted to the association by pg&e. Under the nmtc program, banks and other qualifying institutions make "qualified equity investments" ("qei") in community development entities ("cdes") that have been certified and granted allocations by the cdfi of federal income tax credits. In connection with the teen center inc. Project located at 2111 martin luther king jr. Way ("teen center property"), wachovia community development enterprise xix ("wachovia cde"), a single purpose cde certified by the cdfi made a senior loan in the amount of $6,825,000 (loan a) and a subordinate loan in the amount of $2,675,000 (loan b) to the ymca of the central bay area teen center, inc. , a single member limited liability company formed by the association for this purpose. Funding for the teen center loans was provided by a $6,825,000 qei made by investment fund llc ("investment fund") to wachovia cde. Investment fund llc obtained the funds to make the qei via a $6,825,000 secured loan by ymca of the central bay area and funding provided via a net equity investment in the amount of $2,675,000 by a tax credit investor. A portion of the proceeds of both loan a and loan b were used to acquire the teen center prop