As a charitable community service organization, we seek to create a healthy, caring community through the improvement of the individual. We serve men, women, and children of all ages, abilities, incomes, races and religions. Our mission is to put christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy sprit, mind, and body for all. Our impact: the y improved the health and well-being of 19,492 people, which included providing financial membership and program aid to 4,369 individuals, that included 1,114 families.

Human Services , Physical Fitness & Community Recreational Facilities , Sports , 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 prime time (before and after-school programs); youth sports, healthy kids university, early teen adventure day camp, quick start tennis, preschool, swimming lessons, and young children dance program, offer a range of experiences that enrich cognitive, social, physical, and emotional growth. Expenses include subsidies and direct financial assistance that make participation possible for 4,501 young people. The ymca lincoln school program branch serves inner city youth and families with afterschool programs, summer enrichment programs, family literacy, and teen programs. The programs are designed to support social development, improve academic proficiency, and encourage healthy living choices. We served 146 children in after school programs and 285 children in the summer. healthy living the y 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, 19,492 people in our community are receiving the support, guidance, and resources they need to achieve greater health in sprit, 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. Our programs are accessible, affordable, and open to all faiths, backgrounds, abilities, and income levels. In 2017, we provided $96,369 in direct financial assistance to people who otherwise would have faced economic barriers to participation. The y provides a wide variety of exercise and improvement programs. Arthritic foundation aquatic classes provide relief to pain and restore the ability to be independent for over 142 people each year. In addition, muscular strength, range of movement, a matter of balance, and yoga stretch programs assist 71 seniors, helping them be productive and maintain a quality of life. Water and land exercise programs assist participants in maintaining a healthy weight as well as improving their strength and flexibility. Participants report a better self-image and that the programs and relationships developed in the programs help them make healthier choices. The y provides chronic disease programs - 37 individuals participated in one of our diabetes prevention, delay the disease: parkinson's and exercise or ymca livestrong programs. These programs help participants prevent, delay or recover from a chronic disease as they work toward regaining and maintaining their health. social responsibility our ymca believes in giving back and supporting our neighbors. We have been responding to our community's most critical social needs for more than 150 years by fostering social connectedness, strengthening support networks and encouraging investment in our communities through volunteerism, inclusion and collaboration. Ymca staff connected many of our over 19,000 members in multiple volunteer opportunities like food drives, youth mentoring/coaching, community gardening, habitat for humanity, loaves and fishes, and ministry with community. These activities empowered our neighbors to effect change in their community. The y partnered with multiple organizations (kalamazoo public schools, united way, borgess, bronson, wmu, kc ready 4s, etc. ) using their strengths to make more effective and efficient, positive change. Our y focuses on inclusion by offering financial assistance for membership/programs and has specialized programming like the women of refugee family night at the y to make sure everyone is welcome at the y. all other programs