Darien Community Young Mens Christian Association Inc

THE MISSION OF THE DARIEN YMCA IS TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGHOUT PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL. WE HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL RESOURCE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS WITH OVER 300 PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON HEALTHY LIVING, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE SERVE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LEVELS AND NEVER TURN ANYONE AWAY FROM OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: AT THE Y, WE GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A SAFE PLACE TO BELONG, TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND TO LEARN POSITIVE BEHAVIORS FROM STRONG ROLE MODELS WHO EXEMPLIFY THE CORE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY. WHETHER IT BE CHILD-CARE, EARLY EDUCATION, YOUTH SWIM, GYMNASTICS AND SPORTS, OR SUMMER CAMP, OUR PROGRAMS AND STAFF PROVIDE THE SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES NEEDED TO HELP OUR YOUTH LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. 195 STUDENTS BELONG TO THE Y'S EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM AT HOLLY POND SCHOOL WHERE CHILDREN HAD THE ABILITY TO DISCOVER THEIR POTENTIAL AND DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS. APPROXIMATELY 121 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE Y'S KIDS CLUB AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED A FUN CHILDCARE OPTION FOR FAMILIES WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS. DUE THE PANDEMIC, WE OFFERED A HYBRID LEARNING LAB FOR OVER 60 KIDS LEARNING REMOTELY. $97,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS AWARDED TO 54 CHILDREN TO ATTEND KIDS CLUB, NURSERY SCHOOL, HOLLY CARE, OR VACATION CAMP IN 2021. MORE THAN 1,200 YOUTH BUILT A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND TEAMWORK, WHILE STAYING ACTIVE THROUGH THE Y'S RECREATIONAL SPORTS PROGRAMS AND LEAGUES. JUST OVER 1,100 CHILDREN LEARNED TO BECOME SAFER AND MORE CONFIDENT IN THE WATER THROUGH SWIM LESSONS AT THE Y. OVER 828 KIDS ATTENDED SUMMER CAMP, WHERE THEY MADE NEW FRIENDS, TRIED NEW THINGS, AND MADE LASTING MEMORIES. 19 CAMPERS WERE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, MAKING OUR CAMPS AN INCLUSIVE AND ENRICHING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL. 89 YOUNG ATHLETES PARTICIPATED IN THE HOUSE TEAM AND PIRANHA SWIM TEAM: THE Y'S COMPETITIVE AQUATIC TEAMS. THESE PROGRAMS TEACH THE KIDS LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS SETTING GOALS, DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP, MANAGING THEIR TIME, ALONG WITH BUILDING THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE. OUR WORLD-CLASS GYMNASTICS PROGRAM SERVES PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN THROUGH YOUNG ADULTS HELPING THEM STRIVE TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE IN AND OUT OF THE GYM. THIS INCREDIBLE PROGRAM SERVED OVER 1,400 CHILDREN IN 2021.

HEALTHY LIVING & MEMBERSHIP: OUR MISSION, CENTERED ON THE BALANCE OF SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY, PROVIDES PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIVING. WE TRY TO MAKE IT EASY FOR ALL TO WORK OUT BY HAVING KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF WHO CARE, RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT THAT MOTIVATES HEALTHY LIVING, AND A WELCOMING, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WHO ENCOURAGE YOUR WELL-BEING. IN 2021, WE HAD OVER 161,000 ACTIVE CHECK-INS TO OUR FACILITY TO ENGAGE IN HEALTHY LIVING ACTIVITIES LIKE GROUP FITNESS CLASSES, SWIMMING, SPORTS, FITNESS CENTER, WEIGHT ROOM, PERSONAL TRAINING, SMALL GROUP TRAINING, WELLNESS COACHING AND MUCH MORE! THE Y CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEDICATED TO PROMOTING WELLNESS AND DISEASE PREVENTION AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. FROM CARDIO AND STRENGTH BUILDING CLASSES, TO MIND-BODY AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS, EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AT THE Y AS THEY WORK TOWARD MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. WE HAD JUST OVER 10,600 IN-PERSON PARTICIPANT CLASS VISITS IN 2021. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE Y STARTED OFFERING VIRTUAL CLASSES AND IN 2021, WE HAD JUST OVER 7,000 VIRTUAL PARTICIPANT CLASS VISITS.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Y MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INSPIRED EACH DAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS WITH SMALL AND LARGE ACTS OF KINDNESS. THESE MEMBERS SUPPORT HAS HELPED OTHERS WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. TURNING NO ONE AWAY: THE Y PROVIDED THE CLOSE TO $280,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ENSURING THAT NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY FROM MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AT THE Y. THE PANDEMIC CAUSED A REDUCTION IN PARTICIPATION OF OUR SPECIAL NEED'S PROGRAMS, HOWEVER, 48 INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AT THE Y, INCLUDING INNOVATIVE VOCATIONS, A PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON VOCATIONAL SKILLS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS THAT STRENGTHENS PEER AND ADULT RELATIONSHIPS, BUILDS A STRONG WORK ETHIC, AND TEACHES RESPONSIBILITY. OVER 300 INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERED OVER 5,000 HOURS AT THE Y, HELPING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ENGAGE IN PHILANTHROPY. THE Y PROUDLY SUPPORTS MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING HOSTING MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR FELLOW NON-PROFITS, PROVIDING FACILITY USE FOR DARIEN ORGANIZATIONS, AND SERVING AS THE HOME POOL FOR THE DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL SWIM TEAM AND HOME GYM FOR THE DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS TEAM. THE VALUE OF THIS VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SERVICE IS OVER $206,000. OUR 2021 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN RAISED $238,000 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ANDREW BONNANO, CHAIRPERSON, MIKE CATTANO, JIM BOSEK, JIM CLARKE, KERRY COPPOLA, DAVE COUGHLIN, HENRY DECSI, & CATHY JEFFERSON.