Young Mens Christian Association Of Madison Nj

A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WITH PROGRAMS TO FOSTER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Y PROGRAMS NURTURE CHILDREN FROM INFANCY THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD THROUGH FULL-DAY CARE, PRESCHOOL EDUCATION, AND STRUCTURED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE SAFE, PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, STARTING WITH PREPARATION FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL. IN ADDITION TO THE MORE THAN 200 BABIES AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AT OUR F.M. KIRBY CHILDREN'S CENTER, MORE THAN 400 SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN ATTENDED FULL-DAY SUMMER CAMP ON MADISON'S DREW UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. DURING THE YEAR, 1,580 CHILDREN RECEIVED WATER SAFETY TRAINING AND SWIM LESSONS; 1,119 PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH SPORTS; AND ANOTHER 70 PARTICIPATED IN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN OUR AQUATICS, GYMNASTICS AND SPORTS PROGRAMS RECEIVE TRAINING IN BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE, CARING, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, TEAMWORK AND ATHLETIC SKILL. OUR Y'S COUNSELING PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN FACING DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES, HELPING THEM TO HEAL, FEEL SAFE AND BE PRODUCTIVE IN SCHOOL.

THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS JOINED OR RE-JOINED THE Y, AND HUNDREDS MORE REGISTERED FOR YOUTH AND ADULT FITNESS AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS IN 2022. GROWTH WAS DRIVEN BY BOTH THE EXPANDED FAMILY CENTER FACILITY, AS WELL AS BY PUBLIC HEALTH RESTRICTIONS BEING EASED FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AS A RESULT, Y MEMBERSHIP REACHED ITS HISTORIC HIGH OF MORE THAN 11,000 MEMBERS BY YEAR-END. AT THE SAME TIME, HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND TEENS ENROLLED IN AQUATICS, SPORTS, SUMMER CAMP AND GYMNASTICS PROGRAMS IN HIGHER NUMBERS THAN EVER BEFORE. WHILE LABOR SHORTAGES SLOWED THE RESUMPTION OF THE Y'S WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH CHRONIC DISEASE, OUR CANCER SURVIVORS PROGRAM DID RESUME, WELCOMING TWO COHORT GROUPS AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE YEAR. DOZENS OF FITNESS CLASSES AND AQUATICS PROGRAMS SERVING THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP FULLY RESUMED IN THE YEAR, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SERVING FRAIL ELDERS, AS WELL AS CHILDREN AND ADULTS LIVING WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES AND/OR RECOVERING FROM INJURIES OR ILLNESSES.

THE Y STRIVES TO SERVE OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY BY ASSISTING THOSE WITH LIMITED INCOMES AND THOSE FACING PERSONAL CRISES. LABOR SHORTAGES IN 2022 RESTRICTED THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WE COULD SERVE IN PRESCHOOL AND OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS, SO STRONGER STAFF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES WERE LAUNCHED TO HELP MEET THE GROWING DEMAND. TO EXPAND INCLUSION, THE Y MAINTAINS ONGOING WELLNESS AND FITNESS PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. AND TO MORE FULLY REACH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, THE Y HOSTED SUPPLY DRIVES FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING UKRAINE RELIEF, HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, MARKET STREET MISSION, GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, MOMS HELPING MOMS AND JERSEY CARES. FOOD COLLECTION DRIVES WERE HOSTED FOR THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, DIWALI SEWA AND OTHER LOCAL LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. ENGAGING DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS IN SUCH EFFORTS, THE Y GENERATED MORE THAN 10,360 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE DURING THE YEAR.