Young Mens Christian Association Of Montclair

THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR WELCOMES ALL. WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT STRENGTHENS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY BY DEVELOPING SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL, WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN OUR SERVICE AREA (BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMINGDALE, CLIFTON, CEDAR GROVE, GLEN RIDGE, HASKELL, MONTCLAIR, VERONA AND WEST MILFORD) WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED.

PART III - 4A. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - CHILD CARE WE BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN NEED A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR'S SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE (SACC) PROGRAMS PRVOIDES CARE FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K - 8 AT 19 SITES IN THREE COMMUNITIES. IN 2021 WE SERVED 850 CHILDREN IN BEFORE AND AFTER CARE IN THE MONTHS THE SCHOOLS OPERATED IN PERSON. OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SUBSIDIZES OUR FEES SO THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECIEVE THIS NURTURING EXPERIENCE OF OUR SACC PROGRAM, NO MATTER THEIR FAMILY'S CIRCUMSTANCES. WE PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $44,000 IN SCHOLARSHIP FOR OUR SACC PROGRAM IN 2021. AT LEAST 50% OF PARENTS RECENTLY SURVEYED STRONGLY AGREE THAT AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AT THE Y HELPS THEIR CHILDREN MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND PROVIDE GOOD CHILD/STAFF RELATIONSHIPS. OVER 90% OF PARENTS RATE OUR SACC PROGRAM 'GOOD' OR 'GREAT'. THE Y HOSTED A LEARNING ENRICHMENT COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOL REMOTELY FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR. CLOSE TO 150 CHILDREN CAME EACH DAY TO OUR GEYER FAMILY Y TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR VIRTUAL CLASSES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF TRAINED Y CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, WHO ALSO ENGAGED CHILDREN IN ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY WAS OVER. THE Y PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ATTEND THESE PROGRAMS. THE NEWLY OPENED EARLY LEARNING CENTER, SERVING CHILDREN 3 MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS, SERVED A TOTAL OF 57 CHILDREN IN 2021. ALL OF OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAM FOSTERS CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT; WE HELP CHILDREN BUILD FRIENDSHIPS AND GROW IN THEIR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Y CHILD CARE PROGRAMS ALSO TEACH AND MODEL OUR CORE VALUES - CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY - AND HEALTHY HABITS. WE ENSURE THAT PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY SNACKS AND PROVIDE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EVERY DAY. PART III - 4A. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - SUMMER DAY CAMP THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR'S CAMP EXPERIENCE IS A RICH, LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS EACH CAMPERS' PERSONAL GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE. THE CAMP EXPERIENCE ALLOWS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGING ACTIVITIES IN A PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT. CAMP IS A PLACE DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN, WHERE THEY CAN EXPLORE AND DISCOVER. CAMP NURTURES CURIOSITY AND INVITES CREATIVITY, WHICH IS LEADS TO DISCOVERY AND GROWTH. IN 2021, THE YMCA HOSTED THREE SUMMER CAMPS, SERVING 1346 CHILDREN IN 5286 CAMPER WEEKS. AS PART OF OUR MISSION TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO ATTEND CAMP, REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WE PROVIDED $32,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN 2021 TO OVER 50 CHILDREN IN OUR SUMMER CAMP.

PART III - 4B. HEALTHY LIVING THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THE Y BRINGS FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGES GOOD HEALTH HABITS, AND FOSTERS CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN, AND SHARED INTERESTS. AS A RESULT, THOUSANDS OF YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES RECEIVE THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR THEIR SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY. THE Y RETURNED TO HOSTING GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES IN PERSON AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY IN 2021; PERSONAL TRAINING RETURNED TO THE PARK STREET Y AS WELL. THE Y IS PROUD TO PROVIDE SEVERAL CHONIC DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM, DIABETES EXCERSISE PROGRAM, BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MONITIORING PROGRAM, MS ONE STEP, LIVESTRONG, AND MORE. MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND/OR ARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE Y'S CHRONIC DISEASE PROGRAM CONTINUED SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH VIRTUAL SESSIONS IN 2021 SERVING 181 PARTICIPANTS. THE Y'S AQUATICS PROGRAM PROVIDED SWIM LESSONS TO 2,863 CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGHT THE YEAR AT THE PARK STREET BRANCH AND THE GEYER FAMILY Y. ADDITIONALLY, THE Y PROVIDED LIFEGUARD TRAINING, SWIM INSTRUCTOR TRAINING AND OTHER SAFETY TRAININGS FOR 189 INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL NOT ONLY WORK AT OUR Y, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP INCREASE WATER SAFETY IN THE REGION. IN JUNE, THE Y HOSTED SAFETY AROUND WATER MONTH, PROVIDING DROWNING PREVENTION CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY FOR ONLY $5 FOR FIVE LESSONS. THE Y'S YOUTH SWIM TEAM, THE DOLPHINS, HAD 161 SWIMMERS PARTICIPATE IN 2021, ACHIEVEING RECORDS IN NUMEROUS COMPETITIONS. AS WITH OUR OTHER PROGRAMS, MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE SUBSIDIZED FOR THOSE WITH DEMONSTRATED NEED THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

PART III - 4C. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ADDITION TO OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS, THE Y IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE PROUD TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT UPON YOUTH, FAMILIES AND ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES. THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR HOSTED COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING LIKE HEALTHY KIDS DAY, A VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING, SAFETY AROUND WATER WEEK AND THE MONTCLAIR RUN, AND HELD A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE NEW PLAYGROUND AT THE GEYER FAMILY YMCA. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FULL-TIME Y STAFF PARTICIPATED IN A SIX-SESSION DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION LEARNING GROUP. IN OCTOBER, THE YMCA WAS THE HOST OF THE REGIONAL EMLE (EMERGING MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE) CONFERENCE TO SUPPORT THE CAREERS OF MULTICULTURAL YMCA EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE REGION. IN RESPONSE TO CONTINUED IMPACT OF COVID-19, OUR Y MADE 875 GROCERY DELIVERIES TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNIY, DELIVERING 6440 POUNDS OF FOOD. OUR Y ALSO HOSTED MULTIPLE BLOOD DRIVES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RED CROSS, AND HELD A HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE AT YEAR-END TO BENEFIT A LOCAL FAMILY IN NEED. SENIOR PROGRAMMING RETURNED TO THE PARK STREET Y IN 2021 TO ENGAGE SENIORS WHO HAD SUFFERED FROM SOCIAL ISOLATION DURING THE PANDEMIC.