Young Mens Christian Association Of Greater Indianapolis

THE MISSION OF THE YMCA IS TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THE YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS STAFF AND VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE TO DISCOVER THEIR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS. YMCA PROGRAMS CULTIVATE VALUES, INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. *THE YMCA BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOSTERS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. KIDS DEVELOP MORAL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, SELF-ESTEEM AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. PARENTS CAN GO TO WORK KNOWING THEIR CHILDREN WILL THRIVE IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. FOR PARENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FULL PROGRAM COST, THE Y PROVIDES AN "INCOME-BASED" SLIDING SCALE FEE. IN 2021, THE YMCA BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVED 8,502 CHILDREN FROM 114 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS REPRESENTED 113 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 17 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ONE PRIVATE SCHOOL. OF THE CHILDREN SERVED, 16% QUALIFIED FOR A REDUCED OR WAIVED PROGRAM FEE. *YMCA FULL-DAY ELEARNING CHILDCARE, OFFERED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ALLOWED MORE THAN 462 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 TO MAINTAIN THEIR STUDIES. *YMCA PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE A HALF-DAY OF ENRICHMENT, ACADEMICS AND SOCIALIZATION FOR THREE TO FIVE YEAR OLDS. IN 2021, 705 KIDS PARTICIPATED IN THE Y'S PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. OF THOSE, 15% RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. *YMCA CAMPING AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH AND A RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. IN 2021, 5009 DAY CAMPERS WERE ACTIVE AT LOCATIONS ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA. THE YMCA'S OVERNIGHT CAMP, THE FLAT ROCK RIVER CAMP AT THE RUTH LILLY YMCA OUTDOOR CENTER REOPENED IN 2021 AND SERVED OVER 944 CHILDREN FROM MORE THAN 57 SCHOOLS. ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE YMCA'S SLIDING-SCALE FEE HELPED 1046 DAY CAMPERS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE AFFORD THIS EXPERIENCE, PARTICIPATE IN THE Y'S OUTDOOR CAMPING. *YMCA AQUATICS PROGRAMS PROVIDE SWIMMING AND WATER-SAFETY SKILLS. THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE, TEAMWORK, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP. IN 2021, 6702 CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS LEARNED HOW TO BE SAFER AROUND WATER BY DEVELOPING IMPORTANT WATER-SAFETY SKILLS. THE YMCA PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 1175 OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS. *YMCA YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS PROMOTE SELF-WORTH AND INCREASE SELF-ESTEEM. EVERY SPORT FOCUSES ON FULL AND EQUAL PARTICIPATION. EVERY CHILD PLAYS IN EVERY GAME. WIN OR LOSE, YMCA YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILL, HEALTH AND FITNESS, SAFETY, COOPERATION AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS. IN 2021, OVER 6,557 CHILDREN AND TEENS ENROLLED IN OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS INCLUDING SOCCER, BASKETBALL, T-BALL AND BASEBALL LEAGUES. OF THOSE ENROLLED, 1,399 RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

HEALTHY LIVING THE YMCA CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE CITIZENS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF INDIANAPOLIS. THE YMCA IS PART OF A COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SET UP TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES IN THE INDIANAPOLIS AREA. THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS CONVENED BY THE YMCA ON A REGULAR BASIS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE YMCA IMPACTS AND IMPROVES HEALTHY LIVING IN CENTRAL INDIANA BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN WELLNESS PROGRAMS, LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING, FIGHT CHRONIC DISEASE AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. OVER 156,436 PEOPLE IN THE INDIANAPOLIS AREA ARE MEMBERS OR PARTICIPANTS IN Y PROGRAMS. THE YMCA IS OPEN TO ALL AGES, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE YMCA HELPS LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME LEVEL FAMILIES AFFORD MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS. THERE IS A SLIDING-SCALE FEE AVAILABLE TO ANY HOUSEHOLD WITH INCOME OF $55,000 OR LESS PER YEAR. WELLNESS AND HEALTHY LIVING SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDE: *CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE, STRENGTH TRAINING, STRETCHING AND RELAXATION. *INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS ONE-ON-ONE COACHING AND PERSONAL TRAINING. *VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES, LAUNCHED QUICKLY AT THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MARCH 2020, REMAIN A PROGRAM OPTION FOR WELLNESS, FITNESS AND CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION. *GROUP PROGRAMS AND CLASSES SUCH AS YOGA, PILATES, AEROBIC EXERCISE, DANCE AND MARTIAL ARTS. *TEAM SPORTS SUCH AS BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL AND SOFTBALL. *COMMUNITY GATHERING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXERCISE PROGRAMS FOR THOSE 65 AND OLDER. *ADULT CLASSES THAT INCLUDE EXERCISE FOR THOSE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS LIKE ARTHRITIS AND HEART DISEASE. *WELCOMING AND COMFORTABLE EXERCISE AND PROGRAM AREAS TAILORED TO BEGINNERS. *PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS INCLUDING SWIMMING LESSONS, SAFETY AROUND WATER CLASSES, CAMPING, GYMNASTICS, DANCE, MARTIAL ARTS AND TEAM SPORTS. *SAFE PLACES FOR CHILDREN TO GROW AND LEARN. *PRENATAL EXERCISE AND PARENT-CHILD EXERCISE CLASSES. *GATHERING SPACES TO BUILD COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS. *PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY UNIT. THE YMCA PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE SEEKING TO PREVENT THE ONSET OF TYPE II DIABETES. THE YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS, WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEVELOPED AN AWARD WINNING DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CDC AND IS NOW PROVIDED IN Y'S ACROSS THE NATION. IN ADDITION, THE Y ADOPTED THE LIVESTRONG PROGRAM TO HELP THOSE WITH CANCER RECOVER FASTER.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THE YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS OFFERS THE RESOURCES OUR COMMUNITIES NEED TO ADDRESS PRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES. PROGRAMS PROVIDE CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION AND HELP PARENTS STAY EMPLOYED. TEEN ACTIVITIES ARE AMONG THE MOST RAPIDLY GROWING YMCA PROGRAMS. INTERACTION WITH TEENS HELPS PREVENT THE CRIME AND VIOLENCE THAT PLAGUES SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS. IN 2021, THE YMCA ASSISTED TEENS AND CHILDREN THROUGH MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS LIKE: *TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMPS AND COUNSELOR IN TRAINING PROGRAMS; Y TEEN ZONE; Y LEADERS CLUBS; YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT; TEEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, TEEN WELLNESS; AND GENERATION Y, AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED KIDS. *THE Y ACHIEVERS-COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM, OFFERING 93 AT-RISK MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL-AGED KIDS THE HELP NEEDED TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND GAIN ACCESS TO COLLEGE AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. *THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMING IN TOTAL HAS SERVED 696 SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS WHICH CONSISTS OF Y-ACHIEVERS, YOUTH & GOVERNMENT, LEADERS CLUB, YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES (YES) INDY, AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ZONE AFTERSCHOOL. *"FROM DAY ONE" SUMMER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND.