Young Mens Christian Association Of Flint

THE YMCA OF GREATER FLINT IS A CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT PUTS CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL. THE YMCA OF GREATER FLINT STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY BY NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF YOUTH, PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING FOR ALL, AND FOSTERING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THE YMCA OF GREATER FLINT IS THE PLACE THAT CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY WHOLE - WHERE COMMON GROUND IS PLENTY, DIFFERENCES ARE ASSETS AND OPPORTUNITY IS FOR ALL. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. Y PROGRAMS, SUCH AS OUR SCHOOL-BASED SAFETY AROUND WATER, COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY AROUND WATER, INCOME-BASED MEMBERSHIPS, SAFE PLACES AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AND THE NUMEROUS SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS WE OFFER, ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW WE DELIVER RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT EMPOWERS OUR COMMUNITY TO EFFECT CHANGE, BRIDGE GAPS, AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES. THE Y SAFETY AROUND WATER (YSAW) PROGRAM IS TWO PROGRAMS, ONE BASED IN THE SCHOOLS PARTNERING WITH FLINT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, THE OTHER COMMUNITY BASED WITH PARTNERS CRIM FITNESS FOUNDATION, PAL (POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE), AND MICHIGAN STATE POLICE. IN 2023, 250 4TH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED AND AN ADDITIONAL 150 STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM PARTICIPATED IN MULTI-WEEK WATER SAFETY COURSES. YSAW PROVIDES THESE STUDENTS WITH SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD WAYS TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY IN AND AROUND THE WATER. THE GOAL OF THE YMCA OF SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IS TO LESSEN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE TO DROWNING, CURRENTLY THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR YOUTH IN MICHIGAN AND THE NATION. THIS RATE OF DROWNING INCREASES IF THE YOUTH IS MALE, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, AND IMPOVERISHED. IN A COMMUNITY WHICH EXPERIENCES A POVERTY RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 44% WITH A LARGE AFRICAN-AMERICAN URBAN POPULATION THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. OVERWHELMINGLY, STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM IMPROVED THEIR SWIMMING SAFETY SKILLS AND BECAME SAFER AROUND WATER AS A RESULT. THE YMCA IS DEDICATED TO REACHING CHILDREN IN WAYS THAT WILL KEEP THEM SAFE AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. SWIMMING IS MORE THAN A RECREATIONAL SKILL, IT'S A SKILL THAT CAN SAVE LIVES, AND IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KIDS FROM ALL SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS AT AN EARLY AGE. THE YMCA OF GREATER FLINT RAISES MONEY ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT ITS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. OVER, 8,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO PARTICIPATE AT THE Y BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNER WITH YOUTH CAMPAIGN. AT THE YMCA, WE BELIEVE THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO PAY. WE PROVIDE INCOME-BASED PRICING FOR MEMBERSHIPS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND CAMPING EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS AT CAMP COPNECONIC, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE CAMPING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN WITH DIABETES, CANCER, CROHNS AND COLITIS, CHILDREN FROM FOSTER PROGRAMS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER UNIQUE SITUATIONS. THROUGH OUR EXTENSIVE PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE CONTINUING TO POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY IN THE AREAS OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE THE NATIONAL GUARD.

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'S WHY WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS, AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH, AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. OUR YMCA OFFERS PROGRAMS SUCH AS SWIMMING LESSONS, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, DAY AND RESIDENT CAMPS, AND SPORTS INSTRUCTION. THESE ARE A SAMPLING OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER THAT PROVIDE A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. OUR RESIDENT AND DAY CAMPS OFFER ADVENTURE AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION, AND PROMOTE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, HEALTHY LIVING, SOCIAL GROWTH AND SELF-RESPECT. DURING OUR PROGRAMS, 4,000 CAMPERS GAINED A SENSE OF BELONGING, AN APPRECIATION FOR NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND GREW IN IMMEASURABLE WAYS. AN ADDITIONAL 15,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CAMP COPNECONIC'S OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM AND LEARNED ABOUT THE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOP A GREATER RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALL WHO SHARE IT.

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, OVER 8,000 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 2023, WE PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $679,076 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE FACED ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. WE ALSO PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO COME TO THE Y REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.