Dow Bay Area Family Young Mens Christian Association

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

CHILD CARE AND FOOD PROGRAM SERVICES - DOW BAY AREA FAMILY YMCA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE, DEPENDABLE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE SERVICES ON A YEAR ROUND BASIS TO THE WORKING FAMILIES OF THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. THE Y'S CHILD CARE SERVICES PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A SAFE AND CARING PLACE TO GROW AND SUPPORT PARENTS' EFFORTS TO NURTURE THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT. WE SERVED OVER 200 CHILDREN FROM INFANT TO 6TH GRADE IN OUR LICENSED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS IN 2021 AND 38 CHILDREN IN AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AT HANDY MIDDLE SCHOOL. COVID-19 EXPOSURES IN CLASSROOMS AT THE YMCA CAUSED PERIODIC CLASSROOM CLOSURES IN 2021 AS OUR TEACHERS AND PARTICIPANTS ADHERED TO STRICT SAFETY GUIDELINES. IN 2021, OVER $27,000 IN YMCA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO CHILDCARE FAMILIES. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM SERVICE AREA IS OUR FOCUS ON ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR FREE YOUTH FOOD PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY THE USDA/MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SERVED 61,360 MEALS AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN AGES 18 AND UNDER IN 2021. WE ALSO PROVIDED 647 EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES FOR PICK UP OR DELIVERY FOR THOSE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MEMBERSHIP - Y FACILITY MEMBERSHIPS ARE FULL-PRIVILEGE, FULL ACCESS MEMBERSHIPS PACKED WITH BENEFITS TO HELP ACHIEVE HEALTH, FITNESS AND RECREATIONAL GOALS. THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE INCLUDES ACCESS TO STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT, FREE GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES, AND NATIONWIDE MEMBERSHIP RECIPROCITY. Y MEMBERSHIPS OFFER A VARIETY OF PAYMENT OPTIONS INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED IN HEALTHY ACTIVITIES. Y PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE NUTRITION, EXERCISE, STRESS MANAGEMENT, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT. IN ADDITION, DOW BAY AREA FAMILY YMCA PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 337 FAMILIES TOTALING OVER $187,000 IN 2021.

AQUATICS - Y AQUATICS PROGRAMS ARE PART OF THE Y'S OVERALL GOAL OF BUILDING A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SPECIFIC SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY SKILLS, THEY PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE. LEARNING TO SWIM AT THE Y IS MORE THAN STROKE DEVELOPMENT. TRAINED, CERTIFIED AND SENSITIVE STAFF GIVE PERSONAL ATTENTION TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AT ALL AGE AND SKILL LEVELS. Y SWIM AND AQUATICS PROGRAMS HELP PEOPLE BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE AND TEAM SPIRIT. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,530 FOR FREE SWIM LESSONS WAS PROVIDED FOR 31 PARTICIPANTS IN 2021. DOW BAY AREA FAMILY YMCA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 630 PEOPLE THROUGH SWIM LESSONS AND TRAINED 25 PEOPLE AS COMMUNITY LIFEGUARDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

YOUTH SPORTS - YOUTH SPORTS FOCUS ON THE FULL AND EQUAL PARTICIPATION OF ALL. YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS BUILD LIFELONG POSITIVE ATTITUDES, HABITS OF HEALTHY EXERCISE AND GOOD NUTRITION, AND LEARN WAYS TO HAVE FUN AS ADULTS. BOTH ADULT AND YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS VALUE COOPERATION OVER COMPETITION, FAIR PLAY OVER WINNING AT ANY COST, GOOD FEELING AND GOOD HEALTH OVER A GOOD SCORE, AND BUILDING SELF ESTEEM OVER BEATING THE OPPONENT. THE Y KNOWS THAT WITH THIS APPROACH EVERYONE WINS UNDEFEATED IN SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY. IN 2021, YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES INCLUDED LEAGUES LIKE YOUTH BASKETBALL ACADEMY (619 PARTICIPANTS), YOUTH VOLLEYBALL ACADEMY (84 PARTICIPANTS), YBA 3-0N-3 (84 PARTICIPANTS), AND YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL (211 PARTICIPANTS). FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,880 PROVIDED FREE SPORTS PROGRAM REGISTRATIONS FOR 25 PARTICIPANTS IN 2021. HEALTH AND FITNESS - DOW BAY AREA FAMILY YMCA SUPPORTS CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH A LIFE-LONG PROGRESSION OF EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH AND FITNESS INITIATIVES LIKE THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MUSKEGON YMCA AND ENHANCE FITNESS, GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES FOR ALL AGES, AND USE OF FITNESS EQUIPMENT IN AND AROUND OUR 96,400 SQ. FT. FACILITY AND 24/7 AREA. YOUTH AND FAMILIES - Y YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS GIVE KIDS GOOD ROLE MODELS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM AND GOOD VALUES INCLUDING COOPERATION, RESPECT FOR THE BODY, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC. TEEN ACTIVITIES ARE AMONG THE MOST RAPIDLY GROWING Y PROGRAMS, REFLECTING THE GROWING AWARENESS THAT ADOLESCENTS NEED STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS. THE Y IS PROUD TO BE A FAMILY ORGANIZATION, GIVING FAMILIES A SAFE, RELIABLE, AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO GO. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CENTRAL TO THE Y MISSION OF BUILDING HEALTHY SPIRITS, MINDS, AND BODIES FOR ALL.