Ymca Of Greater Charlotte

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

HEALTHY LIVING: ON JANUARY 30, 2020 THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED THE CORONAVIRUS "COVID -19" OUTBREAK A "PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN" AND ON MARCH 11, 2020, DECLARED IT TO BE A PANDEMIC. THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BEGAN ISSUING EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT LIMITED THE NUMBER OF PERSONS THAT COULD CONVENE IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES AND ON MARCH 25, 2020, ORDERED THE CLOSING OF CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES INCLUDING INDOOR EXERCISE FACILITIES. THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF 2020 OUR FULL TIME STAFF WAS REDUCED 32% AND MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAM REVENUE DECREASED 59%. UPON THE ISSUANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE Y CLOSED ALL BRANCHES AND HALTED OPERATIONS IN ALL FITNESS AREAS INCLUDING INDOOR FITNESS, PERSONAL TRAINING, GROUP EXERCISE AND AQUATICS AMONG OTHERS. MEMBERSHIP REACHED A LOW OF 27,951 UNITS AT THE END OF AUGUST 2020 AND 2021 STARTED WITH A UNIT COUNT OF 29,929. IN 2021, THE Y CONTINUED TO PRODUCE FITNESS CONTENT FOR LIVE STREAMING AND ON THE Y APP FOR USE BY MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. THIS WAS AN INITIATIVE STARTED IN 2020 TO SERVE MEMBERS REMOTELY DURING THE PANDEMIC. BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY CONTINUED TO BE IMPORTANT FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AS PEOPLE'S LIVES AND ROUTINES CONTINUED TO BE DISRUPTED. IN 2021, A MORE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION STUDIO WAS BUILT FOR SUCH CONTENT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCE EVEN AFTER THE PANDEMIC ENDS TO INCREASE CONNECTIVITY AND TO RESPOND TO DEVELOPING FITNESS STYLES. ON MARCH 26, 2021 AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS ISSUED THAT ALLOWED INDOOR FITNESS FACILITIES TO OPERATE AT 75% CAPACITY (UP FROM 30% SINCE SEPTEMBER 2020) WITH MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. THE Y CONTINUED PROPER CDC COMPLIANT SAFETY, CLEANING AND FACILITY FLOW PROTOCOLS IN ALL FACILITIEES. THE Y OPERATED AT THIS CAPACITY UNTIL MAY 14, 2021 WHEN THE STATE OF NC LIFTED A MASK MANDATE, CAPACITY LIMITS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ORDERS. WITH THE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED, THE Y SAW A STEADY INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP AS PEOPLE RETURNED TO INDOOR FITNESS. ON AUGUST 18, 2021, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, IN WHICH ALL EXCEPT THREE OF THE Y'S FITNESS FACILITIES ARE LOCATED, RE-INACTED A MASK MANDATE. THIS ACTION SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWED THE UPWARD TRAJECTORY OF MEMBERSHIP AND WAS STILL IN PLACE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. AT DECEMBER 31, 2021 MEMBERSHIP UNITS WERE 36,650. DURING THE YEAR, THE Y OFFERED 11,619 SWIM LESSONS, INSTILLING THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE-SAVING WATER SAFETY SKILLS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, 1,146 CHILDREN AGES 4-14 WERE SERVED IN OUR SAFETY AROUND WATER DROWING PREVENTION PROGRAM WHICH TEACHES CHILDREN HOW TO SWIM AND BASIC WATER SAFETY TIPS. FOOD INSECURITY IN THE Y'S COMMUNITY HAS BEEN OF INCREASING CONCERN DURING THE PANDEMIC. THROUGH FOODSHARES, IN PARTNERSHIP LOAVES AND FISHES AND SECOND HARVEST, 27,489 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING 6,967 FAMILIES WERE SERVED. DURING 2021, 982 AUDULTS AND YOUTH CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS INCLUDING DIABETES PREVENTION, LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA, A BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MONITORING PROGRAM, DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMMING AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

FAMILY LIFE: MECKLENBURG, IREDELL AND LINCOLN COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA ARE THE ASSOCIATION'S SERVICE AREA. STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND AGENCY PARTNERS COLLABORATED AT 17 BRANCHES, TWO RESIDENT CAMPS AND SCHOOLS WITHIN FIVE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO 1) DEVELOP YOUTH CHARACTER AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS, 2) PREVENT DROWNING, 3) IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE FACING HEALTH CHALLENGES AND 4) PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESS AND BELONGING FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ETHNICITIES, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS. ACROSS ALL MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES, THE YMCA OF GREATER CHARLOTTE ENRICHED THE LIVES OF OVER 180,000 PEOPLE IN 2021 DESPITE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH MY Y PRICING WHICH IS A DISCOUNTED RATE STRUCTURE FOR MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAM ACCESS BASED ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME. WHEN THE 2020/2021 SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS WERE CLOSED AND OFFERING ONLY VIRTUAL OPTIONS, THE Y WELCOMED 1,195 PARTICIPANTS FROM FIVE DIFFERENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR SCHOOL DAYS +, OUR REMOTE LEARNING PROGRAM DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND HIGH QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND ADDITIONAL REMOTE LEARNING PARTNERS. IN ADDITION TO REMOTE LEARNING, STUDENTS AT SOME BRANCHES BENEFITED FROM TRADITIONAL Y EXPERIENCES SUCH AS SWIM LESSONS, FORGING NEW FRIENDSHIPS WHICH IMPROVES SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND HELPS SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND HAD POSITIVE MENTORSHIPS. FUNDING FOR STUDENTS WAS PROVIDED THROUGH VARIOUS GRANTS. THE Y'S SUMMER Y READERS PROGRAM, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LITERACY INTERVENTION PROGRAM WHICH SERVES RISING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE STUDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR CHANCE OF MEETING THIRD GRADE READING REQUIREMENTS AND GRADUATING ON TIME FROM HIGH SCHOOL SERVED 737 STUDENTS IN 2021. IT IS LED BY CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND SUPPORTED BY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS (LIMITED DURING COVID-19). IN 2021, IT WAS OFFERED BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY AND WAS FUNDED BY VARIOUS DONORS AND GRANTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE Y SUPPORTED 14 AGENCIES ACROSS MECKLENBUG COUNTY TO INFUSE LITERACY INTO SUMMER CAMPS OUTSIDE OF THE Y, BRINGING LITERACY PROGRAMMING TO 330 ADDITIONAL CAMPERS. PARENT EDUCATORS SERVED 175 PARENTS AS TEACHERS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE IN 2021. THIS EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM INFLUENCES PARENTS' AWARENESS OF THEMSELVES AS TEACHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN AND GUIDES PARENTS ON PRACTICAL MATTERS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH. FAMILIES SERVED EXHIBIT AT LEAST ONE HIGH-NEED PROTECTIVE FACTOR SUCH AS LOW HOUSEHOLD INCOME, LOW PARENT EDUCATION LEVEL OR LACK OF INSURANCE. OVER 1,300 TEENS LEARNED CRUCIAL LIFE SKILLS THROUGH JOB PREPARATION AND COLLEGE READINESS IN PROGRAMS LIKE LEVEL UP, LEADERS CLUB, Y ACHIEVERS, LEADERS TEAM AND TEEN ENRICHMENT.

DAY CAMP/OUTDOOR: DURING THE SUMMER, THE Y SERVED 8,991 DAY CAMPERS AT BRANCHES AND CAMP THUNDERBIRD. ON TOP OF THE ALREADY STRINGENT MEASURES THE Y ALWAYS HAS IN PLACE, STRICT COVID-19 SPECIFIC GUIDELINES TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND HEALTHY WERE FOLLOWED. RESIDENT CAMP FOLLOWS AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES IN A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE. CAMPERS BUILD CHARACTER VALUES, DEVELOP SELF-RELIANCE, LEARN GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND CUMULATIVE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. IN 2021, THE Y'S TWO RESIDENT CAMPS SERVED 3,599 UNIQUE OVERNIGHT CAMPERS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER AT CAMP THUNDERBIRD SERVED 2,575 SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. WITH A FOCUS ON ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, THE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ENCOURAGE TEAM-BUILDING AND UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH CURRICULUM. THE Y'S CONFERENCE AND RETREAT PROGRAM AT BOTH RESIDENT CAMPS SERVED OVER 6,548 ADULTS. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS TEAM-BUILDING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ON A Y CAMPGROUND. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A COMMUNITY RESCUE MISSION, 120 ADULT PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED CAMP THUNDERBIRD AND PARTICIPATED IN CAMP ACTIVITIES IN A SAFE, SOCIALLY DISTANCED ENVIRONMENT.