Young Mens Christian Association Of Greater St Petersburg Inc

THE MISSION OF THE YMCA OF GREATER ST. PETERSBURG IS TO PUT JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HELPING PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR TOTAL WELL-BEING - SPIRITUALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY - AND ULTIMATELY HELP THEM REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE Y SERVES MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES, AGE, CULTURAL BACKGROUND, ETHNICITY, FAITH, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, IDEOLOGY, INCOME, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED WHEN THERE IS DEMONSTRATED NEED.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THE YMCA OF GREATER ST. PETERSBURG (YGSP) BELIEVES ALL CHILDREN DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. AT THE Y, YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEIR COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING LEARNING GAPS, THE Y ALSO OFFERS EARLY LEARNING INTERVENTION AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP CLOSE THOSE GAPS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM AND FOSTER TEAMWORK, HELPING KIDS GROW INTO HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL ADULTS. IN 2021, YGSP'S YOUTH INITIATIVES REACHED 6,322 CHILDREN FROM INFANCY TO AGE 18 - MANY OF WHOM WERE FROM LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND/OR CLASSIFIED AS "AT RISK." YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE: THREE HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOLS, BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE OFFERED AT 23 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ACROSS SOUTH PINELLAS COUNTY, DAY CAMPS AND SPECIALTY CAMPS, SWIM LESSONS, YMCA DANCE ACADEMY, PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM, "YREADS!" AND YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT. SOME PROGRAMS ARE FREE, WHILE OTHERS OFFER SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE, AND MANY PROVIDE A HEALTHY SNACK OR MEAL AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.

HEALTHY LIVING - BEING HEALTHY MEANS MORE THAN SIMPLY BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. IT'S ABOUT FINDING BALANCE, FOSTERING CONNECTION, AND BRINGING LOVED ONES CLOSER TOGETHER. AT THE Y, IT'S ABOUT LIVING HEALTHY ON THE INSIDE AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE. THE Y IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES AND HELPS REDUCE HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR INDIVIDUALS, EMPLOYERS AND INSURERS. YGSP USES A VAST NETWORK OF HEALTH EXPERTS AND PROVIDERS TO HELP BATTLE CHRONIC DISEASE THROUGH EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH BASED PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE WELLNESS, DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT. IN 2021, YGSP HELPED 254 PARTICIPANTS RECLAIM THEIR HEALTH: 101 PARTICIPANTS LOST WEIGHT AND LEARNED SKILLS TO REDUCE THEIR RISK OF DIABETES IN THE YMCA DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM 102 PARTICIPANTS REDUCED THEIR RISK OF FALLING THROUGH THE ENHANCE FITNESS PROGRAM; 22 PARTICIPANTS MANAGED THEIR PARKINSON'S SYMPTOMS THROUGH THE DELAY THE DISEASE PROGRAM; 62 PARTICIPANTS LEARNED WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT, EAT HEALTHIER AND REDUCE CHRONIC DISEASE RISK IN THE YMCA WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM; AND THE LIVESTRONG AT THE Y PROGRAM PROVIDED 17 CANCER SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AT PARTIAL COSTS. ADDITIONALLY, SILVER SNEAKERS(R), A PARTNERSHIP WITH TIVITY HEALTH, PROVIDED FREE EXERCISE AND ACTIVITIES FOR 3,201 SENIORS.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - YGSP HAS BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS FOR 101 YEARS. THE Y BELIEVES THAT COMMUNITIES ARE STRONGER WHEN ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. WHETHER HELPING PEOPLE DEVELOP NEW SKILLS THROUGH EDUCATION OR TRAINING OR ADVOCATING FOR THE COMMON GOOD, THE Y FOSTERS THE CARE AND RESPECT ALL PEOPLE NEED AND DESERVE. IN 2021, YGSP PROVIDED $340,515.42 IN FREE OR SUBSIDIZED MEMBERSHIPS AND PROGRAM FEES FOR 20,490 CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS. EVERYTHING WE DO AT THE YMCA OF GREATER ST. PETERSBURG IS CENTERED AROUND OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE CREATED A ROADMAP TO GUIDE US IN A DIRECTION THAT IS SUSTAINABLE, FLEXIBLE AND ALLOWS US TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. OUR PLAN INCLUDES THREE GOALS, EACH WITH THREE STRATEGIES, FOCUSED ON DELIVERING OUR BEST TO THOSE WHOM WE SERVE. YGSP ALSO HOSTS THE YMCA NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, A 31-YEAR-LONG TRADITION THAT PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY 400 FAMILIES INCLUDING MORE THAN 900 CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN PINELLAS COUNTY WITH A CHRISTMAS TREE, GROCERY GIFT CARD, TOYS, BIKES, AND YEAR MEMBERSHIP FOR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH PROGRAMS AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES. CHILDS PARK YMCA RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO A LIBRARY, COMPUTER FACILITIES, YOUTH ACADEMIC AND CAREER ASSISTANCE, AND MORE.