COMMUNITY
IS OUR CAUSE
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: James, a student at Jefferson High School writes: "The Black and Latino Achievers program has taken me places I never thought I could go and introduced me to people I never thought I could meet.
I joined this program in 8th grade and have stuck with it ever since. I was going down the wrong path with my life and at first I thought the program was just another place for more lectures. But I actually took the chance and stopped hanging out with my so-called 'gangsta from school' friends.
"I realized that this program could be one of the keys that I needed to open the door to success. I am in the process of learning the real definition of discipline and responsibility through the Junior Reserved Officers Training Corp. (JROTC), which gives me the opportunity to volunteer, speak out, and learn what you have to learn. How to turn what I am learning into action is what the YMCA Black/Latino Achievers program has taught me. It has opened my mind to education, taught me leadership skills and helped me be successful. If it wasn't for the friends I have made here I would not be the young man I am today."
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HEALTHY LIVING: Danielle is three-fourths of the person she was nine months ago. In this case, that is a very good thing. In April of 2010 Danielle attended her first Working Up to Working out class at the Y weighing in at nearly 200 lbs.
Since that day, Danielle dedicated herself to achieving a more healthy weight and lifestyle. She didn't starve herself but it wasn't easy and she didn't enjoy it all the time. But with help from her Y personal training coach she stuck with it and remained dedicated, motivated, determined to achieve her goal the right way – the healthy way.
Danielle not only began to watch what she ate, but watched how much she consumed. She now realizes that nutrition is a huge part of healthy living and maintaining a healthy weight. On most days she now walks between three and five miles and strength trains twice a week at the Y in addition to attending the Working Up to Working out class for the past nine months.
Today, Danielle is weighing in at 140 lbs., has lost over 20 inches on her body, and has reduced her body fat content by over 10%. Danielle now says, "Anything is possible with motivation, diligence, patience, and faith in one's self."
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: The 50-year tradition continued this year. Over 1,000 volunteer hours ensured the YMCA's ability to serve disadvantaged youth in our community. The Annual YMCA Retired Men's Club Christmas tree sale again raised over $12,000 to support the Strong Kids Campaign at the Y. In just the past 10 years the club has raised over $120,000 to support Y youth work.
Led by volunteer Ron Bare, dozens of groups including the Retired Men's Club, the Y Rowing Club, teens from the Y's Learn to Earn Program and the Youth Build program, along with Y staff and many more joined together in the spirit of fellowship and community support to raise needed funds for the Y's youth development initiatives.
As one adult volunteer said "It's gratifying to know that the money we raise through this annual event at Christmas time helps so many kids and then to see some of those same kids come back and help sell trees makes it even more special."
The tree sale is just part of the fund raising the Y does to give back to the community. The annual Strong Kids Campaign involves over 200 community volunteers who solicit friends, businesses, and Y members to contribute to the cause. This year's goal is $350,000. Campaign Chair Susi Sullivan says, "Every day, your Y works in our community to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income, or background, has the chance to learn, grow and thrive. Every dollar raised goes to support Y programs."
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YMCA of Rock River Valley - Facts by the Numbers:
- The Y impacts about 19,720 individual youth and adult members (over 25,600 annually).
- 19% of downtown members and 7% of Loves Park members receive some level of financial assistance based on need. The value of this assistance in 2010 was $318,117.
- $619,098 was raised from community support in 2010 to fund programs for at-risk kids (annual Strong Kids Campaign, private foundation grants, United Way, and endowment earnings.)
- The Y depends on $1,126,299 in government support to provide needed services like childcare and programs like Teen REACH and Learn to Earn – programs that give youth the skills needed to grow into productive citizens.
- Y programs are offered in over 50 locations in the Rockford community – no one is turned away because of the inability to pay.
- The YMCA of Rock River Valley is one of the largest nonprofit employers in the greater Rockford area, with over 600 full- and part-time staff
Rockford's Y is leading the Pioneering Healthy Community Initiative which addresses youth obesity by coordinating 20 agencies and organizations through program collaboration, and by encouraging public policy change to support healthy living.
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