DEAR FRIENDS, 2017 marks my last year as Board Chair for the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND. What a journey these past two years have been. In my tenure, I have worked with amazing individuals who want only the best for their community. In fact, they inspire me to reach farther and dream bigger. I am forever grateful for their unwavering commitment to do what is right for the greater good. The 2017 Impact Report highlights some of our amazing programs and services and their benefit to all who seek them. Of course, we could not capture everything the Y does in one report. However, I hope it gives you a sense of what the Y stands for, who we serve and why we are such an important source of strength, structure and learning for all. Again, it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to serve alongside you as Board Chair. Thank you for your support.
CHANGE
BEGINS WITH A SINGLE SEED OF PROMISE.
ROB ALEXANDER 2017 BOARD CHAIR YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND
The Y is planting a difference every day. OUR MISSION: To put Christian principles
into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND 2 West Franklin St. Richmond, VA 23220
P 804.649.9622
YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND 2017
ymcarichmond.org
SWIMMING WITH GRACE
The Y. For a better us.™
IMPACT REPORT
A BRIGHT START
“Ryan inspires me every day with his enthusiasm and his never give up attitude. This is confirmation that he is thriving at the YMCA. I’m so grateful to the Y and their amazing staff!” KAREN, Ryan’s mom
The YMCA is an inclusive and welcoming place where everyone’s potential to learn, grow and thrive is cultivated and celebrated.
YMCA Bright Beginnings’ 25th Anniversary
MOVE TO THE FUTURE
For a quarter of a century, the YMCA has helped more than 50,000 children prepare for a successful school year through YMCA Bright Beginnings. The program ensures that students throughout Greater Richmond are given the necessary clothing and school supplies they need. In 2017, the Y celebrated 25 years of this amazing program with the support of community leaders like City of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Petersburg Superintendent Marcus Newsome and countless others. Thank you to everyone who helped Bright Beginnings reach this incredible milestone.
Since 2015, the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND has partnered with The Next Move Program to provide internships to young men and women with intellectual disabilities.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
The SWIFT CREEK FAMILY YMCA AND PATRICK HENRY FAMILY YMCA are proud to host GRACE swim lessons, a program focused on working with and teaching children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) the fundamentals of swimming and safety in, and around, the pool. Developed in consultation with the Autism Society of Central Virginia and Commonwealth Autism, YMCA staff and volunteers have helped alleviate anxiety, build confidence, and provide a positive developmental experience for over 60 autistic children since the program’s inception. This program is free, as the Y ensures income is not a barrier for participation.
The YMCA of Greater Richmond has hosted 13 young adults with developmental disabilities with plans to serve additional students in the future. One of those participants is Ryan Corcoran, who secured his first job with the PATRICK HENRY FAMILY YMCA in 2018.
“My daughter loves playing around water and as a parent I was concerned about her safety. The GRACE Swim program has taught her basic safety skills, and these days she’s more confident and excited being in the water. The staff/instructors are fantastic; they are patient, kind, thoughtful and good at understanding the children so they adapt their teaching to the child’s learning style. I’m grateful that through GRACE Swim, my daughter has the opportunity to continue learning life-saving skills in a comfortable, safe and fun environment that is not overwhelming for her!
SANJAY SUCHAK/UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Q. What is your job at the YMCA? A. I greet members every morning at the door, keep the wellness equipment clean, make coffee and keep everything full.
BEYOND LEADERS’ CLUB
Q. What do you love most about working at the Y? A. Meeting new people, saying hello to members.
Former YMCA Leaders’ Club President, Malcolm Stewart, drew widespread admiration when he gave the 2018 Valedictory Address at the University of Virginia. Stewart credits a lot of his leadership skills to the YMCA.
Q. What has the Y helped you overcome? A. My shyness. The Y has helped me stay focused.
JOHN AMBE PARENT
DID YOU KNOW?
As many as 70 percent of young adults with developmental disabilities graduating from high school in Virginia are unemployed. They become isolated, disengaged with the community and start to regress in academic and social skills. “This experience is transformative for these young adults, most of whom are graduating from high school with modified diplomas and have never trained in a professional environment. For our graduates to have the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND on their resumes speaks volumes to potential employers, as it communicates that they have great skills and professionalism. ELIZABETH HOWLEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE NEXT MOVE PROGRAM
“My development as a leader really grew exponentially my sophomore year of high school when my friend, Evan Hurley, introduced me to the Midlothian YMCA Leaders’ Club. Through the program, I learned what true servant leadership is, and that definition of serving others in everything you do has driven my actions in leadership roles ever since. Mentors of mine like Mrs. Nancy Lee, Mrs. Becky England, and former Blue Ridge Leaders’ School Director, Steve Tarver have all continually taught me that lesson over and over again, and the relationships I have been fortunate enough to have through Leaders’ Club are ones that I will cherish for many years to come.
MALCOLM STEWART PRESIDENT OF THE UVA CLASS OF 2018
A VISION for the future
2017 Get to know us today
For All. For Good. Comprehensive Campaign In 2017, the Y publicly launched its $40,000,000 For All. For Good. Comprehensive Campaign. This campaign funds the renovation of the NORTHSIDE, PETERSBURG and MANCHESTER FAMILY YMCAs.
YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND at a glance
3,319
PETERSBURG FAMILY YMCA On December 5, 2017, the Y broke ground on its renovation project of the PETERSBURG FAMILY YMCA. Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham, Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Aggie Cullen and Stuart Farrell and Petersburg Chair Larry Tucker, were among the leaders on hand for the celebration.
EMPLOYEES 522 ARE TEENS
NORTHSIDE FAMILY YMCA Then in February 2018, two months later, the Y celebrated the groundbreaking of the NORTHSIDE FAMILY YMCA. Richmond City Mayor Levar Stoney, Capital Campaign Co-Chair Richard Cullen, Delegate Jeff Bourne and Delegate Lamont Bagby were among those celebrating this historic day.
The YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND provided 2,400 CHILDREN served every day through Beforeand After-School Care
HISTORY OF YMCA IN THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA
More than 12,628 CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS made a splash in YMCA Aquatic Programs
Images courtesy Springfield College Archives and Special Collections. Original building illustrations have been isolated and colorized for this report.
7,949
VOLUNTEERS
$5.8 MILLION in financial assistance to remain Open to All
4,341 KIDS experienced the summer fun of YMCA Summer Day Camp
FROM LEFT: Central YMCA (7th and Grace); Richmond Railroad YMCA; New YMCA in Petersburg (all circa 1900-1915); Downtown YMCA (circa 1942)
DAY CAMP
16 BRANCHES
“With this campaign, we are expanding programs and building our endowment to further solidify our financial foundation and ensuring that our facilities provide opportunities for all children, youth, and adults throughout our community. This is a historic moment in the history of our Y as it is the largest investment in social equity we’ve made in these communities in the last 30 years!
TIM JOYCE PRESIDENT AND CEO YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND
100-ACRE
More than 3,000 2ND GRADERS, in partnerships with area public schools, learned life-saving aquatic skills in YMCA Learn to Swim
MORE THAN
174,600 INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN Y ACTIVITIES
904 TEENS were empowered to discover their full potential in YMCA leadership programs
The school year started bright for 1,652 CHILDREN through YMCA Bright Beginnings
13,049 KIDS were challenged with new skills in YMCA Youth Sports
424 ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS are now Aging Strong YMCA Diabetes Prevention and Control taught healthy habits to 194 PARTICIPANTS
“When I am here, and I share my ideas, the world becomes a rainbow. WALNUT HILL SCHOLAR
YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND PAST PRESENT FUTURE