The YMCA Responds :
Sheryl A. Woods, CEO

2009 was a challenging year for many families. The economic
difficulties, home foreclosures, banking crisis, ponzi schemes,
unemployment rates reaching all time highs, and the uncertainty of job security to name a few, caused stress and hardships to families across the county. It is during these times, families and communities particularly need the YMCA.

In 2009, I was very proud to see the great work of our family
centers in finding ways to provide support and services to all
people regardless of their ability to pay. Not only did we provide over $900,000 in scholarship assistance, subsidy, and outreach to those in need, we also provided swim lessons and drowning prevention programs to 9,751 children, provided after school care to 5,107 children per day of which over 500 of those children were children with special needs. Enrolled 2,437 teens in programs, engaged 55,0000 people of all ages in health and wellness programs of which 5,928 were active older adults.We hosted over 5,000 children and families at Healthy Kids Day.

None of this would have been possible without the diligent and committed work of dedicated YMCA volunteers and staff. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. We depend on
their leadership, support, and advice to our organization. We count on them to be ambassadors and advocates for the YMCA in the community with the goal to get others involved in our organization. Through volunteer efforts we accomplished incredible things in 2009 and provided services to 89,194 people. There still is so much more work to do. We must recruit more volunteers in the Y movement in 2010: program volunteers, advisory board members, committee members, special event sponsors, and the list goes on. In 2010, theYMCA should become the vehicle/institution for people to give their time, talent, or treasures to serve others.

In the year ahead, we must also continue to make existing programs accessible to more people, in neighborhoods, not necessarily our own, and develop new programs to address emerging community needs. We will continue to seek out new partnership opportunities with private, public, governmental, and non-profit organizations to maximize resources to better serve our community. Our focus will continue to be on drowning prevention programs, childhood obesity, health and wellness for all ages, and efforts to strengthen the family nucleus.

Let’s continue this positive momentum into the New Year. By working together as ONE Y, we will accomplish more. I appreciate the opportunity to work with you and wish you and your
family a happy and prosperous 2010.

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