YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS 3019
475 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 www.grymca.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: GUIDED BY OUR CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, WE STRENGTHEN THE SPIRIT MIND AND BODY OF ALL INDIVIDUALS.

Social Responsibility - Providing support and inspiring action in our communities. The objective of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Social Responsibility Pillar is to foster connectedness, strengthen support networks, and encourage investments in our communities. The Y will activate resources and engage people from diverse populations and perspectives for individual and collective action. Our programming aligns with the Y's strengths and seeks to address critical social issues affecting our communities. We seek to ensure diverse, underserved and isolated communities feel supported by the Y, people give their time, talent and treasure in support of community needs, and our Y convenes and collaborates to develop local, state and national solutions that address key issues facing our communities. The generosity of others is at the core of the Y's existence as a nonprofit. It is only through the support of our hundreds of thousands of volunteers and public and private donors that we are able to support and give back to the communities we engage. Every gift to the Y is an investment in the health of the community and allows us to provide financial assistance, tiered pricing, and free programs to both members and non-members. Social Responsibility Efforts Include: Providing Critical Services: To collaborate with local partners to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions that improve the health of our community, with special emphasis on vulnerable families and underserved neighborhoods. Intentional-designed programs eliminate barriers to good health by focusing on empowering all to live well. Outcome: Stronger, more connected communities. Programs: Flexible Pricing / Financial Assistance Food Service Program Cooking Matters Safety Around Water Universal Design & Access Volunteer Opportunities Annual Campaign Investing to Remove Barriers: To serve as a catalyst for positive change in communities, bringing people together and providing multiple pathways toward meaningful connection, awareness, and transformative change for both those serving and those seeking a meaningful difference in their own lives. Outcome: Increased investment of volunteers and gifts Programs: Corporate Board Volunteers Branch Boards Volunteers Campaign Volunteers Program Volunteers Strengthening Community Connectivity: To advocate for strategies and solutions that address key social issues and strengthen communities. We know that investment in our kids, our health and our neighbors pay dividends for all. The work done together respects the interconnected community we create. Outcome: More partnerships and collaborations that will strengthen the well-being of communities. At the Y, building a strong community takes root in every interaction. Our Social Responsibility Pillar is focused on helping your people develop cultural competencies, diverse populations connect to the community, and individuals gain access to life-changing resources and support. By reaching out in intentional ways, and taking our expertise to neighborhoods throughout West Michigan, we help move the whole community forward through shared resources and solutions to build bridges and make our changing community stronger.

Healthy Living - Improving individual and community well-being. The objective of they YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Healthy Living Pillar is to improve lifestyle health and heath outcomes in West Michigan. The Y will help lead the transformation of health from a system largely focused on treatment of illnesses to a collaborative community approach that elevates well-being, prevention, and health maintenance. Our programming aligns with the Y's strength with key health and wellness milestones: achieving personal health and well-being goals, emphasizing prevention for all people including those at-risk or reclaiming health and healthy choices are easy, accessible and affordable for all. Being healthy means more than simply being physically active. It's about maintaining a balanced spirit, mind and body. The Y is a place where you can work toward that balance by challenging yourself to learn a new skill or hobby, fostering connections with friends through our lifelong learning programs, or bringing your loved ones closer together through our many family-centered activities. We believe that oftentimes exercise is the best medicine. Individuals who lead active lifestyles are happier and more fulfilled. We believe that supportive communities are necessary for sustaining significant changes to one's health. Healthy Living Programs Include: Health, Well-Being and Fitness: To provide the resources and guidance to maintain or improve health and wellness, so we all live our best lives at every age. Outcome: People achieve their personal health and well-being goals Programs: YMCA Membership Cooking & Nutrition Classes Personal Training Group Fitness Water Exercise Enhanced Fitness for Older Adults Strength & Conditioning Youth/Adult Sports Leagues Running Clubs Chronic Disease Prevention: To ensure that evidence-based programs that address key social needs including childhood obesity, diabetes prevention, falls prevention, cancer survivorship, and blood pressure management are available to all. Outcome: Emphasize prevention for all people, including those at-risk or reclaiming their health and partnering with those who influence health. Programs: LIVESTRONG @ the Y Nutrition in Action Childhood Obesity Program Blood Pressure Program and Fall Prevention Program Reduce Health Disparities: To empower all to live well through education, access and equity by providing access to healthy food, green space, and opportunities to become physically active. Outcome: The healthy choice is the easy, accessible and affordable choice, especially in communities with greater health disparities. Programs: Flexible Pricing / Financial Assistance Healthy U Cooking Matters Michigan Harvest of the Month Community Gardens Corner Stores YMCA Veggie Vans Healthy Living Hubs The Y's Healthy Living Pillar seeks to promote healthy living through a strong focus on physical activity, family time, health and wellness programs, recreation and nutrition. Together, we work to curb obesity, reduce the risk of chronic diseases in our community, and keep individuals and families thriving. The motivation, support and programs provided by the Y empower people to live healthier lifestyles.

Youth Development - Empowering young people to reach their full potential. Our YMCA's programs are built on mission, which is Guided by our Christian principles, we strengthen the spirit, mind and body of all individuals. For over 150 years, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids has been listening to the needs of the community and responding through programs and services that strengthen the foundations of our community. Working locally, we focus on empowering young people, improving health and well-being, and inspiring action in and across communities. The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs and seeks to foster a culture of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and inclusion. To fully accomplish our mission and live our values, we focus on meeting the diverse needs of our communities, striving to make equity apparent in all we do. Through these efforts the Y impacted the lives of more than 117,767 individuals and families through our membership and programs, making the Y a destination for healthy living. The objective of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Youth Development Programs is to substantially increase our capacity to prepare children for school and to support their year-round success. We are developing evidence-based Early Learning, Out-of-School-Time Learning and Summer Learning Loss Prevention curriculum to improve the academic outcomes of every child and teens in our care. Our new programming aligns the Y's strengths with key educational milestones: being ready to learn for kindergarten, reading at grade level and being academically on track in elementary, middle school and high school. At the Y, we don't just teach swimming lessons or coach soccer. We're about youth development: ensuring that the children and teens in our programs reach their full potential by helping them grow-physically, mentally and socially-from young children into engaged, active members of their communities. Through the Y, thousands of youth are cultivating the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. We partner to work in schools, community centers and churches to improve access to healthy choices. Youth Development Programs Include: Early Learning Readiness: To ensure we are providing high-quality physical emotional and cognitive experiences, while providing parents with confidence, tools and support they need to better care for their children from birth to age five. Outcome: More child start kindergarten ready to learn Programs: Early Childhood Education Great Start Readiness Programs Early Head Start Programs Out-of-School Time Learning: To provide academic intervention, enrichment opportunities and health and well-being activities throughout the school year. Specific program elements include character development education, reading, wellness & nutrition, parent and family engagement, tutoring, life and career skills, college and career exploration and service learning. Outcome: Improve grades and reduction of risk-taking activities Programs: Before & After School Programs LOOP Nutrition in Action Y-Achievers Impact After School Program Youth Sports YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin Summer Learning Loss Prevention: Summer camp programs focused on teaching character development to reduce violence, reading to reduce dropout rates, wellness to reduce childhood obesity and strengthen families by keeping our children mentally stimulated all summer long. Outcome: Children foster a love of reading, being active and being productive citizens in their communities. Programs: Summer Day & Overnight Camps The Y's Youth Development Pillar work builds on our strengths in giving young people the tools and motivation to succeed through a holistic approach of developing their social & emotional, cognitive and physical well-being (Spirit, Mind & Body). Youth development programs provide role models, skill-building, community connectivity and opportunities for youth to identify and cultivate interests and talents and build character and leadership abilities. Intentionally folding academically focused elements into our existing programs will enable us to improve educational outcomes for all children and change the trajectory of their lives.

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