YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER ERIE
31 WEST 10TH STREET, Erie, PA 16501 www. ymcaerie. org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: AT THE YMCA OF GREATER ERIE, WE PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL.

EARLY LEARNING & SCHOOL-AGE ENRICHMENT Our YMCA believes that all kids have potential. We cultivate the values and skills that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. Woven into the fabric of the YMCA mission is a commitment to strengthening families. YMCA child care programs relieve the burden of balancing work and families, and make it more possible for parents of children in our care to remain gainfully employed, knowing their children are thriving in a safe, developmentally sound environment that offers a range of experiences that enrich social-emotional, cognitive and physical growth. Expenses include subsidies and reduced fees that make participation possible to more than 50% of the children we engage. Our YMCA provides reduced fees for child care services. In 2019, $135,000 was awarded to 152 children to defray their fees this year, and continue to accept children through the state subsidy program. In addition, we provide aid to families who need help due to family violence, substance abuse, poverty, mental health, etc. We also provide free family fun events to promote healthy family interactions and enrich relationships between parents and children enrolled in our program. Our high quality licensed child care promotes educational, emotional, physical, and social growth for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children from diverse backgrounds. We participate in the Keystone STARS Quality Initiative at all 16 licensed child care locations. In addition, we provide healthy snacks and meals to all children and have adopted, along with Y-USA, HEPA (healthy eating and physical activity) standards at all locations. In 2019, the Y served more than 405,000 healthy meals and snacks which introduced new foods and influenced food choice and education. The YMCA continues to be a leader in early care and education. In 2019, Pennsylvania tax credit donations provided preschool education credits of $20,739 to 18 children. Last year, over 2,500 participants were served in licensed child care. PRE-K COUNTS Our Y is committed to providing educational equity to those most at risk for success. The YMCA of Greater Erie partnered with the State of Pennsylvania to offer free preschool to low-income children through the State's Pre-K Counts program. Pre-K Counts is an initiative created to build and strengthen pre-kindergarten partnerships in communities so that each community can create a self-sustaining system for providing high quality early learning experiences to children in all settings. This program sponsored approximately 237 children in 2019. SUMMER CAMP When school lets out for summer, kids who don't continue to read, learn and keep their minds and bodies active can fall behind their classmates that do. Some parents just don't have the knowledge/resources to keep their kids engaged and productive all summer long. Many families can't afford to enroll their children in a structured summer program. As a solution, the Y offers day camps that go far beyond the typical camp experience. Our camp programs are packed with physical and educational activities, day trips, character building, arts/crafts, group games and more. Campers learn the importance of values and are encouraged to exhibit them in their actions. The Y offers scholarships so that all children have the opportunity to enjoy this enriching experience. POWER SCHOLARS ACADEMY Power Scholars Academy, an evidence based summer learning loss prevention program, engaged more than 149 academically at-risk children in a full-day academic and enrichment program. In 2019, students gained 1.5 months of literacy and of month of math knowledge. This program is supported through corporate and individual contributions and is offered free of charge to students. COMMUNITY SCHOOL The YMCA of Greater Erie is the lead non-profit partner at Harding Elementary School providing on-site support to students, families and faculty. Our full-time director coordinates social service delivery, out-of-school programming, basic needs and more for students and their families. COMMUNITY RECREATION The YMCA believes in giving back and supporting our neighbors through collaboration with the City of Erie. We operate the City's Summer Parks & Recreation program in the heart of downtown neighborhoods providing recreation, mentoring and enrichment programming to more than 1000 youth age 6-18. We collaborate with the Housing Authority of the City of Erie to operate Kids Clubs - a year-round educational and recreational program for youth. Participants in Kids Clubs are from low income households living in or near subsidized housing and are given opportunities to participate in YMCA programs including sports, incentive award programs for good behavior, track and field, golf, art, theater, and special field trips. Collaborations with an area medical hospital, girl scouts and boy scouts, 4-h, and local drug prevention agencies enhance the program opportunities for youth. Free meals and snacks are also provided through Kids Clubs during the school year.

HEALTH & WELL-BEING Our Y is committed to improving the health of our community. We strive to bring families closer together, encourage good health and foster connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, 39,000 people in our community are receiving the support, guidance and resources they need to achieve greater health in spirit, mind and body. Our programs are designed to help people create realistic goals for self-improvement and emphasize disease prevention through regular exercise, proper nutrition, stress management and health education. Sports programs for families and adults promote teamwork, interaction and development of social and physical skills. In 2019, more than 3,807 families strengthened their bonds through Y experiences. We collaborate with other agencies to provide programs structured specifically for those over 65 years of age, including land and water exercise, as well as an opportunity for social interaction. Our aquatic programs start developing physical skills with infancy through parent/child swim class and continue up through our Arthritis aquatics class for seniors; our family swim program gives adults and children shared time in the pool to appreciate one another and promote intergenerational relationships. Through holistic health programs, the Y offers a number of natural healing therapeutic services in our menu of community programs including energy healing, reiki, qigong, pre/postnatal yoga and a community education series tackling topics related to posture, herbs, acupuncture, chronic pain and others. Many of these programs are adapted for youth and family audiences throughout the year. In 2019, the YMCA again partnered with the Regional Cancer Center to offer a free holistic health series - Wellness for Life - to cancer patients and their caregivers. More than 110 cancer survivors and caregivers strengthened body, mind and spirit through this program. Our Y continues to emphasize serving populations with special needs including adaptive swimming lessons, movement and strength building classes for youth and adults, support groups for those living with chronic illness and youth recreation programs/day camp/afterschool experiences for those in the autism spectrum. We also recognize that more than 5,000 local veterans are seeking treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome and extend holistic programs and 648 free memberships to those currently enrolled in treatment. A formalized agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the YMCA of Greater Erie includes, Whole Health for Life, a national pilot program which emphasizes holistic modalities beyond medication. In 2019, the YMCA of Greater Erie launched Diabetes Prevention Program, an evidence based recognized by the Center for Disease Control. Two 15-person co-horts completed the 10-month program. Funding was received through the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Improvement Tax Credit program to offer the program to highly at-risk, low-income populations into 2020. COMMUNITY OUTREACH Strong Aquatic programming is a YMCA cornerstone. We operate the City's Brian Lee Crosby Learn to Swim program in the heart of downtown neighborhoods targeting 275 low-income children with lessons. Additional swim lessons were offered for City of Erie Elementary School, the rural community in Girard and Lake City. In additional operated the Rodger Young Community Pool in collaboration with the City of Erie and the Erie Housing Authority, enrolling 228 families, various groups and serving over 1700 children aged 6-18.

VOLUNTEERS In 2019, we had over 902 volunteers generate over 21,000 hours of volunteer service to the Y and to other local nonprofits, totaling more than $214,000. We have been called on by peer Ys and other nonprofits to help them in their volunteer program evolution and are looked to by local nonprofits as an expert in volunteer management. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE YMCA programs are offered at affordable fees for the community at large, with reasonable accommodations for those with special needs, and with financial assistance available for those who cannot afford the full fee. The YMCA provided more than $997,000 in financial assistance and community outreach programs for more than 8,170 children, teens, families and seniors to help them live happier, healthier lives. MEALS FOR KIDS The YMCA of Greater Erie provides 5,612 free summer meals to kids in partnership with community sites throughout Erie County. Meals are offered in low-income neighborhoods, including those identified as food deserts. Kids participate in enrichment activities and connect with caring adults. Meals adhere to nutrition standards outlined in Y-USA's Healthy Eating & Physical Activity Standards. A 72-passenger renovated school bus serves as a mobile meals site taking freshly prepared meals directly into identified food deserts. ERIE COUNTY RE-ENTRY ALLIANCE In partnership with the Greater Erie Action Committee (GECAC) and local, state and federal law enforcement, the YMCA of Greater Erie provides re-entry services for those convicts that are re-entering civilian life. These services include securing employment, housing and mental/physical health. TEEN CENTER The YMCA Teen Center is a youth development program that focuses on providing year-round activities for low-income youth 12-18 years of age. These activities promote healthy behaviors that are linked to success in the areas of education, employment and health. The program's goal is to develop teens into contributing adult members of the Erie community. Programs concentrate on character development, societal issues, academics, arts/self-expression, career exploration and post-secondary readiness. In 2019, 169 teens were empowered to reach their full potential through mentorship, creative expression, academic enrichment and conflict resolution.

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