Causes: Human Services, Physical Fitness & Community Recreational Facilities, Sports, Young Mens or Womens Associations

Mission: To put judeo-christian principles in practice through programs that promote healthy lifestyles, strong families, youth leadership, and community development.

Programs: The ann arbor ymca is a leading voice on improving the health and well-being of the ann arbor community. We bring families together, foster connections and encourage good health through shared fitness, recreational and social activities. As a result, nearly 26,649 people in the ann arbor and ypsilanti community are receiving the guidance and resources to achieve health in spirit, mind and body. This is particulary important as our nation struggles with an obesity crisis, families struggle with work/life balance issues and individuals search for personal fulfillment. Our healthy living programs include an on-site obesity intervention program for children ages 8-11 via a partnership with u of m mott children's hospital, healthy out of school time programs for children in ann arbor and ypsilanti, adult group classes, team sports and recreation, and livestrong at the ymca, a free fitness and suppport program for cancer survivors. The ymca has a number of programs designed to fight chronic disease, particularly an evidenced based diabetes prevention program, and is committed to empowering our community to lead fuller lives. Ymca programs are accessible, affordable and open to all faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. In 2014 the ann arbor ymca provided 624,168 in financial assistance to individuals who would have faced economic barriers to participation.

youth development-camps. The ymca is committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. Our residential camp program and day camp programs in ann arbor and ypsilanti provide a safe community where young people explore, build self-esteem and interpersonal skills and make lasting friendships and memories. In 2014, the ann arbor ymca served a total of 2,681 unique campers. Expenses include subsidies and direct financial assistance that enabled 494 young people to participate in these camp programs who would not have otherwise had access due to financial constraints.

youth develpoment-swim,sports,play. Through active play children learn the lifetime value of staying physically fit. Year-round youth sports, martial ways, gymnastics, swimming, and outreach programs help young people cultivate the skills, values and relationships that lead to positive behaviors and better health. The ann arbor ymca has partnered with a number of other community organizations to identify and respond to community needs. Ymca programs in ypsilanti, including our after school sports and recreation and middle school healthy living programs as well as the summer begin to swim initiatives, are examples of how the ann arbor ymca strenghtens community. Over 55 volunteers help deliver these programs to the ypsilanti community, which involved 715 ypsilanti youth in 2014.

other program services-other program services include child care, teen education and leadership and youth volunteer programs. Ymca youth development programs give children and teens a safe place to belong, build confidence and learn positive behaviors. Child care:the ymca's naeyc-accredited early child care and after school programs provide a nurturing environment where children can learn, grow and develop social skills. These programs also reinforce the ymca values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility among children and their families. An additional element to the ymca's child care programs is the healthy eating / physical activity cirriculum implemented to help reduce childhood obesity. The ymca makes it possible for families of all backgrounds and income levels to participate in our programs on a sliding fee scale. In 2014, 13 families received this financial support. At the ymca, we help teens set and achieve their goals. Through our teen education and leadership programs, including the teen after school program,youth in government and leaders club, teens ages 11-17 have the opportunity to develop self-confidence and take an active role in strengthening their community. In 2014, over 155 teens participated in these education and leadership programs. Youth volunteer corps is a service learning program that empowers young people through extended volunteer service experiences. In 2014 over 255 youth provided over 8,000 hours of community service. These activities strengthened the foundations of our community through the youth to 32 community agencies. An extension of the youth volunteer corps is the ymca's chain of plenty program. In 2014, this program gave 29 teens with special needs the opportunity to gain job and life skills, while they prepared a total of 15,000 lunches for patrons of the local homeless shelter.