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- EIN 06-0646989
- (203) 226-8981
- 59 Post Rd East PO Box 190 Westport CT 06880 USA
- http://www.westporty.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Human Services, Young Mens or Womens Associations
Mission: Founded in 1883, YMCAs collectively make up the largest nonprofit community service organization in America. The YMCA began in Westport in 1867 and was first located in a building provided by Edward T. Bedford on the corner of Main Street and Post Road in Westport. YMCAs are at the heart of community life in neighborhoods and towns across the nation. They work to meet the health and social service needs of 16.9 million men, women and children. Ys help people develop values and behavior that are consistent with Christian principles. Ys are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCAs' strength is in the people they bring together. In the average Y, a volunteer board sets policy for its executive, who manages the operation with full-time and part-time staff and volunteer leaders. Ys meet local community needs through organized activities called programs. In its own way, every Y is dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. The Y supports the healthy development of children and teens; strengthens families; and makes its community a healthier, safer, better place to live. YMCA programs are tools for building the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Longtime leaders in community-based health and fitness and aquatics, Ys teach kids to swim, offer exercise classes for people with disabilities and lead adult aerobics. They also offer hundreds of other programs in response to community needs, including camping, child care (the Y movement is the nation's largest not-for-profit provider), teen clubs, environmental programs, substance abuse prevention, youth sports, family nights, job training, international exchange and many more. Organization: Each YMCA is a charitable nonprofit, qualifying under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code. Each is independent. YMCAs are required by the national constitution to pay annual dues, to refrain from discrimination and to support the YMCA mission. All other decisions are local choices, including programs offered, staffing and style of operation. The national office called the YMCA of the USA and is headquartered in Chicago. It is staffed by 241 employees. Its purpose is to serve member associations. International: YMCAs are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 30 million people. Some 230 local US Ys maintain more than 370 relationships with Ys in other countries, operate international programs and contribute to YMCA work worldwide through the YMCA World Service campaign. Like other national YMCA movements, the YMCA of the USA is a member of the World Alliance of YMCAs, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. History: The YMCA was founded in London, England, in 1844 by George Williams and about a dozen friends who lived and worked as clerks in a draperya forerunner of dry-goods and department stores. Their goal was to help young men like themselves find God. The first members were evangelical Protestants who prayed and studied the Bible as an alternative to vice. The Y movement has always been nonsectarian and today accepts those of all faiths at all levels of the organization, despite its unchanging name, the Young Men's Christian Association. The first U.S. YMCA started in Boston in 1851, the work of Thomas Sullivan, a retired sea captain who was a lay missionary. Ys spread fast and soon were serving boys and older men as well as young men. Although 5,145 women worked in YMCA military canteens in World War I, it wasn't until after World War II that women and girls were admitted to full membership and participation in the US YMCAs. Today half of all YMCA members and program members are female, and half are under age 18.
Programs: Our program and service offerings: we delivered on our mission through the various programs and services offered at the westport weston family ymca. Health and well being for all: the association views health holistically: a healthy person has unity of body, mind and spirit. The association has identified the growing national obesity rates in this country as a critical social issue that must be addressed and our health and well being programs are designed to help people develop new skills and grow in spirit, mind and body by setting realistic goals for self improvement and disease prevention through an active lifestyle, proper nutrition, stress management, and health education. The association programs promote interaction, teamwork, and development of moral and ethical behavior, social skills and self esteem. We serve all ages, abilities, races, nationalities and religions and provide financial assistance to those who need it. Our programs encompass: aquatics water education; instructional classes; aqua-fitness; hydro-therapy; competitive swimming all staff cpr and first-aid trained; life guards red cross life guard certified; general instructors red cross life guard certified or wsi certified mahackeno outdoor center: six-lane outdoor pool open from memorial day through labor day and used for instructional and recreational swimming. Fitness promotes good health through regular exercise fitness center includes full complement of circuit and free weight equipment; separate area for stretching and floor exercises fitness programs include aerobics, cardio workouts, pilates, cycling, wellness programs include holistic nutrition counseling, weight loss, yoga programs geared to children, tweens/teens, adults and seniors including strength training, conditioning, racquet sports all staff are cpr certified and experienced/certified in their specialty area sports & recreation programs offered for all ages and abilities from toddlers through high school highly experienced and safety certified coaches identify individual strengths and help students excel with emphasis on fun, movement and fundamentals competition gymnastic program for gymnasts seriously committed to developing perfecting and competing at the higher levels of gymnastics; gymnasts evaluated by the coach or move up through the skill classes to join this program development of teamwork, self confidence and leadership skills; cooperation, respect for others, understanding, companionship ballet, pointe, jazz modern, hip hop and creative children's classes for children, teens, and adults programs for adults, children and parent/child: basketball, volleyball, badminton, gymnastics, karate staff include physical education instructors/teachers and coaches membership service membership service provides assistance to all members and supports the members in their activities
child care and day camping we offer high quality child care activities for school age children from all segments of our community. Woven into the fabric of the association's mission is a commitment to strengthening families. Our summer day camp offers adventure and learning activities that provide challenge, education, and promote spiritual awareness, mental development, physical well being, social growth, and self-respect. Our camp provides a reverence for nature and respect for the inter-relatedness of all living things on earth. Our camp is open to all, regardless of income or special needs, so that children appreciate diversity, become community leaders and develop lifelong values. Child care and school age promotes social, cognitive and physical development of each child; fosters family participation child care accredited by the national association for the education of young children more than 200 families after school care program serves westport and weston children k-6 at local school with activities, instructional and recreational swimming, homework help every teacher holds a college degree, participates in ongoing staff development and receives specialized training including cpr, first aid and identifying and reporting abuse and neglect mahackeno outdoor center 32-acres on shores of the saugatuck river wooded outdoor reserve open year round as an outdoor center and in summer for day camp outdoor activities and camping programs are educational and promote mental development, physical well-being, social growth and respect for environment accredited by american camping association aca only national organization which establishes uniform standards for camps embraces diversity and offers opportunity for interaction with people who are different through special cares program for physically and mentally disadvantaged children and champion a camper program for inner-city children