KOKOMO TRIBUNE
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SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 2018
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Facility more than just
a swim & gym
It’s easy to drive through
downtown Kokomo and see the
YMCA lit up and full of life – and
a lot of that is happening in our
gymnasium, our wellness area,
and our aquatics area but we are
so much more than a “swim &
gym” – we are a global nonprofit
and strengthening community is
our cause. Every day, we work
side by side with our neighbors
to make sure that everyone, re-
gardless of age, income or back-
ground, has the opportunity to
learn, grow and thrive.
When the concept of commu-
nity itself is questioned, and the
true power of “us” is unknown to
many, the Y continues to bridge
gaps, bring people together, and
offer valuable programs and op-
portunities for all. Everything we
do as an organization strength-
ens communities and the “us”
who live in them. This is true
globally, nationally, and cer-
tainly right here in Howard
County, Indiana. But we can’t
and don’t do it without help. Af-
ter all, “us” is a team effort where
our staff, our volunteers, our
members and the individuals &
businesses are all working to-
wards the same goal.
Goals are great, but you can’t
just set them and forget them.
Because they constantly need re-
visiting and revising, we went
into 2018 with a renewed pas-
sion to look at our strategic plan
a little closer and decided to re-
fine our focus. As we work to-
ward a better us, we built 6 in-
tentional vision statements un-
der our areas of focus to help de-
fine how all we do (and will do!)
can positively impact our com-
munity. Here’s how we did that
in 2017:
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
1. NURTURE YOUTH TO BECOME
THRIVING ADULTS
2. PROTECT CHILDREN THROUGH
WATER SAFETY & CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION
Through our Early Learning
Center, before and after school
programs, Reach & Rise Mentor-
ing Program® and summer
camp we gave families financial
support to make it happen. We
provided more than $28,000 in
scholarships for early learning,
aquatics, camp and sports. The
Kokomo YMCA provided 150
kids with Safety Around Water
programming in our community.
This lifelong skills class was
made available through donor
contributions.
HEALTHY LIVING
3. CHAMPION PREVENTION &
CARE OF CHRONIC DISEASE
4. FOSTER HEALTHY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES
In 2017, The Kokomo YMCA
subsidized Seniors with more
than $264,000 providing access
to programs fighting chronic dis-
ease. Contributions also provide
support programs for individuals
with cancer and Parkinson’s dis-
ease. Annually the YMCA pro-
vides more than $130,000 in
membership support for fami-
lies. Membership allows access
to life-changing programs
through the YMCA.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
5. AMPLIFY COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THROUGH
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
6. EXTEND OUR IMPACT BEYOND
OUR WALLS
We were fortunate to have
many sponsors step up to the
plate to help sponsor events that
generated funds for our annual
campaign so that economic bar-
riers could be removed from the
path of anyone wanting to start a
wellness journey – spirit, mind
and body. Our YMCA provides
more than $548,000 in support
of community wellness programs
and membership. This includes
corporate wellness and member-
ship to our non-profit partner
agencies. We also acquired a
Veggie Van to help bring healthy
options to local food deserts,
hosted free workouts in the park
during the summer and contin-
ued to give back by participating
in local events, often free to the
public.
US... IS A PROMISE
Every day, the Y strengthens
communities for kids, adults, se-
niors and families with programs
that protect, teach, connect, heal,
nourish and encourage. It’s how
we help communities and the “us”
who live in them achieve our indi-
vidual and collective promise. We
have been blessed to be so loved
and see continued growth. In
2016 alone, we had over 312,000
visits to our Y and in 2017 we
grew to over 800,000 visits to our
Y! While we do see a lot of visits
from people who are on their own
health journey visiting our well-
ness area, playing basketball or
pickleball, and spending time in
our beautiful aquatics center, we
also see a community continuing
to form. We see groups holding
events in our St. Vincent Commu-
nity Room, individuals taking ad-
vantage of quite time in our
chapel, friends walking on our
track or groups gathering in many
of our open areas just to connect
with each other. Outside of our
walls we are so grateful to be wel-
comed into places like Taylor
School Corporation to bring our
Before and After School Enrich-
ment program and partnering
with local businesses to bring
events to the park, First Friday,
and help make Summer Camp at
Camp Tycony a summer kids
won’t forget.
Though we take up a city block
downtown, don’t be fooled into
thinking we are just the big
things you see – we are way be-
yond being just a swim & gym.
We love the big events and the
state of the art facility that this
community has supported, but
we also love the little things that
make up a strong community.
Everyone has a story. Everyone
has a journey. Everyone has
something that makes them
unique. And while everyone has
all of these things that makes
them an individual, we call be-
come a community when we lock
arms and walk side by side to-
wards our goals. For a better
community. For a better future.
For a better us.
‘Us’ is a team effort at Kokomo Family YMCA
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Kokomo Family
YMCA
114 N. Union St., Kokomo
765-457-4447
