The Young Mens Christian Association of Greater Des Moines

Healthy living: The y believes that healthy living encompasses multiple facets of health in an individual and community context, not just physical activity. Following The social determinates of health, The y's programs strengthen The health of individuals and The community. We partner with many health experts and providers to offer a vast array of health programming that promotes wellness, disease prevention, and health management. In 2023, The ymca of Greater Des Moines engaged over 2,100 seniors in activities at The y like our active older adult programming. Our silver sneaker program partners with insurers to offer free exercise and programs for senior participants. 75 individuals from across Iowa participated in our unlocking brain fitness educational program that instructs participants to make evidenced-based healthy lifestyle changes to reduce a person's likelihood of developing dementia. We host various fitness classes like yoga, cycling, and water aerobics. Many active older adults in The e-gym program which encourages people to engage in healthy physical activities in an interactive goal-setting format. Family connectedness is crucial for adult and youth well-being and health. We provide family-centered programming to encourage families to bring and engage loved ones in activities together. Additionally, our programs foster connections amongst participants to instill lifelong friendships and social support as people work toward their physical health goals.

Youth development: The ymca of Greater Des Moines believes that all children deserve The opportunity to discover who they are, what they can achieve, and to unlock their full potential. At The y, youth have access to many programs that support their academic, cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development. The y offers education and enrichment-based out-of-school-time programs that support educational growth while engaging children in activities that encourage them to learn, grow, and play. Our summer learning loss prevention program engaged low-income elementary students in 2023 to improve their reading and math ability while inspiring children to explore new interests and skills like stem, art, and social-emotional activities. Youth sports programming like basketball and flag football leagues inspire teamwork, leadership, and growth of youth in our community. Teen leadership programs like our grit, y achievers, and camp counselor in training programs teach teens leadership skills that set them up for success as they become Young adults entering college/careers. The ymca's youth development programs build children's self-esteem, teamwork, leadership skills, and curiosity to help kids grow and become happy, healthy, and successful adults.in 2023, The ymca of Greater Des Moines engaged thousands of children from infancy to 18. The y makes sure that every child has an opportunity to envision and pursue a positive future for themselves and their community through programs that build youth's confidence, build healthy-habit formation, and support children in learning about becoming and staying active. Girls on The run program supported 1,539 girls in unlocking their limitless potential through a program that integrates running into evidence-based social-emotional activities that build confidence, connection, competence, and character. Youth gain confidence as they work to acquire new skills like swimming, scoring points, teamwork, and positive relationships through our youth sports programs. At our y camp in boone, 2,328 youths were enrolled. These children form a supportive community where they learn independent and group-work skills dedicated to learning, experiencing, and appreciating nature and engage in physical, social, and educational activities. Additionally, we engage youth in our summer learning loss prevention program at three metro Des Moines school sites. A y before and after school program is operated in partnership with school districts at four elementary school sites across polk and dallas county, serving 419 youth a day.

Social responsibility: since 1868, The ymca of Greater Des Moines has been addressing and responding to The needs of our community. The y understands The challenges that keep individuals from reaching their full potential. We respond with services and support people to be self-reliant, productive, and connected to The community. We respond to The issues of The community through various programs that focus on critical areas like childcare and youth development, community health and well-being, and housing for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.the ymca of Greater Des Moines addresses critical social issues through programs like active older adults, which improve seniors' social connectedness, cognitive, and physical health. Our safety around water program is a drowning prevention program that teaches underserved children about water safety so that we achieve a drown-proof community. 1,423 youth learned to swim at The y this past year. Outdoor education programs at our y camp in boone serve children from diverse communities to engage and connect youth to nature appreciation. Our y supportive housing campus houses individuals experiencing homelessness while connecting them to social support and resources so they achieve housing stability and thrive. We champion diversity at The y. Our programs support people from various backgrounds and encourage all members to share their voices, foster connection, and celebrate The diversity of our community. The generosity of others is at The core of The ymca's existence. Through The support of thousands of volunteers and public and private donors, we can make a positive impact within our community.