YMCA of Greater Erie

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 for more than 60% of the children we engage. Our YMCA provides reduced fees for child care services. In 2023, 45,000 was awarded to 26 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 13 licensed child care locations. The YMCA continues to be a leader in early care and education. In 2023, Pennsylvania tax credit donations provided preschool education credits of $26,700 to 16 children. Last year, over 1,250 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 225 children in 2023. 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, on-site field 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. 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. 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 550 youth aged 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.

VOLUNTEERS In 2023 We had almost 500 volunteers generate over 5,700 hours of volunteer service to the Y and other local nonprofits, totaling more than $73,000. 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 $455,000 in financial assistance and community outreach programs for more than 9,900 children, teens, families, and seniors to help them live happier, healthier lives. MEALS FOR KIDS The YMCA of Greater Erie provides 14,400 free summer meals to kids in partnership with community sites throughout Erie County. Meals are offered in partnership with local school districts, community centers, and churches - in identified underserved neighborhoods. Meals adhere to nutrition standards outlined in Y-USA's Healthy Eating & Physical Activity Standards. Freshly prepared meals directly into identified food deserts through partnerships with other local organizations. In addition, we provide healthy snacks and meals to all children in our licensed childcare program and at-risk programs during the school year. 69% of the children we serve are at 185% of poverty or below. We have adopted, along with Y-USA, HEPA (healthy eating and physical activity) standards at all locations. In 2023, the Y served more than 298,000 healthy meals and snacks which introduced new foods and influenced food choice and education. ERIE COUNTY RE-ENTRY ALLIANCE In partnership with UnifiedErie, the Erie County Re-Entry Services & Support Alliance team and local, state, and federal law enforcement, the YMCA of Greater Erie provides re-entry services for those individuals that are re-entering civilian life after incarceration. 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. 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. These activities promote healthy behaviors that are linked to success in the areas of education, employment, and health. In 2023, more than 150 teens were empowered to reach their full potential through mentorship, creative expression, academic enrichment, and conflict resolution.

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 fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, 20,000 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. 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. Virtual YMCA reaches Y and community members with online classes, workshops, and programs designed to give the viewer additional points of access to the Y and health and wellness resources. In addition, the Y created a Community Wellness Resources page within our website to give online users access to health information, family activities, and more. Our aquatic programs start developing physical skills in 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 several 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. 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. The Y's chronic disease prevention programs expanded in 2023 to include diabetes prevention, fall prevention, smoking cessation and high blood pressure self-monitoring. The YMCA subsidized the disease prevention program costs for those who were income and health eligible. COMMUNITY OUTREACH The Y operated the Rodger Young Community Pool in collaboration with the City of Erie and the Erie Housing Authority, enrolling more than 299 children, various groups serving children aged 6-18.