YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER CHARLOTTE

Family life: mecklenburg and iredell counties in south central north carolina are the association's service area. Staff, volunteers and agency partners collaborated at 15 centers, two resident camps and schools to 1)develop youth character and academic success, 2)prevent drowning, 3)improve quality of life for perope facing health challenges and 4)provide increased access and belonging for people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities and income levels across all membership and programming activities. The ymca of greater charlotte enriched the lives of over 209,000 people in 2024. Financial assistance is available through a scholarship program offering a discounted rate structure for membership and program access based on household income. The y's y readers program, a nationally recognized literacy intervention program which serves rising kindergarten through third grade students to increase their chance of meeting third grade reading requirements and graduating on time from high school served almost 1,600 students in 2024. It is led by certified teachers and supported by community volunteers. Additionally, over 1,800 students grew academically with literacy instruction to improve reading proficiency infused within y programs. Parent educators served 221 parents as teachers families with children under the age of five in 2024. This evidence-based program influences parents' awareness of themselves as teachers to their children and guides parents on practical matters of early childhood health. Families served exhibit at least one high-need protective factor such as low household income, low parent education level or lack of insurance. Over 700 teens learned crucial life skills through job preparation and college readiness and had access to activities in a safe environment in programs like level up, leaders club, y achievers, leaders team and opportunities in the best buy teen tech center. The ymca offers adaptive programs in water skiing, dance team, cheerleading, swim lessons, basketball and miracle league baseball. Camp boomerang is a summer camp experience for children with diverse abilities. Over 500 participants took part in adaptive and accessible programming in 2024.