Hamilton Young Mens Christian Association

Youth development. In 2024, we served nearly 800 children and families through our ys owls on-site preschool and before- and after-school programs at 13 elementary schools. To provide enrichment, all 13 of our after-school programs included art classes through our collaboration with grounds for sculpture. These children learn new skills, build self-confidence, and gain independence. These are valuable lessons that will serve as essential building blocks for their future. Additionally, these children are practicing positive behaviors, exploring their unique talents, and forming relationships with adult mentors.in addition, we provide a transformative camp experience to all children, especially those in underserved areas. For many children in these communities, summer is not a time for learning and fun but a period of isolation and missed opportunities. While their middle-class peers participate in camps and organized activities, many families cannot access safe, high-quality summer programs. As a result, 83% of children from low-income families lack regular care outside the home, leaving them unattended while their parents work. This leads to significant consequences: students can lose 17 3/4% of the academic progress made during the previous year in the summer. Increasing access to enriching summer experiences ensures all children have a chance to succeed and helps strengthen and secure our communities. In 2024, we provided 40 families with financial assistance totaling $129,920. Making sure all children have a positive summer experience is vital for the strength and safety of our communities.

Social responsibility. At the y, every new member who walks through our doors joins a caring community that nurtures children from all backgrounds, offers access to healthy choices for those struggling to get by, and links individuals and families at risk to programs and services that can change their lives' paths. We strengthen bodies, minds, and communities every day.we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed through programs that address specific social, health, or developmental needs. For example, life-saving swim lessons for youth, especially those in marginalized communities with limited access to this vital skill. In 2024, we provided 2,020 youth swim lessons, and over the past two years, we have awarded nearly 800 swim scholarships to help teach this essential skill. Our commitment extended from the pool to the slopes. We provided twenty students from our title i schools an opportunity to participate in the y-ski program, a program designed to give students who might not usually have the chance to experience the joys of skiing a free trip. Pre-ski workshops, on-mountain lessons, gear, transportation, and meals are all included. Assemblyman wayne deangelo was the driving force behind this program, providing leadership and fundraising to ensure its success.$137,305 was raised to support community programs like life-saving swim lessons and y-ski.