Somerset County Young Mens Christian Association Inc

HEALTHY LIVING: Improving the health and well-being of our communities: Our YMCAs provide a range of health and wellness services, including group exercise, personal training, swimming, yoga, and stress/nutrition management. These programs promote balance of spirit, mind, and body. Our wellness programs remove barriers so individuals can pursue healthy lifestyles. In 2024, nearly 12,600 adults participated. We believe everyone should learn to swim to promote safety. In 2024, over 5,700 children and 300 adults enrolled in swim lessons. Swim classes increased 14% for children and 136% for adults over the previous year. We offered our no-cost Safety Around Water program in May and expanded it throughout the year to schools and camps. 680 individuals participated. Swim curriculum was integrated into Franklin Township and Manville school districts' physical education. We also offer Special Olympics and inclusive aquatics programs for individuals with special needs. These offerings are compliant with ADA standards to ensure accessible and inclusive participation. Our chronic disease wellness programs served nearly 400 adults. Programs included EnhanceFitness for arthritis, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA for cancer survivors, Total Parkinson's, and the CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program. Our Memory Cafe provided support for caregivers and those with dementia. Our staff also conducted well-being checks with 470 seniors to combat isolation. In 2024, nearly 115,000 adults engaged in fitness programming.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Giving back and providing support to our neighbors: As a cause-driven organization, the Y promotes community well-being through financial assistance, volunteerism, and partnerships. We engage broadly with community stakeholders to maximize impact. We place emphasis on individuals and families facing economic hardship or barriers to access. We provided over 158,000 meals through food distribution programs and maintained community gardens. We also offered "Little Free Pantries" stocked with essentials. We partnered with the Red Cross for 17 blood drives, collecting 501 pints of blood. In 2024, we expanded our community partnerships to include over 120 organizations. We provided free facility use to schools, emergency responders, and nonprofits. Over 1,000 volunteers donated 3,491 hours, valued at over $1,016,000. Volunteers supported governance, programming, and community outreach. Our arts programs encourage creativity and personal expression, supporting cognitive development and social-emotional growth in youth. Programs are open to all individuals regardless of background, and admission is based on interest and age-appropriate criteria. Participation in our programs for individuals with disabilities is guided by principles of inclusion and accessibility, consistent with the ADA. We aim to unite individuals across age groups and life experiences to build shared community benefit. Greater Somerset County YMCA complies with all applicable federal laws and executive orders, including Executive Order 14151 ("Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing") and Executive Order 14173 ("Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity"). Program participation is based on need and eligibility, without preference based on race, sex, or ethnicity.