Young Mens Christian Association Of Erie Pa

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, thousands of 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 our Active Older Adults, 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 2024 to include diabetes prevention, fall prevention, smoking cessation and high blood pressure self-monitoring. Funding received from the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Assistance program provided the resources necessary to fully subsidize 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 330 children, various groups serving children aged 6-18 and teach Safety Around Water.

VOLUNTEERS In 2024 We had almost 300 volunteers generate over 4,600 hours of volunteer service to the Y and other local nonprofits, totaling more than $61,000. 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 $395,000 in financial assistance and community outreach programs for more than 10,000 children, teens, families, and seniors to help them live happier, healthier lives. MEALS FOR KIDS The YMCA of Greater Erie provides 12,000 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. 66% 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 2024, the Y served more than 280,000 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 adn Support Alliance team and local, state, and federal law enforcement, the YMCA of Greater Erie provides re-entry services for those convicts that are re-entering civilian life. 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 2024, more than 230 teens were empowered to reach their full potential through mentorship, creative expression, academic enrichment, and conflict resolution.