Young Mens Christian Association Of Northwest Florida Inc

Youth Development The YMCA of Northwest Florida is an association of men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life joined together by a shared passion to strengthen the community for everyone. Thanks to the generous support of donors, we were able to make the Y experience open to everyone, including those who were in need regardless of their financial situation. During this period, our local community outreach in youth program direct financial assistance was approximately $45,000, ensuring that everyone had an opportunity to participate. We have been the community's leader in childcare for more than 40 years, responding to the critical need for quality childcare that supports and strengthens all families. We are dedicated to nurturing the potential of kids in a safe and fun-filled environment where kids and young teens can learn, grow, and thrive together. We are the largest local provider of school-age childcare and continue to expand the quality of our programs through a curriculum that emphasizes educational enrichment, STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), and vigorous, active play. During summer months and school breaks, children need a safe program that combats summer learning loss and physical inactivity. YMCA camp promotes hands-on learning and interaction with a diverse group of others - a great alternative to hours of screen time or an empty house - and offers plenty of exercise. We have steadily expanded our Teen Leadership Program for the summer, doubling the number of youth reached. The out-of-school programs at the Pullum Branch and Northeast Branch served children from a wide range of socioeconomic sectors and abilities. For this past period we reached over 1,400 youth in afterschool and camp programs at our branches and on-site at schools in our two-county service area, 25% of whom received Y Assistance that enabled them to participate. We offered our YMCA Reads Program in seven Escambia County elementary schools in the 2024-25 academic year, serving 289 students who were typically 1-2 years behind in grade-level reading. Students participated an average of 63 hours each in an evidence-based phonics curriculum designed to help new and struggling readers. Year-end results indicated that 84% showed improvement in their assessed reading level, and 90% passed the curriculum mastery tests. In Y sports programs, we build skills, teach values, and promote fun. An alternative to highly competitive programs, we have no tryouts. Rather, each child plays at least half of every game, and we encourage parent involvement. During this period, over 600 children and 30 volunteers actively participated in sports including soccer, flag football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball. In a coastal Florida community, our children's safety in and around the water is a top priority. Swim lessons at the Y give children the skills to be safe in the water, plus a sense of accomplishment from learning something new and a great way to exercise for life. We delivered almost 900 swim lessons during the period, while providing thousands of people the chance to enjoy recreational pool time. In our diverse abilities program, over 50 youth with special needs learned water safety in a one-on-one environment. We partnered with other local groups to deliver Safety Around Water and trained 65 new lifeguards, who then served at our pools and other area aquatic venues to keep swimmers of all ages safe.

Social Responsibility We believe that the Y's resources belong to the community, so we share our facilities with individuals and groups. We open our buildings to community groups and other nonprofits who need a place to meet, work, and play. This past period, we gave away approximately $50,000 worth of facility use to other nonprofit organizations so they could pursue their missions. Both our Pullum Branch and Bear Levin Studer Branch host local church congregations that hold their weekly services at our Y in the absence of a building of their own. We support other area nonprofits by offering membership packages to help them with their event fundraising. We proactively offer meaningful employment opportunities to adults with disabilities. Finally, we step outside our walls to participate in community education and outreach events that benefit individuals from all walks of life. Nowhere is this more evident than in our Corporate Cup Games and Little Pumpkins Jamboree. The Games welcomed 16 teams from area companies in a friendly competition designed to highlight workplace wellness and build camaraderie. The Jamboree hosted over 300 children with special needs, who enjoyed a free fall festival that we organized in partnership with 15 other companies and groups.