Episoide 58 P2 Athens YMCA with Shae Wilson

Letter from CEO

Welcome to our Y. Anchored in more than 10,000 neighborhoods around the country, the Y has the long standing relationship and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. Strengthening Clarke and surrounding counties is our cause and we serve three crucial areas of focus to help individuals, families and communities learn, grow and thrive.

The Y is for Youth Development, because we believe all kids deserve opportunities to discover who they are and what they can achieve.

The Athens YMCA is unique in the area of Youth Development due to our ability to serve over 300 kids per day in our after school programs. We provide transportation for children to attend Y after school programs from 21 elementary and middle schools in 3 counties. We often find that our Y bridges the gap for childhood friendships.

Our “pride and joys” of youth offerings are swim lessons, day camp, and residential camp. We strongly believe that every child should have an opportunity to learn to swim, attend a day camp, and attend a sleep away camp. That strong belief is why we have worked tirelessly to ensure that our programs meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of all kids.

The Y is for Healthy Living, improving the nation’s health and well-being. The Y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. The Athens YMCA has partnered with Athens Regional Hospital to help design the best Healthy Living model possible. Through this partnership we have been able to offer a diabetes prevention program, a cancer survivor program, health fairs and screenings, Health Matters for families program, and assistance with health related questions from a registered nurse who is stationed in our building.

We have also redesigned our fitness schedule with highly demanded classes to help not only meet the needs of the community, but to encourage people to focus on their personal health. We pride ourselves on creating an environment that is welcoming and inclusive. A healthier community promotes well-being and offers a high quality of life.

The Y is for Social Responsibility, giving back and providing support to all our neighbors. The Y has been listening and responding to our communities’ most critical needs for 163 years. We are committed to collaborating with other community organizations that make social responsibility a priority, offering assistance to anyone in need, providing both paid and volunteer opportunities, and creating affordable programs for those with special needs. We provide roughly $200,000 in financial assistance and program improvements and have collaborated with organizations such as The Salvation Army, Hope Haven, Project Safe, and Northeast GA Foodbank. We currently supply our community with over 200 jobs, 600 hours’ worth of volunteer opportunity, and offer opportunities to obtain special certifications such as CPR, First Aid, Lifeguard, and Swim Instructor.

The Y is for the entire community, and is open to everyone. Donors enable the Athens YMCA, a charitable, non-profit organization in compliance with IRS code 501(C) 3, to offer a Financial Assistance Program for those individuals and families that qualify. We are here to serve you, your family and all of our communities while developing your spirit, mind and body. Welcome to our Y!

Sincerely,

M. Shae Wilson-Gregg

CEO

 

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