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YMCA (Metro Detroit Association and YMCA USA) News Archive

August 25, 2010

Blog: Building a whole playground in just one day? Not without you!

Reid Thebault blogs about Social Responsibility, Youth Development and building a Healthy Lifestyle.

Not a hint remained of the 258 volunteers from across Southeast Michigan that gave 8 strong hours of their life to brighten and construct a school playground. But their labor will reap benefits for Brightmoor community and the YMCA’s Detroit Leadership Academy for decades to come.

While the playground work was so impressive, you may not know that four parents stopped by to enroll their children in the YMCA’s DLA School on that Saturday! They were drawn by the effort and dedication of you, our volunteers!

If you were on site at 6:45 a.m., you might have seen Channel 7 WXYZ broadcasting live four times that morning. If you stayed to the very end, you heard Detroit Councilman James Tate thanking all the volunteers from across the region that came to his neighborhood to build.

The plastic “caution” ribbon came down today once the concrete dried. More soil arrived the next day for the gardens from our friends at Home Depot. School staff were already there, one day after the build, watering the trees to ensure their survival through the hot August sun.

But the last task is still before us- thanking you.

This could not be accomplished without you, our volunteers, joining with your friends and kind-hearted strangers to build a community. We need to thank KaBoom! and Foresters for their great support and leadership. Our immediate neighbors of the Castle Rouge Civic Association were there from the first planning meeting in June, and were among the last to leave on Saturday. But there were so many more. AAA Michigan sent a crew. Hearty volunteers from Quicken/Rock Financial joined us. Merrill Lynch was there. DTE crews came to install the gas meter on Wednesday and DTE was there again on Saturday! Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Bank of America were there. Chase Bank, Charter One Bank, and Comerica all sent volunteers. Central Michigan University, authorizer for this new school, sent help. Wayne State University had many representatives with us. Eastern Michigan University and Lawrence Tech alumni and faculty joined us. We had a great crew in fine athletic shape from the women’s and men’s Detroit Rugby Teams! Our tree crew was joined by a planting guru from The Greening of Detroit. We had YMCA Board members from across the four counties. Some 30 Metro Youth YMCA teens joined us on Thursday to prepare the site. Several project teams were led by the future teachers of the YMCA’s DLA. And we had YMCA staff volunteering- from day camp and membership experts right on up to our executive staff.

We were fortunate to have our YMCA Camping Services Staff joined by ladies of the neighborhood perking coffee in the morning and flipping burgers right through lunch. We had our Barton Malow construction partners, while still working hard in the school, join us at 6 a.m. to set up tents and clear the site for safety.

We were fortunate to have volunteer photographer Andy Kopietz capture the day’s events on film for us, and we’ve uploaded the pictures from the day to our photo archive, which you can view at http://bit.ly/aLYzYg.

If you’re looking for further ways to help the YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy and grow, please consider volunteering as a tutor.

September 7, 2010 will be the first day of school for the YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy. In our effort to pursue academic excellence and ensure our students’ success, we are recruiting volunteer tutors to help students Monday-Friday for 30 minutes from 3:40pm to 4:10pm. Volunteers are needed for 1-5 days per week, and ask that volunteers arrive at 3:30pm- 10 minutes early each day.

Volunteer orientation and training will take place Saturday August 28, 2010, 10:00am-12:00pm and Friday September 3, 2010 5:00pm-7:00pm at YDLA located at 13550 Virgil, Detroit, MI 48223 near I-96 and Telegraph. Interested volunteers need to attend one of the trainings/orientations.

From the bottom of our YMCA hearts, thank you for taking time to help us. We hope the spirit that we all enjoyed on Saturday stays with you in your future journeys and we hope that you will return to the YMCA’s Detroit Leadership Academy this school year to join our children for lunch and swing on a swing that you helped place. After all, we are all really kids at heart.

Thank you.

REID S. THEBAULT has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit since 1994. He began his YMCA career in 1969 in Houston, Texas, and has worked in YMCAs in Dayton and St. Louis. His interests, beyond the YMCA, are his family, running, tennis, golf, hockey, travel and the arts.

August 3, 2010

JCPenney Stores Supporting YMCAs through Your Back-to-School Purchases...

As your family begins back-to-school shopping, a good place to start is JCPenney.

Between August 4 and August 17, many JCPenney stores nationwide will provide customers the opportunity to make donations to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund at the cash register by rounding up their JCPenney store purchases to the next whole dollar.

All collected donations benefit school age child care programs. The following local JCPenney stores are participating in the JCPenney Round Up program, and support SACC programs at the Farmington, Downriver and Lakeshore YMCAs:

JCPenney Lakeside Mall
JCPenney in Canton on Ford Road
JCPenney Waterside Market (Chesterfield)
JCPenney in Taylor
JCPenney 12 Oaks Mall

Over the past several years, these JCPenney stores have donated more than $70,000 to our YMCAs.

Please support the JCPenney stores listed above. They are highly valued partners who help us ensure that kids in our after-school programs develop the skills and relationships they need to grow up healthy, confident and connected to others.

August 2, 2010

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit Launches Fourth Annual Project (Stuff A) Backpack Campaign to Lighten Back-to-School Expenses

stuffabackpack The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is collecting backpacks and school supplies for low-income families with school-age children in order to help shoulder back-to-school expenses during its fourth annual "Project (Stuff A) Backpack" campaign.

"The gift of a backpack stuffed with school supplies and accessories will help equip a student for success and relieve some of the financial stress parents are shouldering," said Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. "Families with school-age children face many financial demands and the current economic climate makes providing clothing, child care and school supplies even more difficult. This small contribution can be a significant one."

The National Retail Federation reported in July that the average family with students in kindergarten through twelfth grade is expected to spend $606.40 in 2010 on school merchandise, a significant expense for families on limited income.

To encourage donations, the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, which primarily serves Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Livingston counties where families with school-age children represent a significant portion of the population, is offering financial incentives for contributions to the campaign. This includes a 75% discount on joiner’s fees to those who make an eligible school supply donation (a savings of up to $188 depending on membership type).

YMCA will be collecting new back-to-school items at all of its locations in metro Detroit the entire month of August. Notebooks, folders, backpacks and lunchboxes are the items in greatest demand. All school supply donations will benefit students grades K-12 in the metro Detroit community. The school supplies will be distributed to area schools in early September.

July 28, 2010

Blog: Building Schools, A "Playground Raising"

Reid Thebault blogs about Social Responsibility, Youth Development and building a Healthy Lifestyle.

As you’ve heard from me in my previous entry, the effort to start a new YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy Charter School in Detroit is well under way to welcome our new students on September 7th. We have outstanding partners working on rehabilitating a venerable old building into a bright, safe and effective school for our students and their instructors.

We have a Y Staff team working daily to ensure all the necessary fundraising, financial systems, risk management, policies and procedures are all in place. There is a newly appointed school board in place to provide wisdom and oversight of the new school – of course we are well on our way to recruiting world-class teaching team.

But for a charter school to truly reflect the YMCA philosophy of building "spirit, mind and body for all" we definitely need a playground!

And what better way to bring a new playground into the community – than to have the community design and build that playground – in the tradition of community barn raisings! The YMCA has been joined by another not-for-profit, KaBoom and a great corporate sponsor, Forester’s Insurance, to create this magical playground all in one day. Won’t you join us? Below, there's a link where you can let us know you'll be helping, along with the details of the day:

The Facts- Playground Build Day: August 7, 2010

WHAT: On Saturday, Aug. 7 community volunteers will gather to build a new, safe playground at Detroit Leadership Academy – a new school that will open in the fall of 2010. The new playground’s design is based on drawings created by children who participated in a Design Day event in June. The playground build will also include a Family Fun Station featuring arts & crafts, games and activities for families and children throughout the day.

Our playground build begins early in the morning with volunteers arriving at an empty site. Within hours, volunteers transform the space to a vibrant neighborhood-gathering place – all in less than eight hours. It is an old-fashioned barn raising-with an urban twist!

You are welcome to join in as a community volunteer for the entire day, or you may visit during any part of the day as an observer.

WHY: The new playground will eventually serve more than 75,000 children and their families in the Detroit community, providing them with a safe place to play every year. Playgrounds provide an opportunity for families to spend quality time together and get to know other families in their community. Currently, there is not an existing playground at the site of the YMCA and Detroit Leadership Academy, which will open in the fall of 2010.

WHEN: Saturday, August 7 2010

8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Family Fun Station (arts & crafts, games & more for children and families)
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kick off ceremony and volunteer deployment
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Best viewing of playground construction
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Final construction phase and adjustments
2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area

(Note: all times approximate)

WHERE: YMCA's Detroit Leadership Academy
13500 Virgil Street
Detroit, MI 48223
Get Directions...

July 22, 2010

Blog: Addressing The Education Challenge In Detroit

Reid Thebault blogs about Social Responsibility, Youth Development and building a Healthy Lifestyle.

Over the past several months I have had multiple conversations with any number of staff, volunteers and community stakeholders regarding the Y’s education initiative and, specifically, the new Y-Detroit Leadership Academy scheduled to open this September, which will be the first of several new Y schools. If the person has the time I usually start from the beginning in explaining why this initiative is so important to the future of this nation, and why it is critically important to the future of the children of Detroit.

Almost any breathing soul today understands that for any boy or girl to have any kind of future as a productive American citizen, that boy or girl must be educated.

In the early 1950s when I was growing up a high school diploma was considered to be the "ticket to a good life." Today, that minimum benchmark is a four-year college degree or significant trade expertise. Going forward in the 21st century this minimum benchmark will need to be augmented with advanced studies and continual learning. And yet over forty percent of the kids that begin high school in the United States do not graduate from high school. The statistics are even more sobering in the major urban centers of this country, including Detroit.

I am uncertain if the Y’s education initiative can impact these national and local statistics in any sustainable and positive way. But I am certain we can make a huge, positive difference in the lives of children who will attend Y schools. Here is why:

First, we will make certain that the leaders of each Y school, the Principal, has an absolute passion and enthusiasm for children and students. This strong sense of mission coupled with the professional and emotional maturity and academic expertise will establish the learning culture for the schools. The teaching staff will mirror values and passion of the school leader. They will refuse to let any child fail, academically or in any aspect of that child’s life.

When I began my Y career some four decades ago most of the resources of the YMCA invested in youth were committed to the physical and social development of children and teens. The assumption was that the public and private school systems of this country were adequately addressing the academic needs of children and teens K through 12 grades. But today no responsible adult can make that general assumption as a statement of fact anymore. And in the urban centers across this country such an assumption creates a complete fabrication of reality.

So, in Detroit, we have to ask ourselves today, how do we build strong kids, strong families and strong communities? Over the years we have had great success in getting kids physically active through sports, camping and fitness activities. We have offered leadership development programs such as Youth Volunteer Corps; MY Y Programs; Counselor-in-Training Programs and Youth-in-Government to encourage and support the social development of young people.

In the past schools were partners with the Y in "building strong kids."

But in many cities in this country this informal compact between schools and not-for-profit organizations has faded into history. Today, many of the traditional youth serving agencies and institutions are struggling to find ways to preserve "what they do" given the challenges they face to their own status quo.

The YMCA is very unique in this regard because since it began in the United States in 1844 it has constantly sought to embrace change. The Y’s institutional appetite for change is not driven by change itself but by a fierce desire to always be "relevant" to the children, families and adults it seeks to serve. Consequently, when needs change so does the Y.

Which brings me back to K-12 education. If we think about education from the classical, total person perspective of mind, body, spirit, the Y is the ideal institution to be at the forefront of this revolution in K-12 education in Detroit. The Y has the institutional infrastructure to develop, support and sustain great schools. It has a strong record in corporate governance with highly respected volunteer leaders sitting on the Y corporate board and the independent school board. In addition, the Y has a substantial program inventory in health and wellness; arts and humanities; and youth leadership development. And, the Y has the ability to recognize, recruit and retain school academic leaders and staff who share the Y’s commitment to educate and develop the total child.

At the end of the day, it will take more than the Y’s efforts alone to meet the challenges of today’s crisis in primary education. But just because the challenge is enormous we should not be dissuaded from taking on the challenge.

July 14, 2010

Blog: Remembering Michelle Huff...

Reid Thebault blogs about Social Responsibility, Youth Development and building a Healthy Lifestyle.

Michelle Huff began her YMCA career in 1993 at the South Oakland YMCA in Royal Oak, Michigan. While I was not yet in Michigan and have no account of that first day on the job, I suspect Michelle spent a fair amount of time meeting and greeting everyone she encountered with the warm embrace of friendship.

Up until she went on medical leave in December of 2009, Michelle was the Y’s unofficial ambassador for infectious smiles; laughter that made one immediately join in; and, a kind heart that made everyone she touched want to be in her presence.

Michelle’s professional work at the South Oakland Y, first as a fitness instructor then in membership service and as a Wellness Coordinator, was always first rate. But her special talents and unique personality went far beyond her professional competencies in impacting the quality of life and culture of the South Oakland Branch.

In the words of one of her staff colleagues, Jon, "Michelle was so incredible at making me feel welcome on my very first day on the job. She was always there for me; with a hug; a smile; and taking every opportunity to introduce me to staff and members. Michelle made me feel part of the Y family."

Another staff member, Melanie, echoed many of Jon’s comments and added how much admiration and respect she had for Michelle as a working, single Mom raising two terrific sons.

Michelle died this past June and will be remembered for her sense of humor, her optimistic attitude, her smile and her love of people and life itself, and all whom she touched will miss her daily presence. At the same time, we all are better people because we were fortunate to have Michelle as a friend, a colleague and a member of our Detroit Y family.

June 30, 2010

Volunteers Needed on August 7 to Build a Safe Playground for Local Community...

WHAT: More than 200 volunteers from Foresters™ and the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the local community will join forces on Saturday, Aug. 7 to build a new, safe playground at Detroit Leadership Academy – a new school that will open in the fall of 2010. The new playground’s design is based on drawings created by children who participated in a Design Day event in June. The playground build will also include a Family Fun Station featuring arts & crafts, games and activities for families and children throughout the day.

You may join in as a community volunteer for the entire day, or you may visit during any part of the day as an observer.

Foresters, a life insurance provider committed to the well-being of families, is funding 20 playground builds across North America this year. By investing $1.5 million in these projects, Foresters is partnering with KaBOOM! to build playgrounds that will eventually serve more than 150,000 children and create opportunities for families to spend time together. This build is one of more than 150 KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2010 in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

WHEN: Saturday, August 7

8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Family Fun Station (arts & crafts, games & more for children and families)
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kick off ceremony and volunteer deployment
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Best viewing of playground construction
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Final construction phase and adjustments
2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area

(Note: all times approximate)

WHERE: YMCA's Detroit Leadership Academy
13500 Virgil Street
Detroit, MI 48223
Get Directions...

---

About the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is a volunteer-founded and led not-for-profit organization operating across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties. Founded in 1852, the Detroit YMCA builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities through 14 YMCA branches and two residential camps. Our volunteers raise more than $1 million annually for program subsidies that help ensure participation for all that wish to build healthy spirit, mind and body.

About KaBOOM!
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play. Through community building, the company is focused on giving every child in America a great place to play within walking distance. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,700 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and Playmakers – a national network of individual advocates for play. KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

About Foresters
Founded in 1874 as a fraternal benefit society, Foresters™ champions the well-being of families through quality life insurance, unique member benefits and inspiring community activities. Foresters shares its financial strength with more than 675,000 members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Unity Life of Canada‡, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foresters, represents Foresters in Canada. For more information, please visit www.foresters.com.

Foresters™ is a trademark of The Independent Order of Foresters, a fraternal benefit society, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9. ‡ Unity Life of Canada, a Foresters company, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Independent Order of Foresters.

June 22, 2010

Blog: Sharing Metro Detroit’s Best Kept Secrets...

Reid Thebault blogs about Social Responsibility, Youth Development and building a Healthy Lifestyle.

Whenever Y staff or volunteers gather it does not take very long for someone in the conversation to bring up some new program or activity in which the Y is engaged that others in the conversation are hearing for the first time. Such a discovery is usually followed by a statement that goes something like, "See, that’s why the Y is our community’s best kept secret."

In a series of polls commissioned by YMCA of the USA a year or two ago, data revealed a significant perception gap between how Y people viewed the Y and how the Y was viewed by the general public.

Y people saw the Y as a mission-based organization committed to provide services to a highly diverse constituency regardless of race, gender, religion, age or economic circumstance.

The general public saw the Y as a purveyor of programs and services in the fields of health, wellness and recreation. Many respondents to the polls did not view the Y as a charity or open to everyone unless everyone had the money to pay.

From a more local perspective, I can understand the confusion the Y’s image generates. Outside the organization the Y is viewed as a well-run, skillfully managed, business-like not-for-profit that provides "good programs and services" in wellness and recreation for families and kids who can afford to pay. There is a general understanding that these fees for programs and membership are necessary to fund the organization, especially the buildings through which Y services are provided. But to the general public these reasonably accurate descriptions do not differentiate the Y from municipal community centers or even family-oriented for-profit health clubs.

So, what makes the Y very different and a very special community asset?

Nikole Saffle came to the Detroit Y from Washington state a few years ago. She began her Y professional career at the Macomb branch but when an aquatic director position opened at the Boll Y she jumped at the chance to work in Detroit. You see, Nikole has a passion for swimming and believes swimming not only is great exercise but can be life-saving, particularly in a region that is blessed with so much water. She is also keenly aware that drownings among African American and Latino youth are almost three times higher than the Caucasian population.

A year or so ago Nikole reached out to the Marcus Garvey Academy, a pre-K-8 DPS school located just east of downtown. In addition to its "regular" student population the school also serves a number of autistic students in pre-K programs. Working with school staff, Nikole made several adaptations to the Y’s learn to swim program to not only teach the young pre-schoolers to swim but also begin to practice counting numbers (1,2,3, etc.) and language skills. Nikole says it’s amazing how being around a swimming pool and learning to be safe in and around the water "gives the students the confidence to try lots of new things."

Not stopping with Marcus Garvey Academy and supported by grants from the Y’s Van Dusen Fund and the Strong Kids Campaign, Nikole has created the Y’s Urban Swim Initiative. In addition to the before-mentioned funding sources, Nikole’s staff is so fired up to teach kids in the city water safety and how to swim, the staff made personal contributions of nearly $2000 to support the initiative. The program will be delivered later this summer and into the school year using three DPS high school pools.

People like Nikole and programs like the Urban Swim Initiative are extraordinary examples of what goes on in every one of our Metro Detroit Y branches every day, throughout the year.

June 10, 2010

Initiative aims to get interns to stay in Detroit...

As Reported in the Freep
BY KATHERINE YUNG FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Dozens of summer interns sampled Detroit's cuisine and learned about fun things to do in the city on Wednesday during the kickoff for a program aimed at keeping young professionals in the region.

Many of the interns are from southeast Michigan but aren't knowledgeable about downtown Detroit. Joel Smith, a 23-year-old from Wayne who is working at Quicken Loans in Livonia this summer, said he only goes to Detroit to attend professional sports games. "It's impressive," he said of the Boll Family YMCA in downtown Detroit, where interns mingled in a gym that had been converted into a party room.

The event, which was coordinated by Connect After 5 and the Downtown Detroit Partnership, featured restaurants such as Taste, Bookies Bar & Grille and Small Plates as well as organizations like the Detroit Tigers and Fusion, a networking group.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the Freep...

June 9, 2010

Blog: What Will You Do During the Special Days of Summer?...

Reid Thebault blogs about Social Responsibility, Youth Development and building a Healthy Lifestyle.

Beginning with the Memorial Day weekend and ending with Labor Day, summer is filled with any number of special days for fun, relaxation and remembrance.

Many families celebrate wedding anniversaries, birthdays and reunions during this season of warm temperatures and extended daylight hours.

On one particular summer day, in 1844, an event took place that has had profound consequence for millions of people throughout the world. That event on June 6th, 1844 was the founding of the YMCA.

Begun in England by George Williams, a draper by trade and committed to leading a "Christian life", Williams was driven to do something about the moral decay of young men in 19th century England.

I suspect he found a certain gap in the institutional social service network of the times that government, the established churches and the private sector either couldn’t or wouldn’t fill. He had no grand plan to create a world wide movement that eventually by the 21st century would see the Young Men’s Christian Association working in 125 countries around the world with a membership exceeding 45 million people. He simply wanted to do what he could to improve society as he knew it.

So what genius did Williams possess that gave birth to such a movement where private individuals could make contributions to bettering society, one person, one community, one nation, one world at a time?

I suspect the "genius" is the force that is within each human being, within each of us. That is the unquenchable force to give our lives meaning.

Each of us comes into this world with any number of assets and potential. Some of those assets are determined by the place and time of birth, culture, mentors and other material influences. But deep inside of every human being is the potential for something special that if and when channeled can make the world a better place. The YMCA is an institution that fosters, supports and legitimizes the discovery and pursuit of this human potential. The truest focus of all Y programs and services is and has to be the development of human potential, for the purpose of enabling human beings to do good.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with any number of staff and volunteers. In each and every case their motivation for their involvement in the Y was to do good for others because in doing so their life gained special meaning.

Yes, June 6th 1844 is the anniversary of the founding of the YMCA, but more importantly it should be remembered for the creation of an institution that gave man’s innate search for meaning a very personal road map to pursue a life’s journey.

REID S. THEBAULT has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit since 1994. He began his YMCA career in 1969 in Houston, Texas, and has worked in YMCAs in Dayton and St. Louis. His interests, beyond the YMCA, are his family, running, tennis, golf, hockey, travel and the arts.

June 7, 2010

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit Announces the Urban Swim Initiative to Improve Water Safety in Local Schools...

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is proud to announce the beginning of our Urban Swim Initiative, supported by grants from the Y’s Van Dusen Fund and the Strong Kids Campaign, and headed by Nikole Saffle. In addition to the before-mentioned funding sources, Nikole’s staff is so fired up to teach kids in the city water safety and how to swim, the staff made personal contributions of nearly $2,000 to support the initiative. The program will be delivered later this summer and into the school year using three DPS high school pools.

Nikole Saffle came to the Detroit Y from Washington state a few years ago. She began her Y professional career at the Macomb branch but when an aquatic director position opened at the Boll Y she jumped at the chance to work in Detroit. Nikole has a passion for swimming and believes swimming not only is great exercise but can be life-saving, particularly in a region that is blessed with so much water. She is also keenly aware that drownings among African American and Latino youth are almost three times higher than the Caucasian population.

Programs like the Urban Swim Initiative are extraordinary examples of what goes on in every one of our Metro Detroit Y branches to support our community every day, throughout the year.

May 31, 2010

The Outdoor Splash Park at Downriver Family YMCA in Southgate is Now Open for the Summer!...

The Splash Park at Downriver YMCA is a full-facility outdoor water park built for fun and poolside lounging. The pool space is over 10,000 square feet, includes a giant water slide and other pool toys, in addition to an outdoor lap swim area and zero depth entry. Besides swimming for all ages, there is a poolside cafe, deck chairs and umbrellas for relaxing and enjoying a fun day in the sun.

Pool safety is our highest priority. Our award-winning lifeguards protect swimmers and ensure you have a fun, safe experience at the pool.

If you would like to learn more about the Splash Park (including rates and hours), visit the Downriver Family YMCA homepage. For questions about the Splash Park or to register for Swim Lessons, please phone: (734) 282-9622.

Swim Lessons

Water safety is a crucial part of a fun summer. We are offering several sessions of swim lessons at the outdoor Splash Park, and opportunities are available for all ages and skill levels.

Preschool and Youth Swim Lessons:

Offered in One Week Sessions 10:00-10:45am (Monday through Thursday with Friday for makeups if needed). Cost is $24 (FM) or $48 (PM).

Preschool and Youth Swim Lessons available Weeks of: Jun 14, June 21, June 28, July 12, July 19

Adult Swim Coaching:

Offered in a Three Week Session 8:00-8:45pm on Monday and Wednesday, June 14-30. Cost is $36 (FM) or $72 (PM).

Adult Lessons FINS (First Insecure, Now Swimming):

Offered in Three Week Sessions 8:00-8:45pm. Cost is $36 (FM) or $72 (PM).

Adult Swim Lessons (FINS) session dates: Session 1 is July 5-21, and Session 2 is July 26-August 11.

April 14, 2010

YMCA of the USA, UnitedHealth Group Collaboration Offers New Model for Chronic Disease Prevention

UnitedHealth Group to reimburse YMCAs for offering program proven to cut diabetes risk

YMCA of the USA, the nation’s leading non-profit service organization dedicated to healthy living, and UnitedHealth Group, a diversified health and well-being company, today announced a partnership to reduce the burden of diabetes in the United States. In this first of its kind collaboration, UnitedHealth Group will reimburse YMCAs offering the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program.

Currently, about 24 million Americans are living with diabetes and another 57 million have pre-diabetes. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is designed especially for people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Delivered in a group setting, it has been proven to cut participants’ chances of developing the disease by more than half.

This partnership marks the first time a health services company will reimburse a community-based organization for delivering a prevention program.

"Improving the nation’s health and well-being is part of the YMCA’s charitable mission. Over the past several years we have worked to redefine the YMCA experience to better support those who struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle," said Neil Nicoll, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA. "We are thrilled to work with UnitedHealth Group and be part of a new paradigm in healthcare that is focused on prevention. YMCAs are at work in nearly 10,000 communities nationwide, so we are uniquely positioned to take this program to such scale that it can have a real impact on the lives of people at risk for diabetes, as well as their families."

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is based on the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that with lifestyle changes and modest weight reduction, a person with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by 58 percent.

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine were able to replicate the successful results of the Diabetes Prevention Program in conjunction with the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Unlike the NIH’s program, which was conducted with individuals one-on-one, the YMCA’s program is conducted in a group setting.

The research conducted by the Indiana University researchers also proved that the YMCA could effectively deliver a group program for about 75 percent less than the cost of the original Diabetes Prevention Program. This research also highlighted the YMCA’s ability to deliver the program nationally.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is being offered as part of UnitedHealth Group’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance. YMCAs will receive reimbursement for each participant who is referred through the Alliance, with performance-based metrics built in that provide for a higher reimbursement when the desired weight loss is achieved.

"Teaming up with YMCA of the USA and other partners to create the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance reinforces our commitment to helping stem the rising tide of diabetes and obesity that is already having devastating consequences for individuals, families and our country," said Stephen Hemsley, president and CEO of UnitedHealth Group. "By combining our national health care resources with the YMCA’s presence in local communities, we can expand access to this clinically proven program for a much larger group of people at risk for diabetes."

In addition to partnering with UnitedHealth Group, YMCA of the USA is also working with CDC and elected officials championing prevention in Congress to bring the program to more communities and develop a national program to recognize proven diabetes prevention programs like the YMCA’s.

"The YMCA’s work in diabetes prevention makes it a leader in developing local responses to critical health needs," says Dr. Ann Albright, director of CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. "CDC’s national partnership with the YMCA shows that by joining together to turn research into real-world solutions, government, the nonprofit sector and business can improve America’s health and reduce the risk for diabetes. CDC is committed to preventing diabetes, and we look forward to working with YMCA of the USA and UnitedHealth in this important effort."

YMCA of the USA’s work with UnitedHealth Group will begin with seven YMCAs – Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Phoenix, Ariz. – and will expand throughout 2010 and beyond.

In these communities, the YMCA is committed to making the program available to everyone who meets program criteria, regardless of an individual’s insurance coverage. In addition, as evidence of UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to solving the nation’s diabetes crisis, the company is making the program available to other insurance companies and employer groups that are not its health insurance customers.

The goals of the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program are to help people with pre-diabetes achieve and maintain weight loss of at least 7 percent by eating healthy and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week. A trained lifestyle coach works with a group of participants for 16 core sessions to help them change their lifestyles. After these sessions, participants meet monthly for up to a year for added support in maintaining their progress.

"Lifestyle changes, like the ones promoted in this program, can help stop diabetes before it develops. And that in turn could help stop the disease's devastating complications such as blindness, amputation and heart disease," commented Richard Bergenstal, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. "Insurance coverage for these programs is a crucial step in getting more people to participate and achieve these results."

This announcement comes on the heels of the historic health care reform legislation, which included a bi-partisan bill by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., authorizing CDC to train and recognize community-based diabetes prevention programs like those being offered by the YMCA.

"We owe great thanks to champions such as Senators Franken and Lugar, as well as Senator Harkin, for their efforts to improve the health of all Americans by bringing an unprecedented focus on prevention to health care reform efforts," Nicoll said. "This is truly a game changer for people at high risk for developing diabetes and for the way health care is delivered in this country."

In addition to its commitment to the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, UnitedHealth Group is also pledging a $2.25 million, three-year grant to support YMCA of the USA’s healthy living efforts.

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About YMCA of the USA

YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation's 2,687 YMCAs, which serve 21 million people each year, including more than 9 million children under the age of 18. YMCAs respond to critical social needs by drawing on their collective strength as one of America's largest not-for-profit community service organizations. Through a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening, and health and well-being for all, YMCAs unite men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs have proudly served America's communities for nearly 160 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

April 12, 2010

Celebrate YMCA Healthy Kids® Day on April 17

Put play in your day! Enjoy fun and relaxing active family time by visiting your local Y on Saturday, April 17, for YMCA Healthy Kids® Day. The nation’s largest health day for children and families, YMCA Healthy Kids Day offers families a chance to play together and learn more about ways they can develop and maintain healthy habits. YMCA Healthy Kids Day events are free and open to all.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day will be celebrated across the country at nearly 1,500 YMCAs. Last year, more than 700,000 people participated in YMCA Healthy Kids Day events nationwide, enjoying games, demonstrations, arts and crafts, educational resources, healthy treats, giveaways and more.

Some simple ways to put more play in kids’ day, and get the family moving more, too!

Make physical activity a regular part of family playtime – the more active kids are the more likely they are to continue being physically active later in life.
Allow kids to have unstructured playtime. All play is not created equal – kids need different types of play, including indoor and outdoor, active and inactive.
Reintroduce your kid to the basics of active play: play hopscotch or basketball, jump rope, or enjoy games such as Red Light, Green Light and Simon Says.
Limit screen time and use of electronic media to allow more time for play.

April 1, 2010

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit Announces New Charter School Opening This Fall in Detroit

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is opening a new school in Detroit – YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy. Chartered by Central Michigan University’s Center for Charter Schools, The YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy will open its doors on September 7, 2010 and will serve students from kindergarten through grade 5 throughout the Detroit metropolitan area.

"We are excited to bring a quality educational option to students and parents in the greater Detroit community," said Reid Thebault, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit president and chief executive officer. "We want our students to exceed the demands of today’s global economy while developing academics, personal skills and self-confidence to succeed as future leaders."

The mission of the YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy is to provide a stimulating and supportive educational environment in which a diverse student population can grow and learn and where global leaders get their start. The goal is that students attending the YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy will acquire:

An enduring love for learning and a high degree of academic achievement
An understanding of traditional ethical principles
A commitment to good citizenship and community service
An appreciation for physical health

A primary emphasis of the school will be promoting global citizenship. The YMCA USA International Group is collaborating with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit to ensure the application of a global framework to the school’s programs.

"We have several activities planned like speakers from other countries, international celebrations and using technology to communicate with students in other countries," Thebault said. "This will be symbolized in the school with large maps at the entrance, community gardens and multicultural murals. The students will participate in the creation of these symbols."

Other global citizenship elements include:

Opportunities to provide English as a second language
Collaboration opportunities with National Geographic and the Asia Society
Opportunities for student and staff exchanges
Visiting professors from oversea YMCAs
Urban Farming
Art related efforts (such as literature, poetry, fine arts, spoken word, dance and theatre) with an international focus

YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy is a school of choice with an open enrollment policy providing a tuition-free education for students.

"We’re going to provide the best education money can’t buy," Thebault said. "The YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy will foster self-discovery, creativity and personal responsibility while communicating students’ worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves. We are strongly committed to involving parents and adult caregivers in the school, including helping parents understand how they can best assist their children to succeed."

In addition to school leadership and global citizenship, the YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy will focus on civic engagement, academic excellence and health and wellness. YMCA will bring its holistic approach to human development to the school. Students will experience a variety of healthy living initiatives including daily physical activities, making healthy choices at school and home and contributing to the school’s community garden. Students will also participate in a wide variety of arts classes including creative, performing and digital arts. The school day will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will offer extended YMCA after-school programs until 6 p.m. to allow students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.

The YMCA Academy is inspired by Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s book, "The Leader in Me," which identifies strategies designed to help reinforce school values, promote academic achievement and build future leaders.

"We aim to give students the essential life skills and characteristics they need to thrive in the 21st century," Thebault said.

The Detroit Leadership Academy is currently accepting applications for K through 5th grade for the 2010-2011 school year. For more information, call Shawn Hill, Detroit Leadership Academy school superintendent and founding principal at (313) 223-2803 or visit www.YDLA.org. Resumes for teachers are also being accepted. Please submit resumes to: shill@ymcametrodetroit.org.

YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy is located at 13550 Virgil in Detroit.

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About the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is a volunteer-founded and led not-for-profit organization operating across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties. Founded in 1852, the Detroit YMCA builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities through 14 YMCA branches and two residential camps. Our volunteers raise more than $1 million annually for program subsidies that help ensure participation for all that wish to build healthy spirit, mind and body. For more information, visit www.ymcadetroit.org or call 313-267-5300.

March 29, 2010

Plymouth YMCA 31st Annual Fathers Day Run to Take Place on June 20, 2010. A community event for everyone, the FDR raises funds for the Plymouth Family YMCA...

A great event for the entire family and the serious runner. The 31st annual Fathers Day Run offers an event for all ages. Kids Fun Runs, 1M Run/Walk, 5k Run/Walk, 10k and the MDG Triple (10.3 miles). Staggard start times permit running all three races.

The flat and fast course through the streets of Downtown Plymouth is USTAF certified. ChronoTrack D-tag timing. Endorsed by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports (www.michiganfitness.org).

Proceeds benefit the Strong Kids Campaign. The Fathers Day Run is a fun day that benefits the community-join us!

view race details... | view registration form... | view course maps... | view weather policy... | view volunteer form...

March 9, 2010

Local Runner to Help Detroit YMCAs to Launch 2010 Strong Kids Campaign with 100 Mile Run ...

100 miles. In one day. That’s the distance one local runner has pledged to run in the lobby of the Downriver Family YMCA March 9 to help launch the 2010 YMCA Strong Kids Campaign to raise funds allowing deserving children, teens and families to participate in YMCA programs and activities.

On Tuesday March 9, two treadmills will be set up in the lobby of the Downriver Family YMCA building located at 16777 Northline Road. 24-year-old Nick Budzyn of Wyandotte will begin running on one of them at 5 a.m. He will run until he reaches 100 miles, or until the facility closes at 10 p.m. The other treadmill will be available for anyone who wants to run along in support of Nick and the Strong Kids Campaign.

"The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign ensures that everyone can be a part of the YMCA. It focuses on raising much-needed financial support for deserving children, teens and families who are unable to afford the full cost of participating in a YMCA program or activity," said Reid Thebault, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are very honored to have Nick volunteer for such a show of commitment to our organization and are hopeful that his enthusiasm will inspire others within the community to donate and participate with the YMCA."

A long-time athlete and member of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Nick personally understands the impact of participating in YMCA programs. Though he has always been active, he got his start running only two years ago. Since then he has participated in more than 11 races of 26.2 miles and farther, including the Hallucination 100 mile run last September. He completed the race in 23 hours and 8 minutes and then went on to race a personal best in the Detroit Marathon just a few weeks later.

"The Downriver YMCA has played a big role in my running, recovery and overall fitness the last few years," said Nick. "Many of my friends work or volunteer there, and I used to love watching my dad play in the ‘infamous’ floor hockey leagues in the old Wyandotte building. The Strong Kids Campaign is a great program that does great things for the children and families in our community. This fundraiser is a fun way for everyone to get involved in supporting the Strong Kids Campaign, and it’s a fun way for me to push my own mental and physical limits. I hope to inspire a few people to donate, run and start thinking outside the box."

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit has added a page to its Web site dedicated to Nick’s run and the Strong Kids Campaign where anyone can go to make a donation. To donate, or learn more, please visit www.ymcadetroit.org/nick.

January 28, 2010

YMCA Hosts First Lady Michelle Obama, as She Announces Plans to Help Americans Lead Healthier Lives...

On Thursday, Jan. 28, the Alexandria YMCA, part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, hosted First Lady Michelle Obama, who announced plans to help Americans lead healthier lives through better nutrition, regular physical activity, and by encouraging communities to support healthy choices. The First Lady, joined by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, said the surge in obesity is nothing short of a public health crisis that is threatening the lives of children and families across the country.

YMCA of the USA President and CEO Neil Nicoll opened the event and introduced Dr. Benjamin, who released the Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation. The report highlights the alarming trend of overweight and obese Americans, and asks Americans to join Dr. Benjamin in a grassroots effort to commit to changes that promote the health and wellness of families and communities.

Previously, the First Lady announced that she will launch a major initiative on childhood obesity in the next few weeks. A recent report revealed that the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled among adults and has tripled among children and adolescents from 1980 to 2004. Currently, two-thirds of adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese. The First Lady has asked the YMCA to be engaged in those efforts.

On Thursday, she discussed her firsthand experience with the challenges of raising healthy kids in today’s environment and mentioned the role of organizations such as the YMCA in helping kids and families adopt healthy lifestyles.

"The Y has been a leader in ensuring that families and communities all over this country have access to places to play," the First Lady said.

YMCAs provide safe and affordable spaces and programs to help both kids and adults learn, grow and thrive. In fact, for nearly 160 years, YMCAs have offered programs that strengthen the physical, emotional and spiritual health of millions of individuals from all backgrounds and in all types of communities. Over the past several years, YMCAs have increased efforts to help stem the tide of rising obesity rates.

January 20, 2010

Haiti Relief: The YMCA Responds to the Tragic Earthquake in Haiti...

YMCA of the USA is deeply saddened and aggrieved by the tragic earthquake in Haiti. The Haitian people are suffering a crisis of a magnitude no one can comprehend. The evening of the earthquake, Gwenael Apollon, General Secretary of the Haiti YMCA, reported that he, his family, and YMCA staff survived, but that YMCA operations have been severely impacted.

The global YMCA movement is responding in a coordinated effort to address the immediate needs of the children, families and devastated communities in Port au Prince, and surrounding areas through financial support. Working in collaboration with the Red Cross, Action Churches Together and other relief and emergency agencies, YMCAs around the world are responding to the urgent basic needs of those displaced by providing food, water, medicines, blankets; and in the longer term, care and psycho-social counseling. In addition, the Dominican Republic YMCA and the Latin American and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs, with support from the global YMCA movement, is planning to deliver critical supplies and support to those impacted. Beyond these immediate efforts, the YMCA will also evaluate the long-term needs for the impacted communities to ensure the security and stability of children, youth and families of Haiti.

If you would like to support our efforts in Haiti, please donate to YMCA World Service by Clicking Here or by calling the YMCA of the USA International Group at (800) 872-9622. (Please note: When donating online, it is important to specify "Haiti Earthquake Support" in the "Comments/special instructions" box at the bottom of the online donation page to ensure immediate designation of your contribution.)

To contribute by mail please send a check (payable to YMCA World Service with "Haiti Earthquake Support" noted in the memo line) to YMCA of the USA, attention YMCA World Service, 101 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

Updates on the YMCA’s efforts will be posted as they become available. For more information, please contact the YMCA of the USA International Group at (800) 872-9622. We ask for your support, hope and prayers for the Haiti YMCA and the people of Haiti.

December 29, 2009

Set Your New Year’s Resolutions as a Family...

The holidays are a time to celebrate and reflect on the previous year, and to look forward to the year to come! The following New Year’s resolutions from the YMCA encourage families to commit to spending more time together in 2010 by creating fun and healthy family resolutions.

1. Prepare and eat meals as a family – Start with sitting down as a family for one meal a week, and if this is something that already happens in your home, aim for a meal together every day. Studies have shown that kids who regularly eat with their parents are less likely to be overweight. They get better grades, have stronger self-esteem and enjoy better peer relationships during adolescence.

2. Volunteer as a family – It’s never too soon to teach children about the importance of giving. Find a volunteer opportunity that the entire family would enjoy—clean your neighborhood park or volunteer at your community food bank.

3. Learn something new as a family –The New Year is the time for new beginnings! Decide as a family to try something that you’ve always wanted to do – learn how to golf, ski, or take pottery classes! Visit www.healthyfamilyhome.org for monthly ideas.

4. Create healthy family traditions around the holidays; Start the year off with new and exciting healthy family traditions –Set aside time as a family during the holidays to enjoy one another: plan a winter wonderland family fun day, walk together after holiday meals, share your proudest accomplishment from the year and talk about the family goals for the New Year.

5. Play Every Day!! – Incorporate physical activity into your daily routines, spend more time outdoors, walk places instead of driving, play musical chairs at the start of a meal, or visit your local YMCA.

About YMCAs: The nation's 2,686 YMCAs serve 21 million people each year, including nearly 10 million children under the age of 18. YMCAs respond to critical social needs by drawing on their collective strength as one of America's largest not-for-profit community service organizations. Through a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening, and health and well-being for all, YMCAs unite men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs have proudly served America's communities for nearly 160 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Click here to find your local YMCA.

November 30, 2009

YMCA Girls on the Run Program Gains Traction, Strengthens Local Girls...

This fall, our Girls on the Run programs were a huge success! Over 150 girls participated in the program hailing several PCCS schools, as well as Barth Elementary in Romulus and Moraine Elementary in Northville. The girls spent ten weeks with their volunteer coaches participating in fun, self-esteem building activities and training for the 2nd annual Flurry Scurry 5K run. On November 22nd, nearly 500 girls and family members finished the 5K run in the foggy weather at Kensington Metro Park. This year was the first Greater Detroit Council race, meaning that every girl in Girls on the Run from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties participated in the race.

Girls on the Run is a character development program for girls in 3rd through 8th grade that combines life skill lessons with training for a 5K walk or run, in a creative, interactive and incredibly FUN way! The program provides the necessary tools for girls to manage the tough times of adolescence so they are better prepared to live contented and full lives as the wonderful adult women they will become.

The Plymouth YMCA is excited to continue the growth of this wonderful program. The Spring session of GOTR begins early April and will culminate with an entrance in our Father’s Day Run 5K. Look for registrations in February 2010. If you are interested in learning more about the program or volunteering to coach a team of girls or bringing this great program to your daughter’s school, please call or email Heather Jones at hjones@ymcametrodetroit.org.

November 29, 2009

Y-Arts Coordinator is Michigan's AmeriCorps Member of the Month...

A native of Detroit, Nathaniel Mullen attended Detroit Public Schools and then earned a BFA in Art & Design at the University of Michigan. Nathaniel is now using his artistic talent to positively impact his community through the Michigan AmeriCorps Partnership (MAP) program. He is in his second year of full-time service and is placed at the Downtown Detroit Boll Family YMCA.

At the YMCA, Nathaniel is coordinating the Y Arts exhibitions in the Lobby Gallery, teaching digital photography classes for teenagers, and participating in community partnerships. In 2008, he initiated both the project and member applications to secure a MAP AmeriCorps position in the Visual Arts Department of the Neutral Zone (a.k.a, the Ann Arbor Teen Center). He spent the year redeveloping the digital arts program, expanding the exhibitions program, and broadening community outreach. Two of his largest projects included a week-long service-learning project in Detroit and an exhibition titled "Frame of Mind," in collaboration with the Depression Center at the University of Michigan to bring light to issues surrounding youth mental health.

For his second year serving in AmeriCorps, Nathaniel looks forward to the challenges of his new position. He contends, "After a five year absence, I'm hoping to be able to contribute to Y Arts and the city."

According to MAP program director, Addell Austin Anderson, "Nathan has the drive, talent and enthusiasm to inspire youth to see beyond their, sometimes, isolated world to make a difference in their own lives and community."

For more information on the Michigan AmeriCorps Partnership program, please contact Program Director, Addell Austin Anderson at (313) 593-0937 or Addell@umich.edu. For more information on AmeriCorps, visit www.americorps.gov.

October 14, 2009

Enjoy Halloween at the YMCA. Most Local YMCAs Host a Safe, Fun Halloween Event for the Public. Check With Your YMCA for the Date and Time...

Halloween is a fun, festive time that is great for families. With time set aside to bond and enjoy treats, games and new experiences, Halloween can be really special.

Most local YMCAs hold Halloween events for families, and the festivities are open to the public. The YMCA provides a safe, fun environment for whole familes to enjoy the Halloween experience while minimizing some of the risks commonly associated with this unique holiday.

Halloween at the YMCA is usually offered as a free event or for a nominal fee. Check with your local YMCA for details.

October 7, 2009

On October 20, Please Join Us at the Boll Family YMCA for a Free 'Power of the Y'Breakfast, an Informational Session to Learn More About How the YMCA is Strengthening Our Community...

The breakfast is a unique opportunity to get an inside look at how the YMCA meets the ever changing needs in the communities we work and live in. In just one hour you will see and hear a few stories that highlight the huge success the Y has had in meeting community needs one person at a time.

October 1, 2009

On October 17th, the 8th Annual Song & Dance Recital at the Farmington Family YMCA to Support the Strong Kids Campaign...

"We Are All In This Together, One Song and Dance at a Time"

On Saturday, October 17th, the Therapy Choir, directed by Len McCulloch, of Broe Rehabilitation Services, Inc., and the Finnish-American Singers of Michigan, directed and accompanied by guest musician, Miriam Kleven from St. John's Lutheran Church in Redford, will be the featured acts in the Strong Kids Campaign Recital at the Farmington Family YMCA, 28100 Farmington Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. Broe Rehabilitation Services, Inc. of Farmington Hills is a day programming treatment facility for clients with traumatic brain injuries and other neurologic and mental disorders. The program will be held at 3pm in the spacious Aerobics Studio to be followed by light refreshments at 4:30pm.

This program, hosted by Vickie Kimler, Farmington Family YMCA personal trainer and dance instructor, for the eighth consecutive time, has the purpose for raising monies to provide some gainful recreation to families who cannot afford Y amenities such as exercise memberships, attendance to summer camp, after-school programs and other necessities for a healthy lifestyle. The 30-voice Therapy Choir, composed mostly of the consumers in the therapy program at Broe Rehabilitation Services, Inc., is making its second appearance at the annual recital along with the Finnish-American Singers and other volunteer voices from the community. These two musical groups also sang at the Michigan State Capitol Building in March 2009 for the purpose of Brain Injury Awareness. Please join us for a delightful autumn afternoon of choral singing, dance performances from YMCA staff and members and other artistic acts from our community, all for a good cause at a good price.Tickets: $5.00 at the door. All proceeds go to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

September 28, 2009

Local Choir Sings, Thanks to Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan...

Area residents will experience the rich musical heritage of Detroit thanks to a $30,000 operating grant made by The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in support of the Deep River Choir, a community choir organized by Y-Arts, a branch of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.

"We are so pleased, and we simply cannot thank the Community Foundation enough for their generous support of the Deep River Choir," said YMCA President and CEO Reid Thebault.

Since its inception in the fall of 2007, the Deep River Choir has performed throughout the region, appearing at scores of area events including Noel Night, numerous arts festivals, the 2008 NAACP Fight for Freedom Dinner at Cobo Hall, the Justice Ravitz Memorial Service, various Martin Luther King holiday celebrations, and the Creative Cities Summit, among others.

The Deep River Choir is directed by acclaimed local choir director Bobbi Thompson and managed by Y-Arts Executive Director Gillian Eaton. Adults from throughout the Metro Detroit area are members of the choir, whose repertoire features gospel songs, spirituals, work songs and anthems that reflect Detroit’s significance in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and beyond.

"The Deep River Choir particularly focuses on songs of praise and protest," said Eaton. "These timeless songs are full of meaning, and are an expression of the character of the city of Detroit and its residents," Eaton said.

The choir rehearses Tuesdays and Fridays from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at the Boll Family YMCA in Downtown Detroit. Membership in the choir is voluntary, and open to all area adults who love to sing.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations committed to the future of southeast Michigan. The Foundation works to improve the region’s quality of life by connecting those who care with causes that matter. The foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $380 million through more than 33,500 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties. For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.

For more information about the Deep River Choir including upcoming performances, contact Gillian Eaton at 313-223-2751.

August 21, 2009

YMCA Legend John Copeland Dies

Inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame in 1990

John Copeland, one of the nation's most revered YMCA staffers, died Tuesday at home with his family at the age of 95.

Copeland began a 42-year YMCA career as a physical education director in the Dayton YMCA, after graduating from Oberlin College in 1937. After five years at the Seattle YMCA, Copeland returned to the Midwest to serve 22-years with the Detroit YMCA. While at Detroit, he served as the association’s first Affirmative Action Officer and became the Assistant General Director. In 1965, he joined the staff of YMCA of the USA as Director of Adult Programs and Urban Affairs.

He returned to Detroit as Vice President and Director of Planning, Public Relations and Membership. After his 1979 retirement, Copeland continued his YMCA service as a consultant to the Harlem Branch of the YMCA of Greater New York City and in interim executive roles for branches in Detroit.

In 1990, Copeland became one of only 97 members of the YMCA Hall of Fame at Springfield College joining fellow inductees James Naismith and William Morgan, inventors of basketball and volleyball respectively. In 2003, the YMCA of Metro Detroit created the John Copeland Award for Civility to honor Copeland’s example and service to Detroit. Among its honorees are YMCA alumni Judge Damon Keith and Think Detroit founders Dan Varner and Michael Tenbusch.

Born on a North Carolina farm Christmas Eve 1913, Copeland was the youngest of seven originally christened John Woodrow Wilson Copeland. Educated in a one-room school house, Copeland’s family eventually settled in New Jersey. An excellent student and athlete, Copeland attended Oberlin College on a full scholarship. During his college career, Copeland played football, basketball, baseball and track and participated in a race against Olympian Jesses Owens.

"John is a giant in the YMCA," said Reid Thebault, current president of the YMCA of Metro Detroit. "He touched more lives than can ever be tallied and everyone will tell you what a profound impact John had on their lives. His example lives on in so many YMCA volunteers and professionals."

Thebault noted Copeland’s crucial role in the social integration of the YMCA during the 1960s as executive director of the historically African-American St. Antoine YMCA in Detroit. Copeland is credited with tactfully overseeing the closure of the branch as part of the YMCAs effort to fully integrate and ensure membership equality for all YMCA members. "Only John could so gracefully and forcefully ensure the YMCA mission to serve all equally," noted Thebault. "The YMCA was forever changed by John for the better."

Copeland was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Geraldyn, and his son Clarice. He is survived by two children, John, Jr. and Jerry Darlene, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Mr. Copeland will be held Monday from 2 to 9 at the Swanson Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 14751 West McNichols Road, Detroit, with funeral services Tuesday, at 11 a.m. at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2080 West Grand Blvd., Detroit.

August 2, 2009

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit Launches Third Annual Project (Stuff A) Backpack Campaign to Lighten Back-to-School Expenses

stuffabackpack The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is collecting backpacks and school supplies for low-income families with school-age children in order to help shoulder back-to-school expenses during its third annual "Project (Stuff A) Backpack" campaign.

The National Retail Federation reported in July that the average family with students in kindergarten through twelfth grade is expected to spend $594.00 in 2009 on school merchandise. According to the same report, four out of five Americans (or 85%) have made changes to back-to-school plans this year, including cutting back on extracurricular activities or switching from private to public school due to the economy.

July 22, 2009

Send a Kid to Camp with a Free Frosty at a Local Detroit Wendy's...

Today is our promotion to help "send kids to camp" with our partners from Wendy’s. We have volunteers lined up to be at all our area Wendy’s to thank diners and supporters who come to Wendy’s tonight from 5 to 8 pm.

For every dollars spent at Wendy’s from 5 to 8 pm, Wendy’s will donate 15% to your Strong Kids Campaign!

Participants will also be given a free day pass to visit their local YMCA and enjoy all the YMCA member priviledges, and one luck family will win a free one-year family membership to their YMCA.

Please download this coupon to enjoy a free frosty. You can also send it electronically to friends, family, acquaintances, even people you rarely speak to…anyone in the greater Detroit area -- the more folks that come to Wendy’s – the better the result for our camp kids. Thanks for your help – and have a frosty!

June 18, 2009

Please join us for a free 'Why the Y?' informational session to learn more about how the YMCA is strengthening our community...

The Why the Y? Presentation offers a unique opportunity to get an inside look at how the YMCA meets the ever changing needs in the communities we work and live in. In just one hour you will see and hear a few stories that highlight the huge success the Y has had in meeting community needs one person at a time.

Please invite your family and friends and colleagues to join us at an upcoming presentation. You could also host a Why the Y? presentation with Reid Thebault, President and CEO at your home or work place. To register for a presentation please call Cheryl L. Haithco at 313-267-5300 ext. 369 or email her at chaithco@ymcametrodetroit.org.

A Few Highlights:
Urban teens generally labeled apathetic trouble makers committed themselves to transforming urban blight into beautiful cityscapes: laying bricks, clearing debris, painting public benches/murals and planting gardens as a part of the YMCA’s Teen Community Investors.

An academically challenged young man who had never had a real job, learned how to complete an application, dress and interview for a job in the YMCA Good Neighborhood summer employment training program.

Hundreds of school age children heightened their reading, math and science knowledge as participants in the YMCA’s Camp Phoenix academic day camps in Pontiac, Farmington and Detroit.

Urban boys raised in predominantly single family homes who, are usually written off by grade 4 learn about real manhood. They learn self reliance, community service and personal responsibility through the YMCA’s YMOVES – Young Men of Vision and Excellent Service.

Young men and women who had been labeled troubled and placed in group homes realized their past does not define their future. They learned to explore viable careers, peacefully resolve conflict and express their emotions through art. All of this was achieved in the YMCA’s 2008 Young Creative’s Camp: a collaborative with Y-Arts.

June 15, 2009

YMCA Provides Free Week Of Overnight Camp To Children Of Unemployed Parents & Deployed Military Personnel

Donate Online to Support YMCA Kids to Camp Campaign

In response to the state of the economy and the number of Michigan military personnel on active duty, the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit Board of Directors announces a free week of overnight camp at Camp Nissokone in Oscoda, Michigan, for 150 children of unemployed parents and deployed military personnel. This is a $500 value, per child, being offered at no cost to qualified families on a first come, first-served basis. Parents and guardians are encouraged to follow the guidelines and register on the YMCA Web site.

Camp Nissokone, located just north of Oscoda, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Van Ettan, will offer seven week-long overnight camping sessions throughout the summer beginning the week of June 28 through August 15. Campers range in age from 9 to 16.

For over 95 years, Camp Nissokone has been helping young people develop valuable life skills such as teamwork, patience, and respecting differences while they take their first steps toward independence under the careful watch of YMCA Camp Counselors. During their week at camp, campers are able to make new friends, learn new skills, and enjoy activities such as horseback riding, canoeing, nature study, arts and crafts, rock climbing, paintball and swimming.

As with all day and overnight camp programs offered by the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, YMCA Camp Nissokone is fully accredited by the American Camp Association because it meets their rigorous standards for safety, program quality, and staffing.

"The YMCA has always made our programs and services available to those in the community regardless of their ability to pay," said Dan Maier, executive vice president of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. "Offering a free week of camp to area children is just another opportunity for our organization to respond to the pressing needs in our community."

Maier indicated an initial goal of $75,000 will help send the 150 kids for a week of camp. "In the first day, we had a donor come forward with $10,000 to support 20 children of parents serving overseas," said Maier. "Donations of $50 or $100 can really add up to help send a kid to camp!" Donations are welcomed online on the YMCA Web site. Click here to donate now.

For more information about the free week of camp at YMCA Nissokone, interested parties can click here to learn more or call 313-267-5300.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is a volunteer-founded and led not-for-profit organization operating across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties. Founded in 1852, the Detroit YMCA builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities through 14 YMCA branches, two residential camps. Our volunteers raise more than one-million dollars annually for program subsidies that help ensure participation for all that wish to build healthy spirit, mind and body. For more information, visit www.ymcadetroit.org or call 313-267-5300.

May 22, 2009

Plymouth YMCA 30th Fathers Day Run to Take Place on June 21, 2009...

A great event for the entire family and the serious runner. The 30th Fathers Day Run offers an event for all ages. Kids Fun Runs, 1M Run/Walk, 5k Run/Walk, 10k and the MDG Triple (10.3 miles) start time permit running all three races The flat and fast course thru the streets of Downtown Plymouth is USTAF certified. New!! ChronoTrack D-tag timing. Endorsed by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. Proceeds benefit the Strong Kids Campaign. The Fathers Day Run is a fun day that benefits the community-join us!
view race details... | view registration form... | view course maps... | view volunteer form...

April 29, 2009

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit's Annual Report for 2008 is Now Available...

The Annual Report for the YMCA illustrates the impact of our nonprofit on the Metropolitan Detroit region. We tell story of YMCA service and share our mission to build strong kids, strong families, strong communities through our volunteer leadership and dedicated staff. The 2008 Annual Report includes detailed information about the organization's executive leadership and volunteer board of directors as well as our fund development and financial reports for the fiscal year. Please click here to view the 2008 Annual Report.

March 31, 2009

Birmingham Family YMCA Hosts Free Children’s Health Initiative Program (CHIP)...

Targeted at kids ages 8-12, fun, engaging program promotes healthy lifestyles

The Birmingham Family YMCA in May will host the Children’s Health Initiative Program (www.chipkids.com), a comprehensive program designed to help kids and families improve their health by eating right, exercising regularly and promoting overall positive lifestyle modification.

Paul Ehrmann, D.O., a Royal Oak physician and author of "Generation XL: The Childhood Obesity Pandemic," developed CHIP with help from area dieticians and chefs, psychologists and personal trainers. Ehrmann and a team of subject matter experts will conduct the free, five-week program at the Birmingham YMCA on Sunday mornings, 11-12:30, beginning May 3.

Participants will learn about body mechanics, take a trip to a grocery store with a dietician, enjoy a cooking lesson and more. Graduates of the CHIP program will be invited to continue their journey toward a healthier lifestyle with the new Y Champions Program. Y Champions is also a free program.

Modeled by curriculum developed by the Harvard School of Public Health, Y Champions encourages healthy living through consistent physical activities, focused education and measurement indicators that document positive change. Y Champions is led by Brian Wolverton, YMCA Regional Director of Wellness.

Space is limited to 30 kids and their parents or guardians. To learn more about CHIP, please contact Angela Bates at the Birmingham Family YMCA: ambates@ymcametrodetroit.org.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit serves more than 300,000 people across Southeast Michigan through its programs and activities. The YMCA’s mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The YMCA believes in providing membership and program services to all those who desire to participate in the YMCA regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, call the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit at (313) 267-5300.

March 23, 2009

YMCA Helps Parents Take the Lead on Healthy Living in the Home...

As childhood obesity rates continue to rise, healthy lifestyle choices learned in the home can have a stronger influence over children than places outside the home and help reverse the trend. According to national YMCA experts the habits and activities that make up a family’s routine at home have the power to stay with your children for a lifetime. By taking the lead, parents can set an example of healthy living that can influence children to lead healthier lives as well.

"Parents are the primary role model, and children look to them as an example of how to live healthier. Parents can determine how families eat, how much time they spend together and even how they play together," says Valerie Lawson, Director of YMCA Healthy Family Home, an initiative that supports families as they try to establish healthier habits at home. "The home opens up possibilities for positive change that other places cannot provide – it’s where habits are formed. And parents have stronger influence over children’s decision-making than iPods or the Internet."

Making positive lifestyle changes can be difficult at first. Often, parents need tips and reinforcements to make lifestyle changes manageable. The YMCA is here to help give families the support they need to get started. Here are five simple tips families can make today to dramatically improve their home’s health:

Make water the primary beverage at home
Eat more meals together as a family
Start walking
Limit screen time to less than two hours per day (television, video games, and computer) meals should not be consumed in front of a screen
Provide each child with one-on-one time every day

To support families in making healthful changes in spirit, mind and body, the YMCA of Metro Detroit joins more than 1,700 YMCAs nationwide in celebrating YMCA Kids® Day on the weekend of, April 18-19. We encourage families to take part in this fun, free day of active play and resources for healthier living. The Y and a host of community partners will provide activities, tools and resources families can use – and even enjoy – to help them lead healthier lives all year round.

To find more tips on how to make your home healthier, please visit www.healthyfamilyhome.org. For more information about Healthy Kids Day at your YMCA, please contact us.

March 23, 2009

Y-Arts to Host The Sneaker Project 2009, Celebrating the Influence of the Sneaker in Basketball, Design and as a Cultural Influence on Youth...

In conjunction with the NCAA 2009 Men’s Final Four tournament weekend, The Boll Family YMCA will host it’s second annual multi-media basketball exhibit, called The Sneaker Project. The four-day event opens Friday, April 3 and runs through Monday, April 6, and celebrates the influence of the sneaker in basketball, design, and as a major cultural influence with today’s youth.

This year’s event also includes an exhibit on the YMCA as the birthplace of basketball and highlights 100 years of creative sneaker design, with sneaker collectors and designers from around the country. Visitors to the exhibit will be able to see a pair of original Chuck Taylor shoes from the early 1900s, a collection of all 23 Air Jordans, a group collection of rare and collectible sneakers owned by local sneaker freaks and win a pair of Dwayne Wade signature shoes.

"What was once strictly a functional shoe has penetrated into all facets of mainstream America," explains Gillian Eaton, executive director of Y Arts Detroit. "More than a work shoe, athletic shoes are a major fashion statement. The involvement of artists and designers in customizing sneakers has extended the creative possibilities of the form both on the court and the street."

In collaboration with the College for Creative Studies, the Boll Family YMCA will also showcase sneakers designed by CCS students. During the fall 2008 semester interdisciplinary design teams consisting of Product Design, Graphic Design and Photography students worked to create innovative basketball shoes for several Michigan-based schools. Nike's Studio Director, Ginny Hopkirk and Global Basketball Design Manager Ron Wright worked closely with the students throughout the project. The final shoe concepts were inspired by the team dynamics, rituals, geographic location, local culture, team history and goals.

With the purchase of a $5 raffle/entry ticket, attendees can win sports memorabilia, meet sneaker collectors, learn about the YMCA as the birthplace of Basketball, get information about shoe design as a career and watch a display of 3-D Shoemaker. Proceeds from the four-day event benefit the YMCA Strong Kids Program.

The Boll Family YMCA is located at 1401 Broadway in Detroit, Next to the Broadway People Mover station and just two blocks from FORD FIELD. For further information call 313-223-2751

February 1, 2009

Pistons to Support YMCA Strong Kids with Discounted Tickets...

YMCA family and friends can enjoy a fun afternoon of Detroit Pistons basketball on Sunday, March 15, and support the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. For $20, members enjoy $40 seats for the matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. What’s more, the Pistons will donate half of all YMCA ticket sales to support the Strong Kids Campaign, the Y’s annual scholarship campaign scholarship program.

Purchase tickets at your branch today or go to www.nba.com/pistons/ymca/ to access the YMCA’s promo page on the Pistons’ Web site. The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign raises much needed financial support for children, teens and families who are unable to afford the full cost of participation in a YMCA program or activity. This year’s community effort kicks off March 1, 2009.

"As donors we all wonder how our individual gift could ever have an impact when the needs of our community seem so great," said Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. "The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign helps one person at a time, one family at a time, or one program at a time." That may mean providing the funds to:

Help a child attend day camp for the first time
Help a struggling teen find employment
Enable a child to participate in a recreation or fitness activity
Enable a struggling family to use a child care facility
Gain the confidence and skills to avoid addiction, violence, and isolation
Each YMCA association offers unique programs to serve the needs of their community; each community has children, teens, and families that need your help.

Invest in a child today purchasing tickets to attend the March 15 game at the Palace or simply donate now. Each year more than 3,000 donors raise some $1.5 million to support more than 4,000 families and children in Metro Detroit through the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign: Are you in?

February 1, 2009

YMCA to Run Hoops Clinics led by Detroit Shock's Cheryl Ford...

The YMCA is inviting members ages 7-14 to participate in one of three mini basketball clinics with Coach Donease Smith from the Detroit Pistons and Shock Year Round Hoops Program and Detroit Shock Forward Cheryl Ford. Pre-registration is required.

Schedule of Detroit Shock Clinics at the YMCA

Place: Boll Family YMCA
Time: 6-7:30 PM
Date: Friday, February 6
Register: Contact Mike Geiger, mgeiger@ymcametrodetroit.org

Place: Downriver Family YMCA
Time: 4:30-6 PM
Date: Saturday, February 7
Register: Contact Kyle Caruso, kcaruso@ymcametrodetroit.org

Place: Carls Family YMCA
Time: 6:30-8 PM
Date: Monday, February 9
Register: Contact Jen Wilbur, jwilbur@ymcametrotdetroit.org

January 23, 2009

YArts Features Local Playwright to Celebrate Black History Month...

There is no better way to celebrate Black History Month than with a musical history of the African American people from before the beginning of time through Obama. Native Detroiter Rod Gailes OBC and the Y ARTS department of the metro Detroit YMCA will present "COLORS: Dream of the MASTA" weekends during Black History Month, February 12- March 1, 2009 at the Boll Theatre. "Colors" is a live musical theater experience in the spirit of "Hair" and "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk". It uses pop, rock, gospel, spoken word, dance, and contemporary art song to explore America's journey, and conforms to this year’s Black History theme: "The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas".

Written and Directed by filmmaker Rod Gailes OBC, in collaboration with U of M alum and Operatic Baritone, Darnell Ishmel, this one of a kind show is performed by 20 Detroit singers, dancers and musicians. Included in this talented group of professionals are the Ishmel Sisters, three children who are rapidly becoming one of the most remarkable and sought after youth talents of our time. Jarinn'e is eleven years old, Ja'shanna is nine, and Ja'nel is eight. Having only begun singing in April 2007, The Ishmel Sisters with their uncle Darnell, reflect the best of the American performance tradition. Their glorious voices make this show an unforgettable experience.

University of Michigan Professor Emeritus George I. Shirley has called COLORS a "compelling amalgam of music, dance, and the spoken word pierces like a laser into the consciousness of the spectator, making an indelible imprint impossible to ignore".

An emerging figure on the NY film scene, Rod Gailes OBC is a University of Michigan graduate and alumnus of the prestigious NYU graduate film program. There he studied under filmmakers, Raoul Peck and Spike Lee before directing the award winning classic, "Twin Cousins." A Regional Student Academy Award Finalist, winner of the HBO Short Film Competition, and best short film in New York’s Urbanworld Film Festival, the film went on to further acclaim, winning the Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival and staging its European premiere at the Kodak Emerging Filmmaker Showcase in Cannes. Broadcast as part of Season of "BET J's the Best Shorts", fellow NYU alum, Spike Lee, calls the film, "A beautifully photographed, masterfully directed portrait of childhood."

"Colors" special engagement runs from February 13th through March 1st, with Friday and Saturday evening performances at 8PM. There are special family matinee performances on Saturdays at 2PM and Sundays, at 4:00PM. Tickets are $20.00 with Group rates available. Tickets are available online through Brown Paper Tickets at www.BrownPaperTickets.com or by phone at 800.838.3006. For reservations email colorsdreamofthemasta@gmail.com or call Y Arts at 313-223-2751.

The Marlene Boll Theater is located at 1401 Broadway - Detroit, MI between Grand River and John R. inside the Downtown Boll Family YMCA We are directly adjacent to the Detroit People Mover Broadway Station. Proceeds to benefit Y-ARTS and The C.H.A.N.G.E. Foundation.

December 10, 2008

1-800-GOT-JUNK? Franchise Delivers a Truckload of Toys to Detroit YMCA...

(Detroit, MI) The Holidays are truly the season of giving and two local entrepreneurs are making it a special time for hundreds of Detroit area children.

Deb and Tim Jones, owners of a Detroit 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise have been rescuing all the "gently-loved" unwanted toys from their cleanout jobs since March. The dolls have been washed, combed and re-clothed, and all batteries have been replaced. Deb Jones now has a basement full of around a thousand toys ready to donate and it’s time to make some lucky kids happy.

Jones offered the truckload of toys to the Detroit YMCA which happily accepted. The brother and sister team are delivering all the toys on December 10th between 10am and 11am to the Boll Family YMCA.

"The YMCA is grateful to 1-800-GOT-JUNK? for providing these wonderful toys," said Lori-Ann Bright, Child Development Center Director of the YMCA. "We will be distributing them to the local YMCA Child Development Centers and to members in the surrounding community. Toys play such an important role in a child’s life inspiring a desire to discover, explore and gain a love of learning."

The Detroit 1-800-GOT-JUNK? owners were challenged to think of a ‘Big Idea’ for their community by the Founder and CEO Brian Scudamore. Deb and Tim knew right away what they wanted to do.

"It had to be something meaningful that would make an impact in our community. Helping out children and families is fundamental to me," said Deb Jones, "our business success is due in part to our family’s involvement…Tim and I own the business, my four sisters, two nephews and two brothers-in-law all participate in our organization."

About 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
1-800-GOT-JUNK? is pioneering an industry that is helping people remove junk, de-clutter, and live cleaner, better lives. Whether it’s an old sofa or a pile of junk in the garage, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? removes it for you. Founded in 1989, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? operates in all major metros across North America.

December 1, 2008

YMCA Leaders Convene for First Annual Board Summit, Michigan Professor to Discuss "Pursuing Mission & Sustainability in Chaotic Times"...

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit leadership—staff and volunteers—will convene Dec.18 at the John and Marlene Boll Family YMCA for the First Annual Board Summit: "Pursuing Mission & Sustainability in Chaotic Times." Andy Lawlor, renowned professor of business at the University of Michigan is the featured presenter.

"In times such as these, the creative, innovative, hardworking and fearless can recreate their businesses and organizations and take them to the next level," said Lawlor. "It takes judgment. It takes creativity. But most of all it takes a strategy and will to move forward."

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is the region’s oldest not-for-profit, with more than 150 years of service to the area. The organization boasts of more than a thousand volunteers, 160 of whom serve on local boards of directors and the Metropolitan YMCA Board.

"We are fortunate to have a presenter of such experience and creativity as Andy Lawlor," says Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA. "He not only knows the not-for-profit world, but the Detroit region as well. As a business owner himself, Andy brings a practical approach, but I am most impressed by his creative mind.

"I know our YMCA volunteers will leave with a new appreciation for what we all can do to help southeast Michigan kids and families not only survive, but ultimately thrive with the help the YMCA," Thebault said.

Lawlor knows the YMCA well. In 2004, the University of Michigan selected the YMCA of Metro Detroit for an in depth analytical project building a marketing and launch strategy for the John & Marlene Boll YMCA. Two years later, the YMCA was once again selected for a University project to examine the YMCA’s role and position in Livingston County, one of Michigan’s fastest growing communities.

"These projects really demonstrated to me the YMCA’s mission and longevity in the community," Lawlor said. "There is a reason the YMCA has been around for 150 years through depression and world wars. In tough times, the YMCA has always stepped up to meet those challenges.

"People remember that and appreciate that. Five or ten years from now, the YMCA in greater Detroit can be more significant and relevant than ever before—and volunteers will be the key to that effort."

Two of Lawlor’s graduates have since joined the YMCA as volunteer leaders at two YMCA branches. Following Professor Lawlor’s remarks and question and answer session, YMCA volunteers and staff will adjourn for a series of group strategy sessions focusing on setting new possible directions, creative ideas and strategic initiatives to focus on helping community children and families this coming year.

November 28, 2008

Detroit Shock Basketball Stars to Visit the Boll YMCA on Dec. 6th to Support Boll YMCA's BBall Tournament...

WNBA champions Plenette Pierson and Cheryl Ford, along with Shock assistant coach Cheryl Reeve will visit the Boll Family YMCA to support the BBall at the Boll basketball tournament from 4-5pm on Dec. 6. Admission is free.

To learn more about the Boll YMCA's basketball tournament, visit the Boll YMCA homepage. For more information about the Shock and bios on the visiting players, please visit www.wnba.com/shock.

November 5, 2008

"Songs Of Praise & Promise:" YMCA Deep River Choir's New CD Features Original Songs by Rev. Robert Jones, Matt Watroba...

CD Release Party 7 p.m., Nov. 21 at the Boll Family YMCA, Proceeds Benefit YArts

The YMCA Deep River Choir will release its first CD this month, a year after the eclectic community-based choir was organized by YArts under the direction of Bobbi Thompson. A release party is slated for 7 p.m., Nov. 21 at the Boll Family YMCA on Broadway.

The CD, "Songs of Praise & Promise," features original works by acclaimed roots music performers and educators Matt Watroba and the Rev. Robert Jones. Also included is "Shine Right Through the Dark," a song written and recorded by Watroba in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.

"For more than 300 years, Detroit and its river have been a destination for people of every nationality searching for freedom and opportunity," said Gillian Eaton, vice president of YArts, a program extension of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit at the Boll Family YMCA. "Just as the Detroit River symbolizes the common hopes of these seekers, the YMCA Deep River Choir celebrates the common spirit that continues to inspire and unify our diverse and storied community."

All proceeds of "Songs of Praise & Promise" will benefit YArts to help underwrite the YMCA Deep River Choir and other community programming and outreach activities. For more information about the CD's release, or to find out how to purchase the CD, please contact YArts.

November 3, 2008

YMCA Night with the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 28! A Block of Pistons Tickets has been Reserved for YMCA Members, Friends & Family!...

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and the Detroit Pistons have partnered to provide members with special discounted ticket prices for the basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, November 28 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

YMCA Members
Receive
Discounted Tickets!

learn more...

Tickets are discounted to $20 (reg. $35) for all YMCA youth members, and YMCA Night includes a Youth Clinic that will be held from 2:15-4:00pm prior to the Pistons game (kids will be off from school that day). Family and Friends may purchase additional tickets for $25 (reg. $35).

For more information, contact Hillary Bultema by phone at 248.375.4096 or email HBultema@PalaceNet.com.

The deadline to order your tickets is Monday, November 10th.

October 29, 2008

YArts Presents "Through The Eyes Of A Black Man," An Installation By An Emerging Young Talent...

College for Creative Studies senior and YArts instructor Mario Moore paints what he knows. YArts invites the community to consider the young artist’s point of view at 6 p.m., Nov. 21 at the Boll Family YMCA on Broadway Avenue.

"I want to also tell stories of hardship and triumph—how a little boy from a run down home in Detroit can grow and become anything he can possibly imagine," Moore said. "I want to open eyes and tell the stories of young black men, the here and now."

Moore’s work is representational, employing elements of his life and experiences to illustrate young, urban America.

"Young African American men are one of the most ostracized groups in society," Moore said. "In a sense it is something that has been created since slavery, but the issues that young black men have can be resolved within our own culture. Black men and women can help the development of black life without the help of outside intervention."

YArts will exhibit Moore’s work at the Lobby Gallery of Boll Family YMCA from Nov. 21-Dec. 31.

October 24, 2008

New Executive Director Joins Livonia Family YMCA...

Laura Perlowski has joined the Livonia Family YMCA as executive director. Perlowski comes to the Livonia Family YMCA from the North Oakland Family YMCA where she served as associate executive director. She succeeds Tony Pecoraro, who is the new executive director for the Birmingham Family YMCA.

During her 25-year YMCA career, Perlowski has served in program roles relating to aquatics, sports, fitness, gymnastics, day and resident camp. Her first job at age 13 was as a lifeguard at a YMCA. Perlowski also has experience in marketing, fundraising and special events. She has worked in Chicago and Detroit, as well as rural Decatur, Illinois and as executive director of the Lakeshore Family YMCA.

"The Livonia Family YMCA enjoys a great base of community support that stretches across various demographics, from the youth sports, day camp and swim programs to emerging demand in personal training," Perlowski said. "Livonia has been my home for many years now.

"I am thrilled to be working with our members and members of the community at large enhance family life and health—building strong kids, strong families and strong communities."

Perlowski holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from Illinois State University. She lives in Livonia with her husband Richard and children, Therese and Eric.

October 15, 2008

New Executive Director Joins Birmingham Family YMCA

Tony Pecoraro has joined the Birmingham Family YMCA as executive director. He succeeds Parrish Underwood, who has been promoted to vice president of Vice President of Development for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.

Pecoraro comes to the Birmingham Family YMCA from the Livonia Family YMCA where he also served as executive director. Pecoraro joined the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit Association in 2007. Prior to the YMCA, he managed multiple health club facilities throughout Oakland County. He most recently served for nine years as general manager of CMI Health & Swim Club, Inc.

"This is a bit of a homecoming for me," said Pecoraro, an 18-year Beverly Hills resident and parent of two Seaholm High School students. "This community is very dear to me. I look forward to continuing the proud programming traditions at the Birmingham Family YMCA—swim team, day camp, youth sports, among others—and working with members to realize new opportunities to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities."

Pecoraro holds a bachelor’s of science degree in exercise physiology and education from Eastern Michigan University. He and his wife Anna are the parents of two sons, Anthony and Joseph.

September 29, 2008

YMCA of Metro Detroit Executive Director Latitia McCree testifies before House Tax Policy Committee to support bill

For the United Way of Southeastern Michigan and partners like the YMCA of Metro Detroit, Michigan House Bill 6026 is the little box that could.

House Bill 6026 seeks to include a check-off box on State of Michigan income tax forms for United Way designations. United Way is advocating for the bill's passage because it will allow taxpayers to conveniently donate to the United Way.

YMCA of Metro Detroit Executive Director Latitia McCree testified before the House Tax Policy Committee Sept. 24 in support of the bill. The YMCA of Metro Detroit is among many partner United Way agencies.

"Not-for-profits, such as the United Way and the numerous agencies United Way supports, exist to help reduce the burden of government by mobilizing communities to improve living conditions," said McCree, who oversees education & outreach programs for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. "Adding a contribution section earmarked for United Way will significantly increase United Way’s visibility, hopefully resulting in more contributions by the residents of this great state.

"It will give those who do not have access to employer driven campaigns an opportunity to give—to support improving the lives of Michigan families," McCree said.

The United Way of Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) helps support YMCA programs including the Metro Youth Collaborative Countdown to Success and YMCA Camp Phoenix, a multi-disciplinary summer school for at-risk students Pre-K through 12th grade. This summer alone, the more than 450 students who attended YMCA Camp Phoenix showed an average of 80 percent increase in performance.

"I have witnessed lives changing first-hand at the YMCA with UWSEM support," McCree said. "It is truly rewarding to know that providing quality, affordable and educational childcare we help families maintain employment. What joy to help families see their children graduate from high school and attend college–because we help them prepare."

September 8, 2008

Detroit Through The Eyes Of Teens – A Photo Exhibit Called "Focus Hope" is Hosted by the YMCA…

Dramatic snapshots of Metro Detroit people and places taken by high school students are collected in a photography exhibit hosted by the YMCA. "Focus on the Mission," an award-winning project of Focus: Hope, opens on Friday, September 12 in the lobby of the Boll Family YMCA, 1401 Broadway, Detroit. The exhibit is presented by Y-Arts, the Arts & Humanities Branch of Metropolitan Detroit YMCA, and is open to the public through October.

Over 50 black and white photographs taken by tri-county teens capture the area’s historic and cultural sites including Henry Ford Estate, Mexican Town, Fisher Mansion and Heidelberg Street Project. Students taking part in the Focus: Hope Community Arts Program become familiar with metropolitan Detroit cultural attractions and learn about basic camera techniques from professional photographers. The program is in its twelfth year and has received the Great Lakes Community Arts Award. "Focus on the Mission" is made possible with a grant from the Skillman Foundation and the support of the Ford Motor Company Community Service Program.

Y-Arts collaborates with area organizations and artists to present exhibitions in the lobby of the Boll Family YMCA. For further information on the photography exhibit and other arts-based programs provided by Y-Arts call 313-223-2751, or visit the website at www.y-artsdetroit.org.

August 14, 2008

Skillman Foundation Funds YMCA Youth Programs in Osborn, Northend

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is receiving $100,000 from the Skillman Foundation to provide comprehensive, year round youth development programs for youth, particularly boys ages 11-18 who live in the Osborn and Northend communities.

"We couldn’t be more pleased and thankful for the Skillman Foundation’s support," said YMCA President & CEO Reid Thebault. "We are confident that the Skillman Foundation’s investment in YMCA programming for inner-city youth will yield great results for program participants, their families, and the community."

YMCA programming will begin this fall at Youthville in Northend, and the Matrix Human Services Center in Osborn. Initial YMCA program offerings will include Y-MOVES (Young Men of Vision and Excellent Service), a character development program for boys 11-13 years old, and Future Professions Academy, a college and career preparation program for boys and girls in grades 8-11.

Initial registration for Future Professions Academy will be held on Saturday, August 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Youthville, 7375 Woodward Avenue, Suite 2600.

"Parents in Northend and Osborn have requested programs for their children that support academic excellence, explore career development, provide employment opportunities, teach the proper and effective use of technology, and teach positive, creative self-expression through exposure to the arts," said Latitia McCree, executive director of the YMCA Metro Youth Collaborative.

"Thanks to the Skillman Foundation, children will participate in fun, worthwhile activities in their own neighborhoods, and they will have positive, responsible YMCA role models to care for them and about them."

Funding for YMCA programming in Northend and Osborn is provided as part of the Skillman Foundation’s Good Neighborhoods program. Created in 1960, the Skillman Foundation is a private philanthropy whose mission is to improve schools and neighborhoods for Detroit children.

August 13, 2008

Fall Program Registration is Now Open! The Fall Session of Classes Begins in September...

Get active this Fall and enjoy the start of the school year with a variety of programs available for all ages. To learn more about the Fall Session, you may view Programs on our website or ask at the front desk of your local YMCA. You can register directly on the website by clicking the register now links.

August 3, 2008

Project (Stuff A) Backback: Metro Detroit YMCA Launches Campaign to Help Shoulder Back-to-School Load

Average family will spend some $98 in school supplies alone, more than $590 in total

The YMCA of Metro Detroit today announced "Project (stuff a) Backpack," a month-long event to collect backpacks and school supplies for low-income families with school-age children. Back-to-school shopping expenses will run the average family $590 this year, according to the National Retail Association.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit primarily serves Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Livingston counties, where families with school-age children living in poverty represent 23 percent, 9 percent, 9 percent and 5 percent of the population respectively, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Statewide, 15 percent of families with school-age children live in poverty.

"Financial demands surrounding school-age children—clothing, child care, school supplies, among others—place additional hardships on families struggling to manage scarce resources," said Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.

"The gift of a backpack, school supplies or accessories will help equip students for success and relieve some of the financial stress parents are shouldering," Thebault said. "This small contribution can be a significant one." The 2007 YMCA Project (stuff a) Backpack campaign collected enough supplies to assist more than 1,000 area families. YMCA branches provide the donated supplies to local service agencies and schools for distribution.

The YMCA is offering consumers financial incentives to participate in Project (stuff a) Backpack, including significant savings on joining fees for new members. Project (stuff a) Backpack concludes Aug. 31.

July 31, 2008

Camp Songs, Friendship Bracelets and Crash Test Dummies?

YMCA Camp Phoenix is a no cell phone, leave your MP3 player and Gameboy at home kind of place. On Thursday, YMCA day campers will experience why the same rules should apply in the car when Takata brings its Safe Driver Program to Camp Phoenix.

"Just as text messaging and phone calls distract kids from learning and building skills, they distract drivers from being safe," said Amy Klinkenberger, a product engineer for Takata. "These devices are particularly concerning for new drivers as they’ve yet to develop solid, practical skills behind the wheel."

Takata’s Safe Driver Program shouldn’t be confused with traditional Driver’s Education. Instead of orange pylons and dry lectures on parallel parking techniques, the automotive safety restraint system supplier employs a driving simulator that is part Nintendo Wii and part game show ("Are You Smarter Than a Test Crash Dummy?").

The modules are designed for teens ages 14-18 and cover different driving scenarios, defensive driving, distractions and loud music, proper speed control, reaction to emergency situations and other related topics.

Located at Will Rogers Elementary School in Pontiac, YMCA Camp Phoenix is a six-week, multi-disciplinary summer education program for kids in grades K-12. Some 50 Camp Phoenix students ages 14-17 will participate in the Takata Safe Driver Program.

July 29, 2008

YARTS at the Boll Family YMCA on Friday, Aug. 1 will host a Poetry Slam featuring two brilliant local artists en route to the National Poetry Slam in Madison, Wisconsin. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the downtown Y.

Among the featured artists are Detroit’s own David Blair and Airea Matthews. Blair, in addition to being an accomplished poet, is an acoustic musician and song writer. Blair has been lending his exceptional talents to YARTS this summer at the Boll Family YMCA, where he works with teens to express themselves creatively through words and performance.

Matthews is a performance poet who placed on the Detroit National Team Poetry Slam team in 2004. Her work blends her deep love of 16th Century verse with the stories of today’s streets, delivered with a style by turns ferocious and aching. Off the mic, she’s the proud mom of three sons, and wife of Detroit developer Emery Matthews.

For more information, visit the YARTS Web site. www.y-artsdetroit.org

July 3, 2008

New YMCA Detroit Web Site Features Easy Navigation, Greater Program Information, Improved Online Registration

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit has not added hundreds of new classes to its bounty of youth, adult and family programs, but it may appear so when members visit the new YMCA Web site.

Launched in July, the new Web site includes detailed descriptions of the YMCA’s key programming areas—health & fitness, aquatics, sports, martial arts, personal training, camp, child care, arts & humanities and the Metro Youth Collaborative.

Members can learn more about the general topic areas, further refining the search until choosing between time, date and place of the desired class. An improved online registration system can complete the member’s request, providing the ultimate 24/7 shopping convenience.

The new site also includes an option for members to create a user profile to note branch, program and communication preferences. Members will also note improved, relevant resource content including a Q&A with the YMCA Personal Training Team.

"The overarching goal of the new Web site is to make it easier for members to connect with the benefits of membership—namely the hundreds of programs, services and events available," said Lori Z. Bahnmueller, senior vice president of marketing for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.

"The days of the bulky, multi-page program guide are fading," Bahnmueller said. "To realize the benefits of membership, our members need to have convenience at the stroke of a key, around the clock. The new Web site and refined registration system are intended to greatly improve member service in program search and acquisition."

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit will be closely monitoring the site and making necessary revision to continually improve the member experience.

July 3, 2008

Y-Arts Awarded Knight Foundation Grant To Build Creative Potential And Confidence In Young Urban Teens

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit will receive $34,000 from the Knight Foundation to support the Y-Arts Young Creatives Camp, the YMCA learned today.

Y-Arts, the arts and humanities arm of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, is partnering with the YMCA’s Metro Youth Collaborative (MYC) and the Macomb County Abstinence Partnership. (MCAP) to deliver the program. The new camp, an innovative approach to building creative potential and confidence in urban teens, is currently underway at the Boll Family YMCA.

The Young Creatives Camp includes 30 students from Don Bosco Hall and another 30 students from Gear Up, an Oakland University program. The students will alternate in groups during the seven-week camp between the Y-Arts program at the Boll Family YMCA and Matrix Human Services with the Young Community Investors.

The Y-Arts element of the program includes:

A taste of multiple art forms, including: painting, pottery, poetry, music, theatre, choir, dance, video and photography.
A general idea of the career potential of each art form. This could be a discussion lead by the artist informally AND/OR a written guide created at the end of the summer.
Physical activity to balance their day. This will include yoga, rock climbing, running and basketball.
Mentorship with professional artists.
Time to discover and develop new outlets for creative expression.

"It is the mission of the Y-Arts team to open up a world of creative futures for our young people in Detroit," said Gillian Eaton, vice president of the Y-Arts.

July 2, 2008

YMCA Awarded More Than $600,000 In United Way Funds
Grant to further enrich YMCA programs that support literacy, financial literacy and child care

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan recently announced that it will award the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit $595,000 to support three key program areas—child care, literacy and financial literacy. An additional $38,000 is anticipated from United Way donors who direct their contributions to the YMCA.

"We are grateful to the United Way and their donors for the continued confidence in the YMCA to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities," said Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.

"Thanks to the United Way support, the YMCA will further enrich child care programs and make them more accessible," Thebault said. "At-risk children enrolled in existing YMCA outreach programs will continue to benefit from literacy and financial literacy components embedded in these important activities."

Resident camp, day camp, pre-school and school aged child care programs as well as others will be fortified with curriculum specifically designed to build pre-literacy and literacy skills, and help kids learn about money management. Kids will learn concepts and build skills by participating in games, skits, individual and group projects and other engaging, non-academic activities.

Parents and family members will benefit from United Way funding through a variety of programs and activities that improve teens' and adults' financial literacy.

These funding decisions are part of the United Way's Agenda for Change, which focuses the community's resources on the challenges of Educational Preparedness, Financial Stability and Basic Needs. (For more info on these initiatives, visit www.uwsem.org/agendaforchange.)

The United Way has been a significant YMCA partner organization. Notably, United Way support has helped support the Metro Youth Collaborative, a YMCA outreach initiative designed to help students successfully complete their K-12 education and attain post secondary education and training that lead to their becoming productive adults. United Way’s partnership with this program has greatly enabled the YMCA to minimize the financial barriers that often exclude students with the greatest need from participating in YMCA educational programs.

The YMCA had sought an additional $567,000 from the United Way to fund other Metro Youth Collaborative programs. This level of support would have been comparable to the funding cycle 2004-07.

The YMCA is now diligently seeking new contributors to fill the growing demand for our educational services provided through the Metro Youth Collaborative. Among the programs currently requiring additional contributions support include:

Camp Phoenix: An inner city summer program with a proven track record for improving the reading, science and social skills of underprivileged students. The demand for this service over the last 10 years has far exceeded capacity.
The Future Professions Academy & Countdown to Success: These programs give students the tools necessary to help them matriculate through school and obtain resources for higher education.
The Teen Community Investors & Young Community Investors: These programs help prepare students to become self-sufficient adults by providing them with real world experiences.

"It is imperative that the YMCA not only find additional partners to fill the void left by reduced United Way funding, but address the increasing demand for our services by those who can least afford it," Thebault said.

July 1, 2008

Mulally Chairs 2008 YMCA Legacy Golf Classic, $300,000 Raised to Build Strong Kids, Families and Communities

Oakland Hills Country Club this summer proved the place where dreams were made possible for thousands of metro Detroit area kids, families and individuals.

On Monday, June 23, the historic Oakland Hills Country Club played host to the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit Legacy Golf Classic. Chaired CEO Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer for Ford Motor Company, the event raised $300,000 to support the YMCA kids and families through the YMCA Foundation.

"The YMCA is very grateful to Alan Mulally for his leadership of this year’s Legacy Golf Classic, our signature corporate fundraising event," said Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA. "Alan’s support has been instrumental in helping secure the generous support of the Michigan business community to help fund vital YMCA programs that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities."

Ford Motor Company and Ford Credit, together with Chrysler/Chrysler Financial, General Motors/GMAC, and Lexus are the presenting sponsors of the YMCA Legacy Golf Classic.

The YMCA Endowment, with the YMCA annual Strong Kids Campaign, provides financial assistance to one in four families who turn to the YMCA for Summer Day Camp and Residence Camp, Youth Sports and Aquatics, Child Care and Health & Fitness programs. This summer more than 1,000 kids in southeast Michigan will have access to Summer Day Camp and Overnight Camp because of the YMCA Endowment Fund and Strong Kids Campaign donations.

June 9, 2008

Matthew Cullen Elected to Chairman of YMCA of Metro Detroit - the City's Oldest Not-for-Profit

Rock Enterprises President and Chief Operating Officer Matthew P. Cullen, 52, has been elected chairman of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. Cullen succeeds Bill Baer, president and chief executive officer of The Crown Group.

"I am proud of the work the YMCA does throughout the Metro Detroit region- building strong kids, strong families and strong communities," Cullen said. "The YMCA has been a vital part of our great city for more than 150 years. I am honored to serve with an organization with such a rich history and a most promising future."

"Matt is one of Detroit's most passionate and talented leaders," said Baer, YMCA immediate past chairman. "He will build upon the great foundation here and help take this YMCA to even greater heights."

"Matt's commitment to Detroit and the region mirrors the mission of the YMCA -- bringing people together, building bridges and fostering the most healthy and positive environment for our families and communities," said Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA.

Cullen earned a degree in economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Detroit. He has also completed the Senior Executive Program at Harvard University. Cullen resides with his wife Karen and their three sons in Metro Detroit.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit serves more than 300,000 people across Southeast Michigan through its programs and activities. The YMCA's mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The YMCA believes in providing membership and program services to all those who desire to participate in the YMCA regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, call the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit at (313) 267-5300 or online at ymcadetroit.org .

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