YMCA (Metro Detroit Association and YMCA USA) News Archive

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January 19, 2011

Get Healthier This Year as a Family...

New Year's Resolutions are a wonderful way 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 2011 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.

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December 3, 2010

JCPenney Stores Supporting YMCAs through Your Holiday Shopping...

As your family does its holiday shopping, a good place to start is JCPenney.

Between December 1 and 14 , 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 (SACC) 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 $81,000 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.

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November 20, 2010

Girls On the Run 5K Event--Girls from all over Plymouth and Canton happily “on the run” Saturday at Northville's Maybury State Park...

gotrdetroit.org Empowering Girls

On Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 10 a.m., 250 girls will participate in the New Balance Girls on the Run of Greater Detroit 5K at Maybury State Park in Northville, Mich. and cross the finish line with a new sense of self-confidence and empowerment.

The non-competitive and untimed 5K run will mark the completion of a 12-week program called “Girls on the Run of Greater Detroit,” an affiliate program of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and Girls on the Run International. The program promotes physical, emotional, social and intellectual development designed to help 3rd through 8th grade girls think outside the “girl-box.”

From a young age, girls are constantly faced with images of what a “perfect” woman looks like and how she acts – trappings of the “girl-box.” These images often leave girls confused about many issues that can negatively affect their mental and physical health and lead to at-risk behaviors as they grow into women. This is where the Girls on the Run International program steps in.

Girls on the Run International combats these toxic messages with exercise and mentoring relationships to educate and empower girls at an early age to prevent the display of at-risk activities in the future. The program is proven to help young girls gain a stronger sense of identity, self-confidence, a healthy body image and learn how to be a team player.

“Watching the girls grow and learn throughout the program is the most rewarding aspect of this job,” said Ashleigh Shiffler, council director for Girls on the Run of Greater Detroit. “The girls leave with a visible sense of self-confidence and the proof that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to in the future.”

During the 2009-2010 school year, 800 girls in the metro Detroit area completed the 12-week Girls on the Run International program through the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. Along with age appropriate lessons on health, body image, peer pressure and more, the girls train to run in a non-competitive 5K race to mark the end of their journey.

“I had never run more than a few laps in gym class,” said Susie Sigma, a Fall 2009 participant. “When I finished the race at the end of the program, it was the best feeling ever. Now I know I have the strength to achieve anything I want with a positive and healthy attitude,” she added.

Girls on the Run International is the only positive youth development program for girls with evidence-based results. Unlike traditional athletic programs, Girls on the Run International combines physical activity with self improvement philosophies to mold healthy attitudes about exercise, body image and eating.

Registration for the Spring 2011 season will begin on Thursday, January 27, 2011. The spring season runs from March 14 – May 27, 2011 and will end with a non-competitive 5K run on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit expects to enroll 1,000 girls for the 2010-2011 school year. To register for the program, or to learn more information, please visit www.gotrdetroit.org.

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November 2, 2010

Play Hockey! The YMCA Has Teamed up with the Detroit Red Wings Foundation to Provide Iceless Hockey for Kids...

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and Detroit Red Wings Foundation have teamed up to offer the kids of Hockeytown a new iceless (floor) hockey program that instills the values of fair play and teamwork while developing the fundamental skills of hockey.

Y Iceless Hockey leagues are now forming at the Farmington Family YMCA, the Carls Family YMCA in Milford, the North Oakland Family YMCA in Auburn Hills and the Macomb Family YMCA in Mount Clemens. Skill development, team practices and games will focus on the YMCA’s four core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty - preparing players for success on and off the “ice.”

“We are very grateful of the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and the generous grant they provided to make this program possible,” said Josh Landefeld, Regional Director of Youth Sports at YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. “The Y knows kids in the metro Detroit area have a strong interest in hockey and we are happy to provide a fun and positive opportunity for young players to explore the sport,” he added.

Each branch will be home to eight teams; four teams for players ages 6-7 and four teams for players ages 8-9. Each team will have one practice and one game each week. The Detroit Red Wings Foundation donated all necessary equipment through a community grant to make this program possible.

The cost of the program is $40 for YMCA members and $55 for community members and includes all required equipment. Thanks to the support of the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, scholarships are available for those in need. The deadline to register is November 22, 2010. The program runs from November 29, 2010 – January 29, 2011.

Parents can register their children online at www.ymcadetroit.org or in-person at a participating YMCA branch. For more information, please call 248-553-4020.

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October 11, 2010

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. Check with your local YMCA for details.

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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.

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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.

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August 2, 2010

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

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.

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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...

 

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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 may 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 and serve approximately 1,000 students.

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...

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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."

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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!

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Limit screen time and use of electronic media to allow more time for play.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.