TRANSFORMING
COMMUNITIES
One life at a time
Kishwaukee Family YMCA I 2014 Annual Report
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
HEALTHY LIVING
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
OUR CAUSE
In addition to the heart-pumping workouts you know us for, the Y offers heart-filled help as a local nonprofit committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
Every day, we're supporting thousands of kids, adults and families across our region with life-changing programs and services from A to Z: afterschool care, chronic disease prevention, early learning readiness, financial assistance and so much more.
Yet there is still more we can do. More than ever our community faces new challenges that create a greater need for the work we do. Fortunately, where some see obstacles, we see opportunities for our members, volunteers, staff, and generous donors like you to make a difference, to transform communities,
one life at a time.
Together, we can do so much more to transform our community by focusing on three philanthropic priorities:
Driving academic achievement & inspiring kids to reach their greatest potential
Tackling our communities greatest health challenges and improving quality of life
Ensuring access and inclusion so that everyone has a change to suceed and belong
Now, when you think of your YMCA you'll know we're more than just a gym…we're a cause. A cause that, with your generous support, will be able to reach more people in need through life-changing programs and services. Throughout this report you will be able to view the impacts we have had this past year and hear our members share how their lives were improved because of their involvement at the Y.
A YEAR IN REVIEW
All kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve, under the guidance
of caring adults who believe in
their potential.
Health and well-being are all about balance. That's why we help people and families build and maintain healthy habits for spirit, mind and body in their everyday lives.
With our doors open to all, we bring together people from all backgrounds, and support those who need us most. We take on the most urgent needs in our community and inspire a spirit of service in return.
We served 10,215 meals to 1,185 kids this past summer with support from the Wal-Mart Foundation and Volunatary Action Center (VAC).
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum is taught to our summer campers and afterschool participants throughout the year.
Our Summer Camp Reading Intervention continues to show sucess in improving and maintaining reading skills. 82% of children improved or maintained reading skills.
Silver Sneakers
Membership Growth.
We have seen the number of silver sneakers membership grow from 50 to 400 in 2014.
1,438
volunteers donated 18,487 hours of their time and talents to deliver YMCA programs and services to our community.
$469,097
Total amount of Financial Assistance scholarships and program subsidies our YMCA awarded in 2014 to low income families and local non-profits.
CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is the most proven program to prevent childhood obesity and launch kids and communities toward healthier lifestyles. We have implemented CATCH into all of our Youth Programs.
1,200
boxes of school supplies were distributed to low-income families in our community.
122 Free Swim Lessons
The YMCA provided 122 free swim lessons to children
in 2014.
TESTIMONIALS
Jackie Chalmers
“I joined the Y for the second time in August of 2013. I needed more exercise because in November of 2012 I had a life changing incident. I spent 5 weeks in rehab at Marion Joy Hospital and when the insurance ran out, I contacted Rob Wilkinson at the Y and asked how he could help me further my rehab.
He put me in contact with Janie and she invited me to come and join her water class, so I did. Since that time I have walked unaided 152 steps, I have taken my brace off and hid it someplace downstairs (I never want to see it again) I don’t use a wheel chair, I just use a walker and just last Friday with Janie’s instruction, I swam 2 full laps. That was certainly a first.
The people here are outstanding! The Y is my family. Janie, Dawn, John & Rosemary have gotten me this far and without them I know I wouldn’t. When you are down they are there to pull you up. There is a word you are not allowed to say at the Y, it’s “I can’t” .
As of now I have progressed 100%. When my incident happened I wouldn’t see anyone because I was embarrassed that this had happened to me but not at the Y. Everyone just gathered me into their arms and I am not threatened at all and being around other people who have health issues, I just felt at home.
The Y has given me something to look forward to. I use to believe that at my chapter, I don’t need to have goals, there was no future. But now there is the swimming. So my goal is to complete more and more laps each time with Janie’s help.
I love the Y because look where it has led me.”
THANK YOU
Thank you to all who supported our mission in 2014
The Kishwaukee Family YMCA is open 7 days a week:
Monday - Friday - 5am - 10pm
Saturday - 6am - 6pm
Sunday - 10am - 6pm
2014 BOARD MEMBERS
Heath Bell
Cindy Capek
Ron Cerutti*
Kathy Countryman*
Mike Cullen Jr.
Gary Evans*
Keith Foster**
Thom Gearhart
Sedgwick Harris
Mark Leach
Jim Lehan
Jane Lux
Craig Mathey
Doug Moeller
LaVonne Neal
Karen Pletsch
Danielle Schultz
Shawn Tilstra
Tom Vilet
Bryan Westerby*
*2014 Executive Committee
** 2014 Board President4