YMCA OF THE ROSES

HEALTHY LIVING: THE YMCA OF THE ROSES IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY WITH HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRIENDSHIP AND COMMUNITY, INCREASED SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF A HEALTHIER, FITTER BODY. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN BENEFIT FROM YMCA WELLNESS PROGRAMS REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME, BACKGROUND, OR ABILITY. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE PERSONAL AND GROUP FITNESS CLASSES, A COMPREHENSIVE AQUATICS PROGRAM, NUTRITIONAL CLASSES, AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY ACHIEVE A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.CONSIDERED OUR MOST WIDE-RANGING PROGRAM, WE OFFER AQUATICS TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AT ANY AGE. THROUGH PROGRESSIVE LESSONS, WATER EXERCISE & FITNESS, WATER SAFETY, LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION, A COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM, AND A MASTER'S SWIM PROGRAM, WE HELP DEVELOP THE WHOLE PERSON, PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY FROM INFANCY TO SENIOR ADULTHOOD. IN ADDITION TO INDOOR POOLS IN FOUR OF OUR FIVE BRANCHES, WE HAVE A SEPARATE STATE-OF-THE-ART AQUATIC FACILITY WITH BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR POOLS AND AN ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR POOL IN OUR LAMPETER-STRASBURG YMCA.DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE AND JULY, WE OFFERED FREE SWIM LESSONS AT OUR GRAHAM AQUATIC CENTER TO INNER-CITY YOUTH. WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH USE OF THE POOL DURING THE SUMMER PROGRAMMING AT A DISCOUNTED RATE. OUR COLLABORATION WITH YORK CITY PARKS AND RECREATION PROVIDES CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THEIR SUMMER PARKS PROGRAM WITH 500 FREE PASSES TO UTILIZE THE OUTDOOR POOL DURING THEIR SIX-WEEK SUMMER PARKS PROGRAM.OUR AQUATIC PROGRAM, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF OUR HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS, IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS; IT IS ABOUT BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS, DEVELOPING SELF-ESTEEM, AND CREATING POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. AS PART OF OUR DEDICATION TO BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY, OUR SOUTHERN BRANCH YMCA PROVIDED FREE SWIM LESSONS TO SECOND GRADERS AS A PART OF THE FISHES PROGRAM (FREE INSTRUCTIONAL SWIM HELPS EVERY SECOND-GRADER). THE PURPOSE OF FISHES IS TO BUILD LIFE-SAVING SWIMMING & WATER SAFETY SKILLS IN CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FURTHER ILLUSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.WE ALSO OFFER MANY PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS CHRONIC DISEASES. LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA ALLOWS CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS TO REGAIN THEIR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH OVER 12 WEEKS. WE OFFERED THIS TO NEARLY 100 PARTICIPANTS AT NO CHARGE. THE YMCA'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM, A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WITH PREDIABETES, EMPOWERS THEM WITH LASTING LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH AND REDUCE THEIR RISK OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES. ROCK STEADY BOXING HELPS INDIVIDUALS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF THEIR ILLNESS, FIND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, AND PREVENT FALLS OR INJURY. ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY EDUCATION SESSIONS PROVIDED CARE, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT TO THOSE AFFECTED BY ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA AND PARTNERED WITH THE YMCA TO OFFER FREE, ONE-HOUR EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS TO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.BECAUSE THE YMCA IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION, AND WE BELIEVE OUR SERVICES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, WE OFFER ""MEMBERSHIP FOR ALL,"" OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. FIRMLY ALIGNING WITH OUR MISSION, MEMBERSHIP FOR ALL IS AN INCOME-BASED PRICING STRATEGY THROUGH WHICH WE CAN PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEALTHIER SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY TO ALL, REGARDLESS OF INCOME. THE YMCA ALSO OFFERS A FREE TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP EXTENSION TO ANY MEMBER EXPERIENCING LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT AND FREE MEMBERSHIPS TO ELIGIBLE MILITARY FAMILIES AND PERSONNEL. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS TO HEALTHY LIVING FOR ALL KIDS & FAMILIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE PROMOTED HEALTHY LIVING BY SERVING OVER 54,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH MEMBERSHIPS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDED DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF $354,334.39.

CHILD CARE: THE YMCA OF THE ROSES OFFERS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS TO SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN THROUGH A FULL-DAY CHILDCARE PROGRAM, A FULL-DAY PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM, AND MULTIPLE DPW LICENSED SCHOOL-AGE CHILDCARE LOCATIONS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE ACHIEVED KEYSTONE STARS DESIGNATIONS. THE PRE-KINDERGARTEN COUNTS IS A FREE STATE-SPONSORED PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LANCASTER TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY PRE-KINDERGARTEN SERVICES AT NO COST TO FAMILIES. THE YMCA CHILD CARE SERVICES OFFER QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CARE FOR FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT OUR SERVICES. OUR ENRICHED CURRICULUM INCLUDES LANGUAGE ARTS, NUMBERS, SCIENCE, MUSIC, ARTS & HUMANITIES, GYMNASTICS, AND SWIMMING. A CARING AND NURTURING STAFF OFFERS ACTIVITIES IN A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. OUR 10-SITE SCHOOL-AGE CHILDCARE PROGRAM PROVIDES SAFE, SUPERVISED, ENRICHED PROGRAMMING IN 7 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. THESE SITES HELP MEET A COMMUNITY'S NEED FOR PRODUCTIVE, STRUCTURED AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. WE PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN CAN LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. TRAINED STAFF PROVIDES HOMEWORK SUPERVISION, CRAFTS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT ALL OUR SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE LOCATIONS. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES SUCH AS THE UNITED WAY OF YORK COUNTY, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY DUE TO AN INABILITY TO PAY. IN 2024, WE OFFERED CHILDCARE TO OVER 1,000 CHILDREN AND GAVE DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF $172,994.00.