YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE VIRGINIA PENINSULAS

HEALTHY LIVING: THE YMCA OF THE VIRGINIA PENINSULAS APPROACHES HEALTH AS A UNIFIED BALANCE OF SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY, A HOLISTIC VISION THAT GUIDES EVERY PROGRAM WE DELIVER. AS RISING OBESITY RATES AND CHRONIC DISEASE CONTINUE TO THREATEN COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, THE Y PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE, EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS BUILD HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT LIVES. IN 2025, WE CREATED 338,505 OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES TO ENGAGE IN HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PREVENT DISEASE, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND PROMOTE LIFELONG WELL-BEING. PARTICIPANTS BENEFITED FROM GOAL-BASED HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SOCIAL CONNECTION, AND VALUES-DRIVEN SUPPORT THAT ENCOURAGES TEAMWORK, SELF-ESTEEM, AND PERSONAL GROWTH. OUR AQUATICS PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF OUR MOST POWERFUL TOOLS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY, REACHING 54,561 PEOPLE ACROSS THE REGION. INFANTS THROUGH SENIORS PARTICIPATED IN SWIM LESSONS, ARTHRITIS AQUATICS, AQUATIC EXERCISE, LIFEGUARD TRAINING, AND SAFETY PROGRAMS THAT BUILD CONFIDENCE AND REDUCE DROWNING RISKESPECIALLY CRITICAL IN A REGION DEFINED BY WATER. THESE PROGRAMS EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH BOTH LIFE-SAVING SKILLS AND LIFELONG HABITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. HEALTHY HABITS BEGIN EARLY, AND THE Y EQUIPS CHILDREN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES THAT WILL STAY WITH THEM FOR LIFE. THROUGH OUR HEPA CURRICULUM, TAUGHT IN ALL YMCA PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, CHILDREN LEARN THE FOUR ESSENTIAL PILLARS OF HEALTHY LIVING: EATING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, REDUCING SCREEN TIME, STAYING ACTIVE, AND ELIMINATING SUGARY DRINKS. THESE EARLY INTERVENTIONS ADDRESS THE ALARMING TREND THAT 13.2% OF VIRGINIA'S CHILDREN ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, HELPING PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASE BEFORE IT BEGINS. EVENTS LIKE HEALTHY KIDS DAY INSPIRE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO EMBRACE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES IN FUN, ENGAGING WAYS. FROM GAMES AND CHALLENGES TO HEALTHY SNACKS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, HEALTHY KIDS DAY DEMONSTRATES THAT MOVEMENT CAN BE EXCITINGAND THAT A HEALTHIER FUTURE IS WITHIN EVERY CHILD'S REACH. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS REFLECT THE Y'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. BY CREATING WELCOMING SPACES AND HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, THE YMCA OF THE VIRGINIA PENINSULAS CONTINUES TO BE A TRUSTED PARTNER IN BUILDING STRONGER, HEALTHIER LIVESONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE FAMILY, AND ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD ARE AT THE CORE OF THE YMCA'S MISSIONAND IN 2025, OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SERVED AS A LIFELINE FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, TEENS, AND WORKING FAMILIES ACROSS OUR REGION. OUR PROGRAMS ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER, AND LEADERSHIP WHILE CREATING SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SPACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN THRIVE. FAMILIES RELY ON THE Y AS A TRUSTED PARTNER IN EARLY LEARNING AND AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT. IN 2025, THERE WERE 32,751 AFTER-SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS SIXTEEN CHILDCARE SITES AND 7,615 PRESCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES AT FIVE PRESCHOOL LOCATIONS, ENSURING CHILDREN RECEIVED HIGH-QUALITY CARE, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, POSITIVE ROLE MODELS, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE THEIR PARENTS REMAINED GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. YEAR-ROUND FAMILY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FAMILY SWIM NIGHTS, SPORTS, PARENTING CLASSES, AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, STRENGTHENED BONDS AND SUPPORTED PARENTS AS ACTIVE PARTNERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S GROWTH. THESE EXPERIENCES HELPED FAMILIES BUILD COMMUNICATION SKILLS, DEEPEN THEIR CONNECTION, AND DEVELOP SHARED VALUES. OUR DAY AND TEEN CAMPS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCES OFFERED BY THE Y. IN 2025, THERE WERE 11,646 OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN CAMP PROGRAMS THAT FOSTERED INDEPENDENCE, RESPONSIBILITY, SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, AND RESPECT FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. CAMPS PROVIDED SAFE, MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVES FOR WORKING PARENTS AND HELPED YOUTH DEVELOP RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND TEAMWORK IN ENVIRONMENTS BUILT FOR GROWTH. TEEN PROGRAMMING REMAINED ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING AREAS OF THE YMCA, REFLECTING THE CRITICAL NEED FOR STRUCTURED, ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL HOURS. TEENS PARTICIPATED IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND DEVELOPMENT EVENTS THAT HELPED GUIDE THEIR CHOICES, STRENGTHEN THEIR IDENTITIES, AND BUILD HABITS THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL SUCCESS. IN SPORTS AND RECREATION, 3,676 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS THAT EMPHASIZED TEAMWORK, RESPECT, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND FAIR PLAY. EVERY CHILD PLAYS IN EVERY GAME, A VALUES-DRIVEN APPROACH THAT BUILDS CONFIDENCE, SELF-WORTH, AND LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. BY FOCUSING ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OVER COMPETITION, THE YMCA ENSURES THAT EVERY CHILD EXPERIENCES SUCCESS AND A SENSE OF BELONGING. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS FORM A CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT THAT GROWS WITH EACH CHILD, FROM EARLY LEARNING THROUGH ADOLESCENCEEMPOWERING YOUTH TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE, AND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM.