YMCA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL KIDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. THAT IS WHY WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS, AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH, AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.OUR YMCA PROGRAMS, SUCH AS 4 EARLY LEARNING ACADEMIES, YREADS!, SUMMER CAMP AND BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AS WELL AS A RANGE OF YOUTH SPORTS AND YOUTH ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND PHYSICAL GROWTH.EXPENSES INCLUDE SUBSIDIES AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT MAKE PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE ENGAGE.YMCA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. EARLY LEARNING ACADEMIES PROVIDE FULL-DAY CARE FROM 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM. WE PROVIDE SAFE, LOVING, AFFORDABLE CARE FOR OVER 750 CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS IN OUR CENTERS ANNUALLY. 37% OF THE FAMILIES ENROLLED IN EARLY LEARNING PARTICIPATE AT A SUBSIDIZED RATE THROUGH YMCA SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE OR THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION. THESE FAMILIES LIVE AT OR NEAR THE POVERTY LEVEL.YMCA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. PROVIDES BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT FOR YOUTH FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE AT 26 SITES. BEFORE-SCHOOL CARE BEGINS AT 7:00 AM, AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE ENDS AT 6:00 PM. FOR STUDENTS AT WHICH WE DO NOT OFFER THE PROGRAM AT THEIR SCHOOL, THE YOUTH ARE BUSSED TO THE YMCA DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN 2024, 2,993 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT. FULL-DAY CARE AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS ARE ALSO OFFERED TO YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION. THE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM 7:00 AM TO 6:00 PM. IN 2024, 3,684 CHILDREN ATTENDED SUMMER CAMP. DURING SUMMER CAMP, CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW THEM TO CONNECT AND GAIN POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND CHARACTER VALUES THAT BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR FUTURES. SUMMER CAMP ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP REDUCE THE SUMMER LEARNING SLIDE.DAILY ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE INCLUDE LEARNING CENTERS, HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND TUTORING, ARTS AND CRAFTS, GROUP GAMES, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVE MEALS WHILE IN YMCA CARE AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.IN 2024, YMCA OPERATED FIVE YREADS! AND ENRICHMENT SITES OFFERED THROUGH SCHOOL AGE CARE. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE EXTENSIVE READING TUTORING FROM TRAINED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN A ONE-ON-ONE SETTING FOR STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE. YMCA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PROGRAMS ALL RANK AT THE TOP IN THE STATE IN REGARD TO QUALIFICATION OF COORDINATORS, DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION, STUDENT ATTENDANCE HOURS, NUMBER OF MENTORS, AND SUPPORT SERVICES OFFERED BY YMCA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC.TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO YMCA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THE YMCA PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE OF OVER $540,350 TO NEEDY FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

HEALTHY LIVING: THE Y IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING AMERICA'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY. WE BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. AS A RESULT, OVER 4,099 PEOPLE VISIT OUR YMCA DAILY AND ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS OUR NATION STRUGGLES WITH CHRONIC DISEASE AND OBESITY, FAMILIES WRESTLE WITH WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND INDIVIDUALS SEARCH FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND OPEN TO ALL FAITHS, BACK-GROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS.THIS YEAR WE PROVIDED $391,180 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE. THESE PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM OVER 881 GROUP FITNESS CLASSES OFFERED WEEKLY. WELLNESS PROGRAMS ARE EXTREMELY USEFUL TO PARTICIPANTS RECOVERING FROM OTHER ILLNESSES AND INJURIES AS WELL. PROGRAMS SUCH AS LIVESTRONG, ENHANCED FITNESS, MOVING FOR BETTER BALANCE AND OUR PARKINSON'S WELLNESS PROGRAMS FURTHER BENEFIT COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND PERSONALIZED WELLNESS.ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS PROGRAMS. CLOSE TO 8,240 SPORTS CLINICS, TEAMS, AND LEAGUES WERE HOSTED BY YMCA SPORTS PROGRAMS. SPORTS LEAGUES ARE OFFERED TO CHILDREN AGES THREE YEARS THROUGH EIGHTEEN YEARS IN SOCCER, BASKETBALL, TEE-BALL, BASEBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, AND MARTIAL ARTS. AQUATICS AND GYMNASTICS ARE TWO OF OUR OTHER SPORTS DEPARTMENTS. PROGRAMS AND CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN THESE SPORTS IN COMPETITIVE AND NON-COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTS. 4,198 PEOPLE LEARNED TO SWIM IN OUR AQUATICS PROGRAM. THE COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM HAD 126 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024. THE GYMNASTICS DEPARTMENT OFFERS INSTRUCTION IN DANCE, CHEERLEADING, ROCK CLIMBING AND GYMNASTICS TO KIDS FROM PRE-SCHOOL AGE TO TEENAGERS.