Young Men's Christian Association of Grays Harbor

The YMCA movement is something different and special. We are particularly relevant in today's society because we fill a void in the community. We put Christian principles into practice. We welcome and support children and families and help build the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. We are for everyone: people of all ages, races, religions, incomes and abilities. The YMCA builds community. We utilize programs as tools to address needs in our community. Membership is the foundation of all YMCA programs. We averaged 6,421 members throughout the year with over 27.1% receiving some form of assistance for their membership. During the fiscal year we provided $312,755 in scholarship assistance to kids, families and individuals. A major focus in our programming is meeting the need for quality programs that focus on physical activity. Our aquatics programs met this through teaching 2,437 kids to be safe around the water, having 42 children on swim team and 780 water exercise classes per year. Our health & fitness programs encouraged physical activity through 238 hours of personal training. We also focused on creating opportunities that encourage families to be together. Through multiple events including Healthy Kids Day, Harvest Carnival and Turkey Bingo, 958 people were reached.

Youth Development: The YMCA strives to offer the youth in our community positive and affordable character building opportunities. We are happy to help motivate youth by developing both their desire to complete their homework and grow their education. In the Harbor After School Program, 367 attended. These youth were given a safe place to attend after school where they were tutored with their homework and kept physically active in a safe environment. This program reaches youth throughout the county including 6 sites in Aberdeen and Ocosta. As a safe environment for youth to develop socially and spiritually in a physically motivating culture the YMCA also emphasizes physically active opportunities. In the past year 843 kids participated in Youth Sports and Youth and Teen programs helping them to not only be better players but better people. The YMCA offers them a safe place to play games that are fun and exciting. The Impact Center had averaged 11 kids per day and offers the youth of our community a safe affordable place to be active and develop socially and spiritually with positive role models and the proper guidance. Finally, at the YMCA's Camp Bishop we utilize outdoor settings to offer affordable opportunities to the youth of the community. Character building activities are offered through camp programs, day camp and resident camp to youth by challenging the youth both physically and intellectually. In the last year $64,608 in scholarships were awarded to youth who could not otherwise afford to attend camp. Through this 513 mentored through Camp Bishop.