Annual Report2011
For 125 years, the YMCA of Greater Vancouver has been providing a safe, secure place for young people to be active and make connections.
Friends
Mentors
Relationships
Community
The Problem
This is the first generation of children and youth in modern history who will inherit a lower life expectancy than their parents.
In BC:
30% of children entering kindergarten are developmentally vulnerable—intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.
1 in 4
kids are
overweight
or obese
Why?
- Because they lack a village—a home inclusive of neighbours—a community.
- Parents are stretched to the max just trying to make ends meet.
- People are not stepping up, not believing they have a role to play in raising kids in our community.
It’s not just children. 50% of people in the Lower Mainland do not feel a strong sense of belonging. Isolation, disconnection, and lack of community have eroded our support networks.
50% + 30%
That’s a lot of us.
This includes you.
And it includes me.
We need a village. A home away from home, an inclusive place, a community.
A place for us all.
Enter the YMCA
We are Determined to be a
Genuine
Welcoming
Hopeful place that is
Nurturing
and Fun
This is The Community We Want.
A community where
- We share a sense of social responsibility
- We experience better health in spirit, mind and body
- Children and families thrive
Everyone is welcome here.
Our facilities serve our community at every income level, across cultures, without boundaries. Everyone gets equal access to the same excellent programming, high-quality spaces and world-class community.
(Choose One)
Regardless of income or background, every parent cares about the same things: that their kids eat their veggies; that they stay healthy, have great friends, do well in school and stay active. So they can be happy.
At the YMCA, we work together to build stronger connections
with other parents
with mentors
with their kids
... and a place to let off steam and let the kids play. Because parents need time to be healthy too.
Story
Stats
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Parent Programs
“I was feeling out of touch.”
“I thought the YMCA was a drop-in hostel.”
“I was out for a walk one day when I went in to use the bathroom. I had no idea what it was really like. I was shocked. It was so new and fresh. They had childminding and preschool. It was pretty amazing to find that out.”
At the time, Mara’s son Dylan was 2 and her daughter Daria was 7 months. Her husband is a rescue specialist with the coast guard. “He’s literally gone six months of the year.”
She was feeling out of touch, trapped at home with small kids. After learning about childminding, Mara became a member at the Langara Family YMCA.
Getting In A Workout
Mara finds exercise addictive, and works with a trainer. “It’s awesome to see the results,” she says. Mara can often be found on a spin bike or running the stairs.
Along the way she’s met some close friends, including her workout buddy Juliet. She’s even been to Juliet’s wedding and often grabs coffee with her YMCA friends. “You get to know everyone’s life stories.”
10,325
from the community celebrated at YMCA Healthy Kids Day
8,535
adults received financial assistance
8,456
requests for child care resources and referrals
9,690
parents and children attended YMCA family drop-in centres
500
parents and kids spent quality time together at a BC Lions game
- Health, fitness and recreation
- Parenting workshops and support groups
- Family drop-in programs and resource lending library
- Childminding
- Family Camp
- Programs for new Canadians
- Volunteer opportunities
Every child has a right to access the relationships that lead to a healthy life:
At the YMCA, we work together to build stronger connections
Great friends
Counsellors to look up to
Teachers & coaches that believe in you
With a deep focus on staying active & living healthy, we help kids create their own social networks with friends and mentors so they are supported to reach their full potential.
Story
Stats
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Kids Programs
A Little Love,
A Little Care
A Little Care
“Amy basically brought up my kids.”
Mara was a member at a different gym, but the environment wasn’t working well with her kids. “A good portion of my life is as a single mom since my husband is away. That’s why I love the Y – a place to go that’s all mine where my kids are taken care of.”
Daria was only seven months old when they started childminding and met Amy. Mara says Amy is like an aunt to them. “Amy loves the kids, and the kids love her.”
A Home Away From Home
“The kids are very welcome here. That’s #1 for me as a mom.”
“Everyone always says hi and treats my kids amazingly. Dylan and Daria are so comfortable that they just run around the place. Everyone knows who they are.”
The Langara Y is an integral part of their lives. “We’re there almost every day. We go to events, do day camp every year and we love going to YMCA Healthy Kids Day.” Some days they’ll play KINECT, and the kids love to swim. Recently a group of Langara friends and staff even went to see Daria’s dance recital.
And most important for Mara is that the kids have made good friends.
2,378
kids learned through play at YMCA Child Care
12,120
kids made memories at YMCA Camps
6,002 outdoor education participants
4166 day campers
1952 residential campers
3,751
kids actively participated in after-school programs
1,621
kids received financial assistance
251
kids mentored at YMCA Alternative Suspension
792
teens learned how to lead through YMCA Leadership Development
6,708
kids and teens learned to swim
The YMCA fosters connections and healthy habits through
- YMCA Child Care
- After school programs
- YMCA Residential and Day Camps
- Youth Leadership Development
- Sports Leagues and Aquatics
Today’s kids urgently need us. It’s our responsibility to step in and make a difference so they can grow up and transform our world. That’s why the YMCA exists as a powerful community of men, women and children of all ages and abilities joined together to raise strong and resilient kids.
The YMCA reaches out to all members of the community to create a healthy, vibrant place where we can thrive, together. We play. We’re active. We care, have fun and cause a ruckus... all to make it our home, away from home.
Story
Stats
children, youth, adults & seniors served 41.6% under 18
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Community Programs
Reaching Out, Together
Mara takes care of two special needs adults that live in her home. She was struggling to find ways for them to be active. “I knew that there were other people just like them that were stuck at home without a lot to do.”
Mara talked to Vinh and Charlotte about setting up an activity program for people with special needs. “They were incredibly supportive and said ‘use the space—if there is a need in the community we are going to fill it.’” The program runs for the second time again this fall.
“Vinh is the epitome of what I’ve come to know the Y to be. If people are at home alone and suffering, Vinh doesn’t want to hear that. If he can do anything to help, he’ll do it. I’m happy to help him out because of that.”
Bringing It Back Around
The Langara Family YMCA has created a space for Mara’s family to be together. The kids come and swim every week, and don’t want to go anywhere else. Mara suggested checking out a different pool and, says Mara, “They blew a gasket.”
“It’s made a huge difference to my family. My kids tell my extended family that they all need to work out so they don’t get heart disease. They are leading by example.”
“I’m a straight shooter. If people were trying to blow smoke at me I’d notice it. It’s just such a warm place and everyone makes an effort. They really do. You can’t put that on. People make an effort and they care. You can feel it.”
“No matter what, we are going to be at the Y.”
170
program sites
96,904
$1,413,643
in direct financial assistance
to 10,344 people
to 10,344 people
2,800
dedicated volunteers contributing
122,522 hours of service
122,522 hours of service
155
community partners
1,259
passionate employees
$3,824,371
total donations received
Together we can do this.
The YMCA is unique. It’s the only organization with a mission for children & youth that serves the whole community:
kids
parents
the elderly
the young at heart
newcomers
long-timers
CEOs
artists
bus drivers
bankers
It takes a village, and we are that village.
Our approach recognizes that healthy children and youth can only exist in a community that is also home to healthy families and adults, and we believe that helping young people grow up healthy makes our whole community stronger.
We’re just scratching the surface.
We’re carving out the areas where we can have influence. We’re re-shaping our programs, developing world-class facilities, and building a platform to be advocates to support change—from programs through to policy.
But we need help.
The problems facing our kids require bold community solutions—solutions that we can only achieve if we work together.
After all, our kids are counting on us.
Are you up to the challenge?
Our Mission
The YMCA of Greater Vancouver is a charity dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community.
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