As a resident of metro Detroit you know our community is resilient.
We are a loving, diverse community of varied ages, genders, ethnicities, backgrounds and challenges. We also share in common goals and believe in the potential of every child and family. We enable our children to overcome learning gaps, nurture our teens to thrive in a world inundated with social media and give families the opportunity to spend quality time with one another.
We can only do this with the continued support from people like you. Last year, we reached out to local residents and businesses to meet the many needs that exist in our community. We asked for your help in finding a solution. This report highlights some of the ways metro Detroiters gave their time and money to help us build a better Metro Detroit.
Getting Heart Healthy
Blood Pressure (BP) Self-Monitoring
Close to 100 participants worked with trained Healthy Heart Ambassadors during this 4 month program. Participants learned to self-measure their blood pressure at least twice a month, attended personalized monthly consultations and learned how to record their BP readings with an easy tracking tool. This program resulted in better awareness of triggers, better BP management as well as healthy eating habits.
Empowering Young Girls & Boys
Girls on the Run | STRIDE
Girls on the Run teaches girls to be joyful, confident and healthy through life lessons that involve running; STRIDE allows boys to share their thoughts and opinions about life topics in a safe, encouraging environment that helps them develop character all while training for a 5K. This year, a total of 3,889 girls and boys from the surrounding 3 counties participated in the program. Thanks to contributions, we were able to remove fi nancial barriers for over 970 children to participate.
Creating a Caring Community
Inclusion Programming | Social Club | Inclusion Camp
The YMCA is a refuge for families with children with special needs. Our activities and programs cater to individuals from all walks of life, making everyone feel welcome. Through the generosity of our donors, we were able to serve hundreds of kids with special needs: 177 students participated in Inclusion Programming last school year; 114 young adults registered for the Saturday night Social Club while Inclusion Camp hosted 36 campers this summer.
Inspiring Teens Through Work & Service
Youth Volunteer Corps | Arts Education | Summer Youth Employment
Through volunteer opportunities, professional art instruction programs and a career-development camp, we cultivated the civic, cognitive and career aspirations of hundreds of teens in Metro Detroit. Thanks to donor support 115 youth contributed over 4,570 community service hours through the YVC program, over 1,700 students participated in Arts Education and over 180 youth attended our Summer Youth Employment Program.
Discovering an Unplugged World
Camp Nissokone | Camp Ohiyesa
With the decline of physical activity and the rise of youth obesity, kids need to get outside and be active now more than ever. Contributions to YMCA Camps allowed almost 150 kids to experience the magic of summer camp – new friendships, new skills and new
leaders were formed. Camp Ohiyesa gave day camp scholarships to 30 kids, overnight night scholarships to 48 kids. In addition, 70 campers were able to attend resident camp at Camp Nissokone.
Eat, Learn, Play
Afterschool Enrichment
The Y supports academic and social development of children through interactive, high quality afterschool enrichment. 1,160 children participated in these programs with over 230 receiving financial assistance thanks to donor support. Also, we were able to provide over 182,000 healthy meals and snacks to an average of 800 children per day aiding in their academic success.
Fun Summer Learning
Summer Day Camp
At summer camp, kids are exposed to new experiences, skill building, a sense of community and lasting friendships – in rural and urban settings. But our YMCA day camp is much more. Each week’s curriculum includes STEM and literacy activities, nutrition instruction and physical activity. This past summer over 3,500 kids attended camp with over 700 campers receiving financial assistance thanks to support from our donors.
Building Confidence with Every Stroke
Detroit Swims
In Michigan too many children grow up not knowing how to swim despite being surrounded by lakes, pools and rivers. Detroit Swims is our Y’s signature water safety and swim instruction program. Through the generosity of our donors we provide swimsuits, caps, goggles, swim instruction and transportation to school age children at several locations thanks to our community partners. This past year we served 765 children as well as an additional 147 Special Needs children all due to donor support.
Together, we can take on the challenges that shape the future of Metro Detroit. From keeping kids safe in the after school hours to instilling lifelong lessons of confidence and team building to vulnerable youth, everything the Y does in service of making us – as individuals and a community – better.
For a better you. For a better Metro Detroit. For a better us.