My Y in Six Words

MY Y IN SIX WORDS The YMCA of Greater Kansas City 2013 Annual Report OUR MISSION The YMCA of Greater Kansas City, founded on Christian principles, is a charitable organization with an inclusive environment committed to enriching the quality of family, spiritual, social, mental and physical well-being. 3 OUR VALUES Character development gives us the ability to meet our mission. By holding ourselves accountable and building character around our core values—Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility—we build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. MY STORY So I’ve experienced firsthand the impact Serving as Chief Volunteer Officer and of the Y. It is part of the fabric that Chair of the Board of Directors for the holds our community together for all ages past two years has been an opportunity and at different stages of life. for me to give back to the Y, which continues to be such a rewarding part of My family and I look life for me and my family. forward to the Y continuing to be a In years past, I’ve enjoyed being a Y part of our life. volunteer basketball coach myself. I’ve watched my kids learn and grow through Y basketball, swimming and volunteering at the Y. Most recently my wife, Jeni, Bryan Camerlinck worked closely with her Y trainer to Chief Volunteer qualify and participate in the Boston Officer, 2012-2014 Marathon! EVERYONE HAS A STORY We all have unique challenges in our lives. We’re making a Here at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, difference we’re committed to being there for people every day during these important transitions in life. throughout the greater It’s what our vision, Safe Passage: Passport Kansas City for Life, is all about. When we meet people area thanks on their journey, we can make a difference. to the We can give them a passport to move thousands of forward and to be the best they can be. donors, volunteers and There are so many stories of lives associates who positively impacted through youth share their gifts development, healthy living and social with our responsibility at the Y. community. So we asked people to tell us what the Y As Madeline means to them…in just six words. This begins her term report includes six of the inspiring stories as Chief Volunteer we heard. Officer and Chair of the Board of The Y has been a cause-driven, charitable Directors, we are organization in our community since 1860, looking forward to and we’re needed more than ever. It’s critical continuing to grow that people can come to a safe place like the programs and expand services to enable Y and connect—with people, programs and even more people to thrive at the Y. resources—to reach their fullest potential. Madeline Romious David Byrd Chief Volunteer Officer, 2014-2016 President and CEO 5 OUR VISION People of all ages have access to the resources and experiences that provide safe passage through life’s many chapters ensuring a passport for life. OUR AREAS OF FOCUS Youth Development: Nurturing the potential of youth and teens Healthy Living: Improving the community’s health and well-being Social Responsibility: Providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors LUKE’S STORY LEARNING AND HAVING FUN At 8 years old, second-grader Luke has already participated in the Y’s outdoor summer day camp, swim lessons and baseball. He sums it up in these six words: THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. At camp he met new friends and explored activities like hiking, sports and archery. In baseball he had fun, got his first RBI and a home run. “IT WAS AMAZING.” Learning to swim at the Y might have been his biggest accomplishment. The pool deck was full of friends cheering his name as he passed the swim test— swimming unassisted across the length of the pool. He was tired, but he made it. He says his instructor, Beth, helped him get to that point. “She is an amazing teacher,” he said. “She taught me how to swim. She made me feel comfortable in the water.” WATCH LUKE’S “MY SIX WORDS” VIDEO 7 BECKY’S STORY ACTIVE FOR LIFE Becky believes the Y is preventative medicine. That’s why her six words are BETTER MEDICINE THAN TAKING A PILL. A member since 2008, Becky participates in aerobics classes for active older adults as well as social activities like birthday party potlucks once a month. She had polio in her right leg as a child and experienced atrophy. Residual symptoms often come with aging. But she’s keeping “I WANT TO LIVE those symptoms at bay by being active at the Y doing leg exercises using the TO BE A HEALTHY weight machines. 80, 90, 100. She sees her friends benefit from staying AND I THINK THE active as they grow older, too. ONLY WAY I CAN “For a lot of people I think it’s a lifeline,” she said. “If they’re not at the Y, they’re going to DO THAT IS TO be home and they’re going to go KEEP MOVING AT downhill quickly.” THE Y.” The Y also provides an important social network. “It’s like an extended family,” she said. WATCH BECKY’S “MY SIX WORDS” VIDEO 9 CHRIS’S STORY A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER Chris joined the Y 10 years ago because he liked playing basketball. What he ultimately found was a support network and a personal transformation. “When I made up my mind that I was going to change the way I was eating and my lifestyle, that’s when my body started to change and my confidence level grew,” Chris said. He also found himself coming out of his shell and connecting with others. “THE Y “I started embracing people, and people at TRANSFORMED the Y started embracing me,” he said. “And my ME INTO A mind and my heart started transforming.” NEW PERSON.” He described the Y in these six words: POWER, TRANSFORMED, HELP, GOALS, FRIENDSHIP, PEOPLE. “If you have the Y as an avenue, you can get your life changed for the better,” he said. WATCH CHRIS’S “MY SIX WORDS” VIDEO 11 BEATRIZ’S STORY UPLIFTING FOR ALL AGES For Beatriz, what she likes most about the 8th Street Family YMCA is that her young son enjoys it. He races in the door, ready to play with other kids while under the care of friendly staff. That frees her up to focus on her health by exercising or attending a class. “It helps you to uplift yourself,” she said. Her six words are: YOUTHFUL, MOTIVATED, CHEERFUL, ATMOSPHERE, NEIGHBORLY, UPLIFTING. She believes the Y is important to the neighborhood for people of all ages. “IT MAKES “It’s something positive in the community,” she said. YOU FEEL AT HOME.” It’s especially a safe place for youth, who can take advantage of homework help, activities in the gym and more. “I think it offers a lot to the kids in our neighborhood to stay on a positive road,” she said. WATCH BEATRIZ’S “MY SIX WORDS” VIDEO 13 ASHLEY’S STORY PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE As Ashley graduates from Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, she’s looking forward to attending Langston University in Oklahoma on a full-ride scholarship. She credits the Y’s Young Achievers program with helping her reach that goal. “I feel like I never waste any time when I attend one of the sessions on Saturday,” Ashley said. “Every time I go, it’s new information I did not know. And so once I learn it I keep it in the back “I’VE LEARNED of my head because I’m going to have to use it A LOT…AND once I go to college or just during life.” IT’S ACTUALLY Her six words are: INFORMATIONAL, EXCITING, FAMILY, ADAPTABLE, PURPOSEFUL, FUN WHILE I’M EXPOSURE. LEARNING.” She visited Langston University on the Young Achievers College Tour her sophomore year. “Langston seemed like the place for me, and I really wouldn’t have known that if I didn’t go on the college tour,” she said. WATCH ASHLEY’S “MY SIX WORDS” VIDEO 15 KEVIN’S STORY PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT When Kevin received a colon cancer diagnosis in 2013, he knew he needed to take good care of his body to prepare for treatments. Thanks to the support of a personal trainer at the Platte County Community Center South operated by the Y, he’s staying strong through treatments. He describes the Y in these six words: POWERFUL WORKOUTS HELPING ME FIGHT CANCER. “IT’S NOT JUST A “I’ve been able to probably be in some GYMNASIUM, IT”S of the best physical shape of my life, SO MUCH MORE.” all things considered,” he said. He lifts weights, runs and swims to prepare for treatments. He said workouts also help him build up strength again after a treatment. “I think it’s been a big part of helping me not only physically but also emotionally as I’ve gained some friends and, of course, the onfidence that comes with feeling better physically,” he said. WATCH KEVIN’S “MY SIX WORDS” VIDEO 17 OUR SIX WORDS ARE HEALTH EDUCATION CONFIDENCE CONNECTIONS FOR ALL HEALTH 1,878,976 times that members visited the Y. 144,872 children, adults and seniors improved their health and well-being. 13,739 kids stayed active as part of a team in sports. EDUCATION 460 central city youth and teens reached their potential through programs encouraging community service, academic success and leadership.

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