The Real Value of the Y

THE REAL VALUE OF THE Y YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA | 2017 COMMUNITY REPORT When I reflect back on this last year, I am struck by the highs, lows and the profound impact the Y had on our community. The biggest low that I’m referring to, of course, was Hurricane Irma. The storm was frightening and devastating. It has been a number of years since we’ve experienced a hurricane of that magnitude and people were not prepared. The loss of power for so many and for so long made life difficult. And, while we couldn’t bring the power back, I was so proud of the innovation and dedication of our team and our Family Centers around Central Florida that helped bring comfort and relief to so many people, whether Y members or not. The Y was there for people in other ways, too. Next year, students will be going to college because of their involvement in our Teen Achievers program. Others are overcoming health challenges like diabetes and heart disease with the support of our programs and trainers. Still others are finding support during hard times in their lives. These are the things that make me proud to be a part of the Y movement - we are there for our members and our community no matter what. I’m grateful for the hard work and support of our many donors, our incredible board and our dedicated team. They never tire of helping people and strengthening our community. I don’t know what this next year will bring, but I know with 100% certainty that, whatever it is, the YMCA of Central Florida will be there for anyone who needs us. Sincerely, DANIEL WILCOX President and Chief Executive Officer YMCA of Central Florida 2017 COMMUNITY REPORT | YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA | 3 Samuell Dyer | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT When Samuell Dyer became a YMCA of Central Florida Teen Achiever in 2014, he couldn’t have imagined how it would prepare him for college or help him grow as a young man. “Whether it’s the Teen Achiever sessions at my high school or at the Tangelo Park YMCA summer program, or even all MY Y. YOUR Y. of the college tours I went on, it is still the greatest experience to help me to learn,” Samuell says of the Y-based program. Samuell, now a graduating senior from Jones High School, was diagnosed with autism and a learning disability. Through Teen Achievers, he was able to branch out of his comfort zone: “At first, some students were not comfortable around me and I was not comfortable around them. Sometimes it was hard for me on college tours and it made me feel uncomfortable, but the Achievers team, volunteers and other students helped to make me calm and comfortable.” Samuell learned how to interact, how to communicate more effectively, how to make his own decisions, . and—most importantly—how to be himself. Because of all the great strides and accomplishments OUR Y he made throughout high school, Samuell was accepted to Beacon College. Thanks to Teen Achievers, “I do not call myself weird anymore. I learned that I am unique,” Samuell says. And he is People. Each of us is different. teens a safe place to go after school proud that he can be himself every step of the way going into his future. Which is why, what the Y means to or providing students in at-risk each of us is different, too. neighborhoods with the chance to experience college through our Teen Elsie Sierra | HEALTHY LIVING This simple fact is what makes the Y Achievers Program. After her husband passed away in 2002, for five years, Elsie Sierra says, “I couldn’t do anything.” so incredibly special. Every member, Today, with the help of the South Orlando YMCA, that is no longer the case. You would be hard- every donor, every volunteer loves We have members who value the pressed not to find her there at least four days a week for two hours at a time. “I started coming us and connects with us for their opportunity to serve as a volunteer to this Y eight or nine years ago and I didn’t know what to do [at first]—I had never been to a gym. own personal reason — or in some basketball coach and others who Now, if I don’t come, I’m in a bad mood.” 71-year-old Elsie, who hadn’t exercised for years at a cases, many reasons. find value in the fact that the Y is the time, is now passionate about working out. She urges us all to exercise: “Everybody: young people, one place where the whole family middle-aged, seniors—like me—do something. Make time for you.” Though she’s always been thin, We have members who value the Y can spend time together in a safe, now she can lift a 30-pound barbell over her head with each arm and feels closer to age 30 than 70. because it’s “their” place to connect healthy, values-oriented place. “Nothing hurts,” she says, “I don’t know what I would have been if I didn’t exercise. I feel great.” with friends and neighbors. Their Family Center is their place to feel We have members who want to welcomed and cared about and spend support a place rooted in Christian Ryan Rohrs | SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY time with people they care about too. values. And we have members Ryan Rohrs was working as a correctional officer for the state of Florida when his family joined the who value the Y’s commitment to YMCA of Central Florida as members through the Annual Support Fund: “I didn’t feel like I didn’t We have members who value the belong; I just felt like some friends were helping me out. And then when I got to the point when I serving everyone in our community, convenience of being able to go to could afford it, I was proud that I could pay for my whole membership because I knew that allowed Family Centers throughout Central regardless of age, regardless of those scholarship dollars to go to other people who needed help.” The entire Rohrs family, including Florida, so they never have to socioeconomic standing, regardless Ryan’s wife Angela and their two young children, were loving their days at the Frank DeLuca YMCA sacrifice their commitment to good of ability. because the kids could get their activity time in while Mom and Dad worked out on their own. The health no matter where they are kids could play soccer, kickball, and games together under supervised care of the Y team. Things throughout the day or week. The fact that our members value us were going well for this Y family, and then Ryan was in a terrible motorcycle accident, causing his in so many different ways tells us body to “fly an entire city block before coming to rest against a concrete light pole,” resulting in the We have members who value the Y for that we’re doing something right. loss of his leg. Ryan says of his accident, “I could have died easily that day. I know that God saved all the good we do in the community. We’re making our entire community me.” While he was recuperating in the hospital, Angela received a phone call from the Y, asking if For them, being a member is a way stronger by strengthening each it was ok for their family to receive a medical scholarship until Ryan was healthy again. While Ryan to do their part in giving kids and member, one life at a time. was completing his out-patient rehabilitation, he also began working out at the Y again and finding comfort from his Y community. Ryan has made an incredible recovery, and now the Rohr family is a Scholarship Program donor again, giving back to the Y in so many ways. 4 | YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA | 2017 COMMUNITY REPORT 2017 COMMUNITY REPORT | YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA | 5 YEAR IN REVIEW HEALTHY LIVING IMPACTING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT At our annual Celebration of Prayer on April 13, YMCA Executive Committee Member Renaut van der Riet led the group of spiritual and community leaders in prayer 19,101 and invited everyone CELEBRATION in the audience to SUMMER CAMP PARTICIPANTS #sparkamovement by giving $5 (donated by OF PRAYER the Y) to someone in need. 12,732 26TH ANNUAL SUMMER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS PAPPY KENNEDY PRAYER BREAKFAST Orange County Sheriff OUTCOMES PER DAY CAMP PARTICIPANT: Jerry Demings, recipient of the Southwest Orlando Jaycees 71 MINUTES Lifetime Achievement Award, shakes hands Clockwise, top right: Y Members participated in the Let’s with internationally Orlando Police Chief John Move for a Better World fitness challenge to win prizes for recognized human rights READING Mina and Fire Chief Roderick youth wellness programs at South Orlando YMCA; Chef Gary Williams share the stage at activist Dr. Richard E. hosted a Sunday supper on Facebook Live; Hundreds of kids the Pappy Kennedy Prayer Lapchick, who shared from across our community came out to play, have fun and GOAL: 60 MINUTES his message of hope and Breakfast on January 16. learn all about healthy living at Healthy Kids Day. unity with the audience. Through our Safety Around 6,088 Water Week, the Y offered 2,000 complimentary swim lessons to YOUTH SPORTS AND children ages 4 through 12. RECREATION PARTICIPANTS And with support from our No Child Drowns summer cause initiative, the Y WATER set aside $42,250 to cover swim lessons SAFETY for 563 children in need.

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