2008 Philanthropic Giving Boosts YMCA of the USA's Impact On Low-Income and Underserved...

2008 Philanthropic Giving Boosts YMCA of the USA's Impact On Low-Income and
Underserved Populations

CHICAGO, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 2008, philanthropic giving to
YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) helped the organization increase its capacity and make
a difference in the lives of millions of children, families and communities
across America. Corporations and foundations chose YMCA of the USA to receive
more than $23.8 million because of the profound impact YMCAs have had in the
communities they serve.

"Especially during an economic downturn, this philanthropic support allows us
to continue to provide programs and services to ensure that every person and
community we touch has the opportunity to thrive," said Neil Nicoll, President
and CEO of YMCA of the USA. "We realize that our organization faces continued
challenges in the year ahead, but we also recognize that those we serve are
facing even greater challenges. Our commitment to helping all YMCA
communities build meaningful, secure and healthy futures never wavers."

As the national resource office for the nation's 2,686 YMCAs, YMCA of the USA
secures donor funds to support programs at YMCAs across the country that
address critical needs related to community and family health, safety and the
needs of low-income and underserved populations, such as afterschool
programming and early learning initiatives. Today, six in 10 YMCAs serve
communities where median family income falls below the national average, and
one in five kids in YMCA child care benefits from financial assistance.

With strong philanthropic support, YMCA national initiatives that leverage the
reach of local YMCAs in addressing these significant social issues have shown
significant growth. The number of YMCAs participating in Activate America(TM),
the YMCA's response to the nation's lifestyle health crisis, increased to 500
in 2008. Activate America YMCAs target environmental changes and program
innovation to build stronger relationships with individuals and families who
struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Also, nearly 100 communities are
engaged in Pioneering Healthier Communities, an integral component of Activate
America that engages community leaders in creating and implementing policies
and change strategies - bike and walking paths, vending machine policies,
physical education requirements - that provide more opportunities for
healthier living.

In addition, Y-USA awarded $9.2 million in individual grants - ranging from
$500 to $160,000 each - to 800 YMCAs nationwide in support of programs and
services that support the holistic development of children and youth, family
strengthening and health and well-being for all.
In 2008, Y-USA garnered a number of significant charitable gifts to enhance
its capacity to positively impact individuals and communities:

-- With support from Lumina Foundation for Education, the YMCA began
integration of the College Goal Sunday program into its core
educational
and college preparatory programs for youth. College Goal Sunday helps
the YMCA assist low-income, at-risk or non-traditional students with
one
of the most significant obstacles to college access and success--the
financial aid process. College Goal Sunday provides free, on-site
professional assistance filling out the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). In 2008, this program helped 35,000 families in
37
states and the District of Columbia.
-- Y-USA's Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative was identified
as a model for creating sustainable change by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation as part of its national strategy to reverse the epidemic of
childhood obesity. A grant from the foundation will help YMCA
communities and state alliances create community-wide, systemic
changes
that address the childhood obesity epidemic.
-- Through a collaboration with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, select
YMCAs across the country now pilot physical activity and well-being
initiatives to address the specific wants, needs and interests of
cancer
survivors. The Ann Arbor (MI) YMCA, for example, is one of several
YMCAs
offering a 12-week small group program designed for adult cancer
survivors who have recently become de-conditioned or chronically
fatigued from their treatment and/or disease. Certified fitness
instructors trained by Stanford University and the YMCA provide
individualized instruction on post rehab exercise, nutrition and
supportive cancer care. Program goals include helping patients build
muscle mass and muscle strength, increase flexibility and endurance,
improve functional ability, reduce the severity of therapy side
effects
and improve energy levels and self-esteem.
-- Financial support from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund to YMCA
afterschool
programs gave more than 9,900 youth nationwide a safe place to go
between 3 and 6 p.m. Donations included funds raised from an in-store
promotion inviting customers to "round up" their purchase
price to the nearest dollar, with proceeds benefiting the JCPenney
Afterschool Fund. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund, in turn, contributed
these funds to Y-USA, which re-granted them to local YMCA afterschool
programs of YMCAs matched with a JCPenney store. Such programs are
making a difference in the lives of kids like "Vickie" from
Appleton, WI, who every day heads to the YMCA Horizons Afterschool
Learning Center, where she finds stability and consistency during a
difficult time of transition for her and her mother.
-- In 2008, Y-USA launched a new relationship with Boeing Company to
support an early learning planning and pilot project focused on better
preparing young children in low-income, military and immigrant
families
for success in school and in life. In 2009, Y-USA will form an Early
Learning Expert Panel, made up of internal and external specialists,
to
help identify, select and evaluate models and programs for testing and
future replication in YMCAs nationwide.
-- The generous support of Eli Lilly and Company allowed Y-USA to launch
Healthy Family Home, an interactive resource that is designed to help
families with children ages 5-12 assess and modify their home
behaviors
and environments to better support and sustain healthier lifestyles.
More than 600,000 families have received a "Starter Kit" to
help them create and sustain a Healthy Family Home.
-- Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, YMCAs served
more than 11,350 immigrants and their families through direct programs
and services in 2008. Y-USA designed and facilitated two workshops,
Strengthening Inclusion: Engaging Newcomers and Immigrants in Your
YMCA
and Engaging Hispanic and Latino Communities in Your YMCA, aimed at
raising awareness and understanding of local demographics and key
community issues among diverse constituencies.

"YMCAs touched 21 million lives in 2008," said Nicoll, "and the generous
support of our donors played a big part of that success. We look forward to
working with them to help all Y communities work toward their highest
potential in 2009."

About YMCA of the USA: YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the
nation's 2,686 YMCAs, which serve 21 million people each year, including
nearly 10 million children under the age of 18. YMCAs respond to critical
social needs by drawing on their collective strength as one of America's
largest not-for-profit community service organizations. Through a variety of
programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and
youth, family strengthening, and health and well-being for all, YMCAs unite
men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income
levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs have proudly served America's
communities for nearly 160 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for
all. Visit www.ymca.net to find your local YMCA.

CONTACT:
Diane Hurles
312-419-8374
diane.hurles@ymca.net

SOURCE YMCA of the USA

Diane Hurles of YMCA of the USA, +1-312-419-8374, diane.hurles@ymca.net