Waco Family YMCA

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT-NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD IN WACO-MCLENNAN COUNTY. WE BELIEVE ALL KIDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ADULTS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM AND BELIEVE IN THEIR POTENTIAL. WE SEE EVERY INTERACTION WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT. EVERY DAY, WE HELP YOUTH CULTIVATE VALUES, SILLS, AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH, AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. OUR YMCA PROGRAMS SUCH AS AFTERSCHOOL, SUMMER CAMP, AND HOLIDAY CAMP CARE; CHILD WATCH; YMCA'S EDNA LEARNING CENTER (FULL-DAY EARLY CHILD CARE CENTER); TEEN DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAM; YOUTH SPORTS; YEAR ROUND FOOD PROGRAM; BABY SITTER TRAINING; LIFEGUARD TRAINING; CHEERLEADING; HIP-HOP DANCE; RUNWACORUN (FREE AFTERSCHOOL 5K TRAINING PROGRAM WITH 400 PARTICIPANTS); BASKETBALL CLINIC (FREE SUMMER CLINIC WHICH PROMOTED CHARACTER AND ANTI-BULLYING WITH ALMOST 400 PARTICIPANTS) AND SWIM LESSONS (ONLY LOCAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WHICH PROVIDES THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING SKILL) OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. THE YMCA IS THE LARGEST OUT-OF SCHOOL CARE PROVIDER IN WACO-MCLENNAN COUNTY WITH 60% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS RECEIVING YMCA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ALL OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PROMOTE KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND/OR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDED OVER 75,000 FREE MEALS AND SNACKS TO THE YOUTH IN WACO-MCLENNAN COUNTY THROUGH OUR YEAR ROUND FOOD AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY-GIVING BACK AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR NEIGHBORS FOR OVER 130 YEARS. WITH OUR DOORS OPEN TO ALL, WE WORK EVERY DAY TO CONNECT PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO NEED US MOST. WE TAKE ON URGENT NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND INSPIRE A SPIRIT OF SERVICE IN RETURN. OUR MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTERS, AND STAFF DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE BY GIVING BACK TOGETHER. YOUTH AT DORIS MILLER YMCA EARNED FREE MEMBERSHIPS BY PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, JOB SKILLS, AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. TO OFFER THE GREATEST POSSIBLE ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES AND TO PROVIDE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE FULL COST THESE SERVICES, WE ENGAGE IN FUNDRAISING THROUGH OUR ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP CAMPAIGN, GRANTS, AND INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATE, AND FOUNDATION SUPPORT. WE EMPLOY OVER 250 TEENS AND YOUNG PEOPLE (AGES 16-24) ANNUALLY NOT ONLY PROVIDING THEM A JOB, BUT ALSO PROVIDING THEM A FOUNDATION FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREERS AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, PUTTING THEM ON THE PATH TO BECOMING TOMORROW'S TEACHERS, DOCTORS, AND ENGINEERS. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER MEMBERSHIPS TO ACTIVE MILITARY FAMILIES AND PERSONNEL AS OUR WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THOSE WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO SERVING OUR COUNTRY. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED FREE SWIM AND WATER SAFETY LESSONS TO OVER 300 LOW-INCOME YOUTH WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.