YMCA Facts

The YMCAs across Southwestern Ontario                                                                           

Basic Statistics

• # of Associations                                        2 – Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton
• # of people and communities involved           31,000 in 32 facilities in 8 communities
• # of volunteers, staff & donors                      975
• Combined budgets                                      $13.2 million
• International Partner                                    AJC (YMCA) of Guatemala

YMCA Guiding Principles

• A safe, supportive environment which helps individuals achieve their potential
• Access and participation for all
• Fellowship, community responsibility and service to others
• Quality leadership through a partnership of volunteers and staff
• An ethical, autonomous organization that is financially self-sufficient
• Programs and services which contribute to and benefit from a global perspective

YMCA Core Services 

• Health & Wellness: Improving the health and fitness of families and adults through 4 core membership centre facilities in Sarnia (JMFC), Goderich (MRC), Lambton Shores (SRC), and Chatham-Kent (King Street YMCA)
• Child & Family Development: providing early childhood education in licensed environments in 22 facilities in schools and in YMCAs in Sarnia, Chatham-Kent and Lambton County.
• Learning, Careers, and Community Response: providing an ability to address emerging community needs through education, training and programs for young adults and newcomers to Canada.  Based out of Sarnia at the YMCA Learning & Career Centre, these programs serve communities in Sarnia, Petrolia, Chatham, Windsor-Essex, and Owen Sound/Tobermory

 Key Strategic Directions – Growing Stronger Together - 2008-2012

• Engage More People: Through expanded health/wellness, child development, and community programs we plan to significantly increase the number of people we serve at the YMCA from our baseline of 31,000 in 2008 by 2012.  We want to be accessible to more people and families across our breadth of our community
• Manage our Assets: We have made a commitment to renewing and building new Y’s through the enhancement, renovation and extension of current facilities, and through the construction of a new full service YMCA in Chatham-Kent by 2011.  These assets will become vital and relevant places and spaces for hosting programs and services    
• Build our Capacity:  We have committed to efficient and affective management and work processes that feature collaboration, partnerships and alliances and that place people as our greatest and most cared for asset. We wish to strengthen our YMCAs relevance, responsiveness, effectiveness and resilience.
• Steward our Resources: We build financially strong YMCAs that are able to re-invest resources strategically in our communities. By creating a strong philanthropic culture our YMCA communities will be able to champion our charitable purpose and meet the needs of all people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, orientation or financial circumstance

Key Partners

• Federal Government – Service Canada (former HRSDC), Citizenship and Immigration Canada, CIDA
• Provincial Government- Ministry of Health Promotion, Children & Family Services, Ministry of Health
• Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Lambton County (Licensed childcare funding), Town of Goderich, Municipality of Lambton Shores
• Public sector collaborations – Bluewater Health, CKHA, Goderich Hospital, CK & SL United Ways, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Sarnia-Lambton Social Service Network
• Sponsors and donors to special events; SL Young Professionals, CK YMCA Pool Sharks, Sarnia Swimming, Goderich Hockey, major event sponsors in all communities.

Basic Statistics

• # of Associations                                         55 Total – 47 YMCAs and 8 YMCA-YWCAs
• # of people and communities involved            1.83 million in over 250 communities
• # of volunteers, and donors                            59,500
• Combined budgets of all Associations            $505 million
• Public Image                                                96% recognition with 3 out of 4 Canadians holding
                                                                     a positive view (Environics)

YMCA Guiding Program Philosophy

• Promotes health in spirit, mind and body: an understanding that health is a resource for every day life and community building.
• Support philanthropy and volunteerism: ways to serve oneself and others, to participate in building a better community for everyone
• Enhances values: caring, honesty, inclusiveness, respectful and responsible behaviour.
• Grassroots community builder with broad national scope and reach.

YMCA Program Areas

• Health Promotion and Health Living: Physical activity and sports that enhance a healthy lifestyle, prevents illness, promotes good health, gives a sense of belonging and builds relationships.
• Child & Family Development: safe and affordable care in a multitude of sites for the healthy development of children and supportive of positive parenting skills.
• Employment: focus on training, academic, mentoring, and support systems for at risk populations.
• Camping: building assets for children and youth through a values-based leadership approach.
• Outreach: rich array of services to build social inclusion of diverse groups, such as immigrants and refugees, youth at risk, low-income communities.
• International:  39 partnerships between YMCAs in Canada and YMCAs in developing countries.

 Key Achievements

• A concept of health that focuses on prevention, rehabilitation, self-management, social support and promotion.  As a key innovator of sports such as basketball and volleyball and one of the first to use a multi-faceted approach to healthy living, YMCA programs contribute positively to the health of many Canadians of all backgrounds and abilities.
• Evidence-based, multi-year initiatives to support youth to develop into healthy adults using approaches focusing on leadership, assets, values and engagement.
• As one of the first Canadian organizations to initiate adult education and community libraries, this legacy continues with a strong commitment to employment initiatives, immigrant settlement, language and academic skills; the YMCA environment is a life-long learning community for all.
• Volunteerism and philanthropy has been the cornerstone of the YMCA movement for over 150 years; from program to policy volunteers, the YMCA approach has been one of leveraging the power of one for the benefit of the collective good.
• One our of eight Canadian children participates in a YMCA Centre, making the YMCA one of the most significant contributors to positive developmental outcomes for children and their families.
• Unique strength of the YMCA is its role as a community resource, a builder of social capital, an organization which welcomes all, and a builder of a sense of community where people are citizens and engaged.
• With a presence in over 120 countries, the YMCA has established partnerships and exchanges that build bridges of peace and understanding across national, cultural and religious borders.

Key Partners

• Federal Government departments such as Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, CIDA, Service Canada, Heritage Canada, and Citizenship & Immigration Canada.
• Provincial government departments involved with childcare, employment, health, and immigrants.
• Municipal governments in areas such as recreation, civic infrastructure, childcare, welfare and housing.
• Public and private sector collaborations with universities, hospitals and corporations.
• External collaborations with national networks including the Canadian Diabetes Association, Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada, National Children’s Alliance, and a number of Active Living & Health Related Coalitions.
• International affiliations and collaborations with the YMCAs worldwide.

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