Case Study: The Young Men's Christian Association

It’s Fun to Stay at the...
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) is an organization that gives people the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. It is community-centered and brings people together. There are a total of seven different branches in the Greater Grand Rapids Area, and a total of 120 countries that the YMCA is a part of (Julien). Throughout my life, I grew up with having a membership at the YMCA and would go a few times a week. I used the YMCA to stay active and fit, play some basketball, climb the rock wall, and hang out in the teen zone with friends I had met while attending the organization. From being a member of this community organization, I can easily say this is a great place for anyone and everyone. It definitely
connects and brings many people together. The Y has changed the lives of many people. It has helped others take control of their health issues, help basketball players stay with their game and meet new friends and enjoy their favorite game with them in the gymnasium, and help people stay fit. (“YMCA of Greater GR”) Therefore the YMCA is a great organization for the community of Grand Rapids to help members stay fit and reach their health and wellness goals, involves lots of entertainment and activities, a great child care program, and many different outreach programs to help the community of Grand Rapids for all those in need.
The YMCA organization is such a great help for the many that are in need. Included with the YMCA are many different outreach programs. There are many different grant programs that reach out to the inner city school in Grand Rapids along with loop programs For example, the YMCA gives out grants for Latino and Spanish families within the community. Healthy U, a healthy living program, also goes out to the inner city schools to provide before and after school programs to teach students to live a healthy life. The YMCA reaches out to many different corporations, has over 200 health and wellness partnerships with the community, and also has different special needs memberships that reach out to the different organizations and hospitals to help those who need it. There are over 20,000 individuals impacted by the community outreach programs. Within the Grand Rapids Community, 6,459 individuals have donated 93,693 hours of service, over 5,946,552 dollars were given out in financial assistance, and over 183, 611 people were served in the YMCA’s programs and memberships. (Julien)
According to Tara Julien, the YMCA’s mission is to put Christian principles in the practice through programs that build healthy spirit, body, and mind for all.
They focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The YMCA as an organization itself puts all of their events into these three areas (Julien). The organization also has healthy living pubs for lower city income people so they can learn to have a healthy living and habits. “We also have a veggie mobile to provide these healthy foods and vegetables to people who are not able to afford it,” says Tara Julien, membership sales directors at the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. A recent campaign that the YMCA had recently announced is the Strong Kids Campaign to ensure that everyone no matter what their age, income or background is can have the opportunity to have access to the programs and things offered by the organization. (“YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Announces”)
The YMCA is great for everyone of different ages and backgrounds.
This is a great facility for people in the community to stay healthy and fit. For all those who are out there and like to have health and wellness goals for themselves, this group is a great place to achieve these. The YMCA provides members with a huge facility. Here, there is a large gymnasium with a variety of different basketball courts and volleyball courts, and a good size room for working out at any time of the day, and even a couple of pools throughout the building. One pool in this building contains a slide for children to enjoy and have fun and also another pool for others to do their swimming exercises. There is no way a member could leave the YMCA without getting a nice, beneficial work out in. Memberships here at the Y are affordable for everyone, and the organization is willing to help out anyone and everyone who is in need of it. The memberships can range from an initiative of $65 plus a monthly rate of $22, to an initiative cost of $160 and the monthly rate cost of $95. This all depends on whether you are joining as a member yourself or as a family. (“YMCA of Greater GR”) These memberships can be used throughout all seven branches in the Greater Grand Rapids Area. “The Y is more than a gym; it’s a community that welcomes everyone. I appreciate that there is no elitism at the Y; it’s a nonthreatening atmosphere available to all walks of life,” says Joe Camp, a David D. Hunting YMCA
member. Another reason why the YMCA is a great organization to be a member of is because of the variety of entertainment and activities around. Some activities included in the organization besides a wellness center, gymnasium, and warm pool water, are family adventure, racquetball, handball, kid zone, a climbing rock wall, and a teen zone. These are only some of the many activities included in the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. Along with all of the activities are leagues. (Hunting) There are so many things to do in the Organization that connects the lives of many citizens throughout Grand Rapids.
There are also a variety of different sports leagues here at the YMCA which are available to all children and adults and even families to play in. Camps are another popular community event within this group.“Since 1913, Camp Manitou-lin has been impacting the lives of children.” (“YMCA of Greater GR”) This camp is a year-round camp serving over 10,000 people every year. “Their summer camps are the heart of it all. Every day we strive to live and breathe our goal of ‘building better people’.” (YMCA) Camps give the community the chance to grow more mentally and spiritually. Campers are encouraged to challenge themselves while learning the importance of friendship. (YMCA) The YMCA is not only a place for health and wellness, but also the leading child care provider for license day care. (Julien) The Y offers affordable child care and before and after schools programs at both YMCAs and elementary schools. They also assist with homework and offer diverse programs. (YMCA of Greater GR”) With the assistant of this organization, children achieve a lot more in their classrooms and better motivation to do their school work. Kids also The YMCA is glad to work in partnerships with all different families. “Quality care programs provide enriching experiences which facilitate a child’s cognitive, social, physical, and emotional growth.” (YMCA of Greater GR”) Being at the Y can guarantee parents that their children are in a safe and supportive environment. Child care at the YMCA is great with encouraging children to achieve their best in all assets. There’s not a better place to be at than this organization. The group is helpful to all people in the community and makes it very affordable for everyone. So many lives have been impacted throughout the community with the help from the YMCA. As far as health and fitness, to the variety of outreach programs and help given out from this group, the community becomes a better place every day. The YMCA organization goes out of its way to help people each and every day. Works Cited Hunting D. David. “Welcome to the David D. Hunting Y!” The YMCA.Web. 18 Mar. 2012.
Julien, Tara. Telephone Interview. 20 Mar. 2012.
“YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Annouces Strong Kids Campaign.” Ada to Zeeland. 24 Feb. 2011. N. Pag. Mlive.com. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. “YMCA of Greater GR.” The YMCA. Web. 18 Mar. 2012.