Ymca Research Paper
A Charitable Social Organization
Social economic organizations can range from a variety of different perspectives, and depending on the type social institution, there may be alternate approaches directed towards enhancing the social economy. The Young Men’s Christian Organization, or otherwise known as the YMCA was founded in London, England over 170 years ago. In 1844 a man by the name of George Williams founded the first YMCA in hopes of strengthening and motivating individuals within a society. This specific social institution can be identified as part of the social sector within an economy. The YMCA aims to improve all individual’s health and quality of life, as a result, this can be understood by the concept of reciprocity; as a …show more content…
charitable organization (Restakis, 2006).
Charitable organizations fall under a penumbra of the social economy as commercial non-profit institutions.
The social economy can be defined as a transverse concept for organizations that have a specific social objective. These objectives must encompass great benefits and uphold a mission that will improve a society overall. The YMCA aims to better community economic development, social development and community development. These institutions allow for socialization amongst individuals of a community, each YMCA’s mission can be specific to the needs of its community. The YMCA counts on three central sources for success, these sources include: people, places and programs. The people behind the improvement of society and members of the YMCA, this includes coaches, instructors and of course, its members that are their to learn and participate in activities that allow some kind of personal or communal development (Restakis, …show more content…
2006)..
The YMCA facilities offer safe and welcoming places that allow all individuals to feel a sense of belonging, traditionally, the YMCA is known as a “community centre” however, it can also offer practices and programs that range from health facilities to classrooms. Finally, the social institutions is reliant on the types of programs it provides, these programs are comprehensive-community based. They provide individuals with the skills necessary to improve their homes, workplaces or even their physical health to the fullest potential. The YMCA is driven to create a “healthier Canada” its main mission is to promote fitness and skills necessary to excel in all aspects of society, including personal objectives and work/ employment goals (YMCA, 2016).
St John Ambulance is another well known social organization that is solely run by volunteers. This global institution, is strictly funded by charities and community events that raise the balances needed to instruct programs. Unlike the YMCA’s mission to improve an individual’s physical health, St John Ambulance drives towards providing individuals with a diverse range of community service programs from first aid training, therapy dogs, youth services and emergency response Restakis, 2006). Specific programs may provide the skills necessary to deliver first aid assistance in the case of an elemental emergency. Aside from offering first aid training to individuals all around the globe, the institution offers and delivers reliable community services that provide a sense of health safety. Trained volunteers recognize and respond to needs that a community may face, i.e. a medical emergency, St John Ambulance AMFR’s (Advanced Medical First Responders) aid in the occurrence of any medical energy or trauma. These individuals labour with no payment, outlined in Restakis’ article, charitable institutions and voluntary organizations follow the principle of reciprocity taking the form of gratuity. Trained individuals volunteer without expected anything in return (Restakis, 2006).
Another charitable organization is the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) which was established in 1974 in Philadelphia. It started when a football player for the Philadelphia Eagle’s, Fred Hill, three year old daughter, Kim Hill, was diagnosed with Leukemia. Like many other families, Fred and his wife often slept overnight on hospital benches and bedsides, never wanting to leave their child's side. Fred and his wife noticed how other families were burdened with the cost and time wasted on travelling. When Fred returned to football, he wanted to help support other families struggling with the different obstacles that arise when trying to be with their sick children. With the help of the Philadelphia Eagle's manager, Jerry Murray, Dr. Audrey Evans and McDonald's Restaurant, the head of the pediatric oncology unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the team was able to start a fundraiser to open the first RMHC.
The mission statement of the RMCH is to, “create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families” (RMHC, n.d).
The RMCH is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from businesses and individuals to help support sick children and their families. Donations are not required to come in monetary form; food, home essentials, toys, and other items are accepted and offer many benefits to families. Since 70% of Canadian families live outside a city with a hospital, the donations are crucial in helping provide nearby houses to hospitals for families with sick children (RMHC, n.d). Some of the donation money also provides family rooms inside hospital walls so that family members can have a comfortable visit with their loved ones. Medical treatment, educational programs, playrooms, and services for the family, such as meals, are all supplied inside the houses. The Ronald McDonald House Charity has also recently introduced the Care Mobile program that provides dental health care to the communities in need. Volunteers also contribute to the social objective of this social economy organization by offering their support and services to help families in
need.
This charity incorporates the essential components of the social economy definition through its social mission and the emphasis it puts on bettering the community. The RMHC does not seek to gain economic advantages through its organization, but rather, it uses a philanthropic approach that aids sick children and their families.
The social economy is comprised of a wide range of businesses and institutions, the social institutions discussed above are global institutions that do not necessarily provide “goods” in the way a traditional institution would. Theses non-profit, charity-based social institutions have a mission that provides more services than physical goods. These services allow individuals to develop skills necessary to indirectly improve the social economy (Restakis, 2006). Although there is no evident monetary profit that is reciprocated into the economy, these institutions significantly improve the quality of life individuals live, their health, and their overall safety. These benefits, therefore improve the economy and the communities that these individuals are a part of.
Co-operatives
Co-operatives are another type of social economy institution whose purpose is to serve the needs of its members and community. In Zamagni’s and Zamagni’s (2010), Co-operative Enterprises: Facing the Challenges of Globalization, it says that co-operatives are comprised of two distinct components: one is the economic factor where services are provided through the market, and the other is the social factor, which seeks to provide services for the community members (pg 1). There are different types of co-operatives such as consumer, producer, worker, purchasing, and multi-stakeholder. The underlying principles of modern co-operatives stem from the values of one of the most influential co-operatives, Rochdale. Rochdale was founded in 1844 by a group of twenty eight weavers who were seeking to improve the poor conditions of their workplace; they were successful in establishing a grocery store with regulations that benefitted the workers (Zamagni and Zamagni, 2010, pg 14). Rochdale is one of the first successful co-operatives, it is credited for influencing the start of co-operatives, and is responsible for the level of popularity they have reached today.
Community First is a credit union consumer co-operative that incorporates Zamagni’s and Zamagni’s factors of being economically and socially run because it runs on a "not for profit but for service" mission (Community First, n.d). Similar to that of a bank, Community First provides financial services, such as investment and retirement planning, providing loans, and chequing and savings accounts. However, it differs from banks because it is co-operatively owned where members are also part owners - it is a consumer co-operative. Community First encompasses some of the social economy principles because it is democratically controlled by its members. The members of this credit union elect the board of the directors, who are responsible for the operation and decision processes of the company on a one vote per member system. As per its name, Community First takes pride in exemplifying the values and principles of member priority, financial integrity, community ties, and respect (Community First, n.d). All the profits earned in Community First benefit its members through dividends, financial services, and donations to the community. These donations provide programs in different areas of healthy active living, youth, and education.
The United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) is a type of producer-farming co-operative and is one of the largest farming co-operatives in Canada. It was established in 1909 and began as a lobbying group to get fair prices for food and to improve the working conditions for the farmers. Once the provincial government recognized UFA as a co-operative, it ran for office for the government of Alberta; this was very successful in securing mineral rights for Alberta which led to its financial success today (UFA n.d). Once the UFA came out of office, it returned to its original foundation of implementing services that meet the needs of the farmers and the community.
The UFA offers its members the opportunity to be part owners of the co-operative, the benefit in this being that the members get to elect the board of directors. The UFA has many other branches of business in petroleum and construction, but its social mission puts emphasis on “creat[ing] value for our owners and customers through our unwavering commitment to strong financial performance, relevance to agriculture producers, and connection to the rural community” (UFA, n.d). The UFA contributes to the community by investing in programs in different fields including: youth, agriculture, and community. These programs educate youth and adults about healthy agricultural products and how to practice safe farming, teaches youth important leadership skills such as public speaking, communication, and decision making, and provides different scholarships for students.
Quarter (2010), says that co-operatives, "function in the market along with private-sector businesses, but they are classified as part of the social economy because of distinguishing organizational characteristics" (pg 10). Each of the co-operatives mentioned above diverge from typical business values because of the importance they place on their communities. These core characteristics of the companies prove to be part of the social economy because they not only provide economic services to its members, but offer social objectives as well. These co-operatives also meet the structural requirements of the social economy, namely being autonomous businesses and having a democratically elected board of members with a one vote per member system.
Social economic organizations can range from a variety of different perspectives, and depending on the type social institution, there may be alternate approaches directed towards enhancing the social economy. The Young Men’s Christian Organization, or otherwise known as the YMCA was founded in London, England over 170 years ago. In 1844 a man by the name of George Williams founded the first YMCA in hopes of strengthening and motivating individuals within a society. This specific social institution can be identified as part of the social sector within an economy. The YMCA aims to improve all individual’s health and quality of life, as a result, this can be understood by the concept of reciprocity; as a …show more content…
charitable organization (Restakis, 2006).
Charitable organizations fall under a penumbra of the social economy as commercial non-profit institutions.
The social economy can be defined as a transverse concept for organizations that have a specific social objective. These objectives must encompass great benefits and uphold a mission that will improve a society overall. The YMCA aims to better community economic development, social development and community development. These institutions allow for socialization amongst individuals of a community, each YMCA’s mission can be specific to the needs of its community. The YMCA counts on three central sources for success, these sources include: people, places and programs. The people behind the improvement of society and members of the YMCA, this includes coaches, instructors and of course, its members that are their to learn and participate in activities that allow some kind of personal or communal development (Restakis, …show more content…
2006)..
The YMCA facilities offer safe and welcoming places that allow all individuals to feel a sense of belonging, traditionally, the YMCA is known as a “community centre” however, it can also offer practices and programs that range from health facilities to classrooms. Finally, the social institutions is reliant on the types of programs it provides, these programs are comprehensive-community based. They provide individuals with the skills necessary to improve their homes, workplaces or even their physical health to the fullest potential. The YMCA is driven to create a “healthier Canada” its main mission is to promote fitness and skills necessary to excel in all aspects of society, including personal objectives and work/ employment goals (YMCA, 2016).
St John Ambulance is another well known social organization that is solely run by volunteers. This global institution, is strictly funded by charities and community events that raise the balances needed to instruct programs. Unlike the YMCA’s mission to improve an individual’s physical health, St John Ambulance drives towards providing individuals with a diverse range of community service programs from first aid training, therapy dogs, youth services and emergency response Restakis, 2006). Specific programs may provide the skills necessary to deliver first aid assistance in the case of an elemental emergency. Aside from offering first aid training to individuals all around the globe, the institution offers and delivers reliable community services that provide a sense of health safety. Trained volunteers recognize and respond to needs that a community may face, i.e. a medical emergency, St John Ambulance AMFR’s (Advanced Medical First Responders) aid in the occurrence of any medical energy or trauma. These individuals labour with no payment, outlined in Restakis’ article, charitable institutions and voluntary organizations follow the principle of reciprocity taking the form of gratuity. Trained individuals volunteer without expected anything in return (Restakis, 2006).
Another charitable organization is the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) which was established in 1974 in Philadelphia. It started when a football player for the Philadelphia Eagle’s, Fred Hill, three year old daughter, Kim Hill, was diagnosed with Leukemia. Like many other families, Fred and his wife often slept overnight on hospital benches and bedsides, never wanting to leave their child's side. Fred and his wife noticed how other families were burdened with the cost and time wasted on travelling. When Fred returned to football, he wanted to help support other families struggling with the different obstacles that arise when trying to be with their sick children. With the help of the Philadelphia Eagle's manager, Jerry Murray, Dr. Audrey Evans and McDonald's Restaurant, the head of the pediatric oncology unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the team was able to start a fundraiser to open the first RMHC.
The mission statement of the RMCH is to, “create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families” (RMHC, n.d).
The RMCH is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from businesses and individuals to help support sick children and their families. Donations are not required to come in monetary form; food, home essentials, toys, and other items are accepted and offer many benefits to families. Since 70% of Canadian families live outside a city with a hospital, the donations are crucial in helping provide nearby houses to hospitals for families with sick children (RMHC, n.d). Some of the donation money also provides family rooms inside hospital walls so that family members can have a comfortable visit with their loved ones. Medical treatment, educational programs, playrooms, and services for the family, such as meals, are all supplied inside the houses. The Ronald McDonald House Charity has also recently introduced the Care Mobile program that provides dental health care to the communities in need. Volunteers also contribute to the social objective of this social economy organization by offering their support and services to help families in
need.
This charity incorporates the essential components of the social economy definition through its social mission and the emphasis it puts on bettering the community. The RMHC does not seek to gain economic advantages through its organization, but rather, it uses a philanthropic approach that aids sick children and their families.
The social economy is comprised of a wide range of businesses and institutions, the social institutions discussed above are global institutions that do not necessarily provide “goods” in the way a traditional institution would. Theses non-profit, charity-based social institutions have a mission that provides more services than physical goods. These services allow individuals to develop skills necessary to indirectly improve the social economy (Restakis, 2006). Although there is no evident monetary profit that is reciprocated into the economy, these institutions significantly improve the quality of life individuals live, their health, and their overall safety. These benefits, therefore improve the economy and the communities that these individuals are a part of.
Co-operatives
Co-operatives are another type of social economy institution whose purpose is to serve the needs of its members and community. In Zamagni’s and Zamagni’s (2010), Co-operative Enterprises: Facing the Challenges of Globalization, it says that co-operatives are comprised of two distinct components: one is the economic factor where services are provided through the market, and the other is the social factor, which seeks to provide services for the community members (pg 1). There are different types of co-operatives such as consumer, producer, worker, purchasing, and multi-stakeholder. The underlying principles of modern co-operatives stem from the values of one of the most influential co-operatives, Rochdale. Rochdale was founded in 1844 by a group of twenty eight weavers who were seeking to improve the poor conditions of their workplace; they were successful in establishing a grocery store with regulations that benefitted the workers (Zamagni and Zamagni, 2010, pg 14). Rochdale is one of the first successful co-operatives, it is credited for influencing the start of co-operatives, and is responsible for the level of popularity they have reached today.
Community First is a credit union consumer co-operative that incorporates Zamagni’s and Zamagni’s factors of being economically and socially run because it runs on a "not for profit but for service" mission (Community First, n.d). Similar to that of a bank, Community First provides financial services, such as investment and retirement planning, providing loans, and chequing and savings accounts. However, it differs from banks because it is co-operatively owned where members are also part owners - it is a consumer co-operative. Community First encompasses some of the social economy principles because it is democratically controlled by its members. The members of this credit union elect the board of the directors, who are responsible for the operation and decision processes of the company on a one vote per member system. As per its name, Community First takes pride in exemplifying the values and principles of member priority, financial integrity, community ties, and respect (Community First, n.d). All the profits earned in Community First benefit its members through dividends, financial services, and donations to the community. These donations provide programs in different areas of healthy active living, youth, and education.
The United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) is a type of producer-farming co-operative and is one of the largest farming co-operatives in Canada. It was established in 1909 and began as a lobbying group to get fair prices for food and to improve the working conditions for the farmers. Once the provincial government recognized UFA as a co-operative, it ran for office for the government of Alberta; this was very successful in securing mineral rights for Alberta which led to its financial success today (UFA n.d). Once the UFA came out of office, it returned to its original foundation of implementing services that meet the needs of the farmers and the community.
The UFA offers its members the opportunity to be part owners of the co-operative, the benefit in this being that the members get to elect the board of directors. The UFA has many other branches of business in petroleum and construction, but its social mission puts emphasis on “creat[ing] value for our owners and customers through our unwavering commitment to strong financial performance, relevance to agriculture producers, and connection to the rural community” (UFA, n.d). The UFA contributes to the community by investing in programs in different fields including: youth, agriculture, and community. These programs educate youth and adults about healthy agricultural products and how to practice safe farming, teaches youth important leadership skills such as public speaking, communication, and decision making, and provides different scholarships for students.
Quarter (2010), says that co-operatives, "function in the market along with private-sector businesses, but they are classified as part of the social economy because of distinguishing organizational characteristics" (pg 10). Each of the co-operatives mentioned above diverge from typical business values because of the importance they place on their communities. These core characteristics of the companies prove to be part of the social economy because they not only provide economic services to its members, but offer social objectives as well. These co-operatives also meet the structural requirements of the social economy, namely being autonomous businesses and having a democratically elected board of members with a one vote per member system.