Our Community Needs the YMCA

Wherever the YMCA serves, it delivers on a bold promise to build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.

Families count on the Y for expert child care, from pre-school to after school,
that promotes success with peers and personal development.

Adolescents and teens look to the Y for growth experiences like camping
and leadership programs.

Children and youth of all ages and skill levels learn teamwork, sportsmanship
and self esteem through Y sports.

Parents turn to the Y for activities with their children that strengthen and
broaden the relationship.

Young adults acquire skills and confidence to continue their education and
prepare for a career.

Adults of all ages get fit, stay well, develop new interests and form lasting friendships through the YMCA.

The promise of strong kids, strong families and strong communities takes on special importance for an area that is growing and changing as fast as Forsyth County.  Everyone-young people in particular-need a sense of belonging and a place where they fit in.  People of diverse cultural, economic and educational backgrounds need a common meeting ground where everyone feels at home.  That's the YMCA.

Forsyth County has a wide range of income levels, backgrounds and life situations-affluent families with two working parents, single-parent households, first-generation Americans, retirees.   No service organization can provide outstanding, relevant service across the wide spectrum of community needs like the YMCA.

Families have enthusiastically embraced YMCA programs being offered through schools and other institutions within the county.  The next step is to build a local branch that strengthens existing Y programs at the same time it enables new modes of service.  A gift of land and very significant initial contributions already are in hand.  Forsyth County has an ideal opportunity to establish its own YMCA branch and embrace all the benefits of having a family facility located right in the community.

The YMCA … Instilling Values That Last

No organization can match the YMCA for expertise and experience in the two-fold purpose of providing high-quality programs and intentionally designing them to build and fortify character, especially in youth.

The entire community-all income levels, races, ages and creeds-is served by the YMCA.  In an area where the population is becoming more youthful and culturally diverse, the YMCA excels at involving everyone.  Scholarships are available for individuals and families who could not otherwise have access to service, an initiative already underway in Forsyth County.

The YMCA began more than 150 years ago.  Today the Y serves 18 million families in the United States.  It is a nonprofit community service organization that is national and international in scope, yet with deep local roots sustained by the dedication and energy of a strong volunteer network.

Y programs are designed to make a positive difference in areas of acute community need.  In Metro Atlanta, for example, the YMCA is addressing the area's high dropout rate with a variety of youth development programs.  Teen leaders clubs and camping provide constructive experiences and help adolescents develop leadership skills.  These programs emphasize strong role models who influence young people to make good decisions about staying in school, avoiding drugs and violence and contributing to the community.

For single-parent families, Y child care programs give parents the assurance of a safe, stimulating environment for their children.  Pre-schoolers learn to value achievement at an early age.  School-age children in Y afterschool programs have a constructive, fun alternative to just "hanging out."  Every facet of their development-fitness, social skills, decision-making and community involvement-is enhanced.  Parent-child programs like Y-Guides and Y-Princesses help moms and dads strengthen relationships with their children and build trust.

Adults love the Y for wellness, fitness, sports and social activities in a values-rich climate not found in most other organizations.  For many seniors, the YMCA provides a vital network of friends who enjoy being active, learning and sharing new experiences.

When a community embraces the Y, it is tapping into America's foremost youth service agency and the nation's leading provider of child care, youth sports, swimming programs, camping experiences, parent-child programs and wellness programs for all ages.
 

The YMCA stands for the emotional, mental and physical
growth of an individual, which fosters well being
for families and entire communities.
It provides a place for neighbors to gather, for children to play,
for teens to hang out, for seniors to socialize."

Pam Sessions
Co-Owner
Hedgewood Properties

The Y at Work Today in Forsyth County

In 1996, the Metro Atlanta YMCA organized the Forsyth County Family YMCA as a satellite of the Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA.  Several hundred Forsyth residents belonged at Alpharetta, and the Metro Y saw that the county was in need of its own programs.

Even before formally organizing the Forsyth County branch, the Metro Y was partnering with local schools and the Parks & Recreation Department.  Through these collaborations, more than 3500 Forsyth County children and youth have participated in after-school programs, youth sports and camping.  Demand for these programs is increases each year. 

After School Child Care:  In conjunction with the Forsyth County Board of Education, the Forsyth County Family YMCA offers Prime Time, an after-school care program.  Prime Time is designed to enrich and educate children from K-5th grade.  Parents have the assurance of a safe environment in which their children can participate in activities that stimulate learning and teach character lessons around the YMCA's four core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. 

Camping:   Since 2000, the Forsyth County Family Y has provided summer day camp, serving more than 750 children through age 12.  Day camp consists of five sessions each summer, with each session lasting two weeks.

For the summer of 2003 and beyond, the Forsyth Y has negotiated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the exclusive use of a 20-acre natural area on the shore of Lake Lanier.  Thanks to the Y, Forsyth County children will enjoy one of the finest day camp and summer resident facilities in the metropolitan area.

Y day camp has a strong educational dimension that promotes spiritual awareness, mental development, physical well being, social growth, appreciation of nature, and respect for the environment.

 "  Aquatics … promoting good health, water safety, self-confidence and
                teamwork.  The YMCA aquatics program includes lessons,
                recreational swimming and a variety of therapeutic and special purpose
                swimming programs

 "  Family Programs … encouraging mutual activities that foster understanding,
                companionship and support through many programs including Y-Guides and
    Y-Princesses, one of the most popular and effective parent-child programs
    available anywhere.
 
 "  Wellness, Health and Enrichment … The Y offers a variety of recreation,
                exercise and learning opportunities that promote a healthy spirit, mind and
                body.  Wellness programs place special emphasis on people who desire to
                improve their fitness but have trouble starting or sticking with an exercise
                program.  Other offerings are health education, personal training, CPR
    certification and classes that promote nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
               
 "  Community Services … Aimed at increasing self-reliance, life skills and
                personal planning, these programs address particular targets of need in
                the community such as at-risk youth, unemployed parents, teen mothers,
                juvenile youth and a growing Hispanic population in the county.

 "  Active Older Adults … The Y is a popular place for senior recreation,
                health and fitness programs, water therapy for seniors with arthritis, social activities and volunteerism.