DISCOVER THE IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 IMPACT REPORT
LOOKING BACK ON 2021 At the YMCA of Greater Omaha we strengthen communities by focusing on youth development healthy living and social responsibility We provide children and adults alike with a place to exercise learn grow and belong We help children learn healthy habits new skills and guide them to be strong respectful adults Adults find a supportive community in the Y to live a healthy lifestyle Our 2021 impact report highlights our pandemic recovery successes and how we are emerging as a stronger and more inclusive organization While we still have more work to do our staff volunteers donors business partners and members remain dedicated and committed to building community with us 2 YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 IMPACT REPORT
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO REBECCA DETERDING F or so many of us we walked into 2021 with hope and determination to see positive progress in our battle against COVID 19 We unfortunately were met with another challenging year across the Omaha Council Bluffs Metro While recovery is still very much in our future the impacts of the pandemic have been felt in our schools childcare centers businesses and community I ve remained inspired by our dedicated staff and volunteers who continued to show up and serve our community daily despite their personal challenges The generosity of our donors foundations and local businesses made programs and services possible during a lot of organizational uncertainty From YMCA Early Learning Centers to youth sports and swimming lessons camp and group exercise senior socials and beyond the efforts by our staff members volunteers and philanthropic community ensured that the YMCA of Greater Omaha remained a safe place for people to restore their health reconnect with their neighbors and reinvest in our youth through a variety of programs and experiences We are so grateful Rebecca Deterding I ve remained inspired by our dedicated staff and volunteers who continued to show up and serve our community daily despite their personal challenges
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN 2021 THE YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA PROVIDED MORE THAN 19 900 youth sports experiences Claire was a past Nebraska State Champion in Wrestling for her age group In 2020 a rare cyst was found on her brain that had been there since birth In December of 2020 Claire had surgery which required the top of her skull to be removed in order to remove the cyst She was told she was no longer able to wrestle something she was very dedicated to and loved In 2021 as a part of her rehabilitation her doctor suggested that she begin dribbling a basketball 1 400 volunteer youth sports coaches invested in meaningful youth experiences A YMCA of Greater Omaha basketball coach of five years and friend of Claire s dad invited her to join his team Because of basketball and her coach Claire has regained confidence felt accepted welcomed and reenergized Basketball has become her passion ESPORTS In 2021 the YMCA of Greater Omaha launched its first ever Esports program Also known as Electronic Sports this innovative form of organized multiplayer online video gaming is one of the fastest growing trends for youth 4 At the Y s Esports program youth are welcome to be who they are excel at what they love and develop social strategic and problem solving skills through general play and competitions These skills are necessary as we encourage our young people to grow into thriving adults while playing in a safe moderated and inclusive environment YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 IMPACT REPORT 61 youth participated in the Y s first Esports program
8 400 swim lesson experiences This summer in our 2 week swim lesson program we had a child named Gail who was born with Down syndrome She was very very timid when she first started We used toys with her everyday just to help get her used to the water and become more comfortable with our instructor and guard As the session went on you could tell she felt more comfortable with all of the staff and became willing to try more in the water The staff would celebrate her progress with positive reinforcement and encourage her when she accomplished little things such as dipping her mouth nose or ear in the water She would get excited when she saw this encouragement You could tell she was really proud of herself and wanted to do more By the end of the six week session she was putting her whole face in the water practicing more skills independently and was really excited and overall more comfortable in the water We are now looking at an adaptive swim lesson option to continue to grow her skills and help her become more comfortable in the water Megan Warneke Charles E Lakin YMCA Aquatics Director
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT I enrolled my son in Summer Day Camp at the YMCA of Greater Omaha last summer I wanted a place where he could have fun without being glued to electronics all the time My son has a hard time with change so adjusting to the new environment and new people was tough for him at first The staff at the Y were extremely patient and understanding and worked with him to get past his anxiety Within a couple weeks he was really enjoying himself By mid summer he was talking about all the fun he was having and the friends he had made By the end of the program he didn t want to leave There were even a few tears the final day My son grew and matured a lot during Summer Day Camp The summer ended with a complete attitude change Now he is very excited about spending time at the Y during his winter break 65 children attended the YMCA Early Learning Center Creighton ADDITION OF THE YMCA EARLY LEARNING CENTER CREIGHTON At the beginning of 2021 the YMCA of Greater Omaha became the operators of Creighton s James R Russell Child Development Center This location serves Creighton students with childcare needs as well as faculty and the general public
We have a single parent whose son Trent attends our preschool classroom Trent was non verbal when he started He had constant meltdowns and some behavior issues His preschool teacher worked with both Trent and his mother on building his vocabulary managing his anger and finding outside resources for their family 734 school age youth found connection community at YMCA Summer Day Camp 435 kids advanced their cognitive social development in our YMCA Early Learning Centers Trent has grown leaps and bounds since starting He now uses full sentences and can communicate what he would like resulting in fewer tantrums In addition his mother and teacher frequently communicate about strategies and implement each other s ideas to best support Trent YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT The YMCA of Greater Omaha proudly offers Out of School time programming at three Collective for Youth sites Indian Hill Elementary Belvedere Elementary and McMillan Magnet Middle School These programs reinforce academic competencies develop positive behaviors provide caring adult relationships and support basic needs We continue to serve the community around us Our teachers are very caring and loving They strive to provide the best care possible We are known by many in the Creighton community YMCA Early Learning Center Creighton Teacher 7
HEALTHY LIVING COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH The YMCA of Greater Omaha s Community based Health Programs work towards providing solutions to improve quality of life for cancer survivors with LIVESTRONG at the YMCA those with Parkinson s with Delay the Disease and individuals looking to lose weight with Y Weight Loss I am a person currently living with Parkinson s Disease This progressive disease can impact quality of life The only method shown to slow the disease s progression is exercise Being a member of the YMCA and attending the Delay the Disease class helped me tremendously The class provides important exercise and equally important personal support Some of the activities we do are for flexibility strength balance and coordination We also work on cognitive skills During every class we work on physical skills share stories and most importantly laugh Delay the Disease Participant HOPE AND RECOVERY I am a single mom recovering from breast cancer and knee surgery with arthritis I wanted to show my kids a healthier lifestyle and wanted to see them active in sports programs The YMCA was there for me They have enabled my family to thrive and have given me hope I greatly appreciate all that the Y does for my family and for our community YMCA Member 8 YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 IMPACT REPORT In 2021 the YMCA of Greater Omaha served 49 233 members across the Greater Omaha area 27 of members were seniors
My story begins with calling the YMCA of Greater Omaha and inquiring about a membership During the conversation I mentioned I was 66 years old with terminal cancer It had been eight months since I had finished my chemo and radiation treatments which left me with no muscle The Welcome Center staff mentioned that I might benefit from their LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program My experience was everything I needed It was a blessing to spend time with people who had walked the cancer journey and we enjoyed encouraging each other to keep reaching for our goals The staff couldn t have been more helpful with COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH PROGRAMS 165 individuals participated in our Community based Health Programs despite the challenges of the pandemic the training they had received and knowledge they shared I could tell right away that the exercise was more helpful than I expected This experience was also so helpful for my mental health recovery making me realize there was no reason I couldn t push myself physically for as long as possible I feel like this program would be a blessing for all cancer patients as they finish their treatments I can t thank everyone involved enough for what this program has done for my quality of life as I continue my cancer journey LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Participant ACTIVE OLDER ADULT SERVICES Seniors find community and connection at the Y through fitness classes water exercise social programs and coordinated potlucks These programs combat isolation while encouraging friendships
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ANNUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDED At the YMCA of Greater Omaha strengthening community is our cause We make sure that everyone regardless of age income or background has the opportunity to learn grow and thrive Last year we provided 1 MILLION in scholarship funds to 7 300 community members who needed financial assistance to assist with childcare program membership expenses IOWA FRESH PRODUCE PROJECT The YMCA of Greater Omaha received funding from Y USA the Y s national parent organization and continued our hunger relief work with monthly distribution days March through August The Y provided sixteen pound produce boxes to kids families seniors and community partners to further address food insecurities caused by the pandemic 12 800 pounds of food were distributed to 800 individuals families through the Y Fresh Produce Project in 2021
FLU SHOT CLINIC HEALTHY KIDS DAY 400 flu shots were provided through our state wide partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska 1 500 children were served through our drive through event in partnership with National Safety Council Nebraska Children s Hospital and Medical Center EQUITY TASK FORCE The YMCA Equity Task Force was established in 2020 to address the inequities that our community faces while exploring ways that the YMCA can take more intentional action WELCOMING WEEK PRIDE 2021 Welcoming Week is a chance for neighbors both immigrants and U S born residents to get to know one another and celebrate what unites us as a community During this week our YMCA locations host a variety of activities and experiences to unite our staff and members The YMCA of Greater Omaha participated in the 2021 Heartland Pride Parade and Festival Leaders and volunteers from across the city came together to highlight our commitment of being FOR ALL by engaging in the Pride Youth Night and traditional parade YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 IMPACT REPORT 11
ACHIEVEMENTS INNOVATIONS CHARLES E LAKIN FAMILY YMCA PARK In just its first four years the Charles E Lakin YMCA has strengthened the Council Bluffs community and brought physical and social wellness to more than 9 200 members To support and maintain growth the YMCA of Greater Omaha needed to anticipate the needs of our members and plan for the future with an outdoor amenity area that will build capacity for the YMCA Early Learning Center youth summer day camp and our general membership This project will create a cohesive campus for members program participants and the greater Council Bluffs community to come together for outdoor recreation and fellowship In 2021 we made significant construction progress including opening the parking lot laying the cement and sod in the park and staging for the installation of the playground features MACKENZIE SCOTT INVESTMENTS In December 2020 the YMCA of Greater Omaha was honored to receive a 10 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott In 2021 the board developed and coordinated a process for identifying needs across the organization and the communities served by the Y Needs and ideas were collected discussed and prioritized by task forces of Y staff volunteers and community members In 2021 the YMCA of Greater Omaha increased its minimum wage from 9 to 11 enhanced aquatics accessibility allocated dollars toward organizational stability invested funds into the Charles E Lakin YMCA Park project The initiatives included Equity Inclusion Technology Innovation Organizational Stability Employee Equity Development Infrastructure Improvements 12 YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 IMPACT REPORT
LEVERAGING ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHS OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA Westview YMCA The YMCA of Greater Omaha and Omaha Public Schools formed a unique partnership that uses the strengths of each organization to create an incredible community asset at 156th Ida With this collaboration we will bring education healthy living and community engagement opportunities under one roof This innovative and progressive model is gaining interest and attention not only in our region but across the nation as like minded organizations seek to find efficiencies and improved ways to meet community needs Charles E Lakin Family YMCA Park Buena Vista Express YMCA The Buena Vista Express YMCA will be connected to the new Buena Vista High School located off of 60th and L This express YMCA model will meet the needs of the community students and faculty with state of theart wellness equipment conveniently placed on campus improving health equity for many The YMCA will be physically integrated with the school with programming and wellness resources available to students and the public There will also be a OneWorld clinic on site to support students families and the community complete with a nurse s station and behavioral health support Westview YMCA
FINANCIALS YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 OPERATING FINANCIALS NON GAAP Revenue Expense Membership Revenue 8 642 329 Personnel Costs Staff Development Program Revenue 6 352 093 Services Supplies 11 449 873 1 918 601 Contributions Grants United Way 2 152 542 Occupancy Equipment Rental Pool Management Other Income 1 320 402 Marketing Communication 713 275 18 467 366 National Dues Other Fees 662 790 Total Revenue Support Capital Improvements Debt Payments Total Expense Change in Operating Net 14 YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 2021 IMPACT REPORT 3 266 844 988 153 18 999 536 532 171
METRO YMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Our metro YMCA of Greater Omaha Board is a group of professionals who together with our YMCA professional staff share an unwavering commitment to the Y s mission and work in strengthening communities METRO BOARD CHAIR Dan McLaughlin Union Pacific Railroad BOARD MEMBERS Arun Agarwal White Lotus Group Rochelle Mullen Cline Williams Cindy Alloway Retired CHI Health Jeff Prochazka Methodist Health System Alan Brodin Kiewit Building Group Lori Scott Community Volunteer Dan Ertz Access Bank Todd Sears First Responders Foundation Steve Konnath Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Phil Taylor Five Nines Craig Lefler CIT Bank John Thurber OPPD Grant Matthies SilverStone Group Steve Zey Pinnacle Bank Sigrid Moylan Great Plains State Bank
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