2013 Annual Report--FINAL.pdf - YMCA of Greater Rochester

Collaborating . . . To Be Socially Responsible
A 12-year partnership
gives back to the community
Marta Valentin never learned to swim. So she’s especially grateful that four of her five
children receive swimming lessons at the YMCA as part of their school day.
Through a creative partnership, the school contracts with the YMCA to provide the facilities
for physical education classes and the staff to lead the classes for the 400 students in
grades K-8 who attend Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School. Neither of the school’s
two buildings in northeast Rochester has a full-size gym or a large field.
Since opening in 2000, the charter school has bused students weekly to the Maplewood
and Carlson MetroCenter branches. In addition, the YMCA received support from the Greater
Rochester Health Foundation to provide equipment for physical activities suited to small
spaces at the school. Since the school added middle school grades, the YMCA has provided
space for modified sports teams to practice and play games.
“I love that they go to the YMCA,” says Valentin. Her kids agree. “I think it’s very important
kids know how to swim,” says Simone Mateo, who’s 12 and has passed her test to swim in
the deep end. Fun sports such as kickball and flag football are another plus, she says. “I like
how in gym we’re pretty active.”
A look at the future:
As part of a collaborative with Bivona Child Advocacy Center and other Rochester community
organizations to prevent child sexual abuse, the YMCA will begin offering Darkness to Light
Stewards of Children trainings to YMCA staff, volunteers, and members. It is the goal of
the group to train 28,000 adults in Monroe County within five years.
In 2012, the YMCA of the USA announced its Achievement Gap initiative to substantially
increase the impact of YMCA early learning and out-of-school programs. Specifically, the
initiative will increase kindergarten readiness, reverse summer learning loss, and accelerate
academic achievement, ultimately ensuring school readiness and success for low-income
youth ages 3 to 10 who are behind in school or at risk of becoming behind. The YMCA
of Greater Rochester is deeply committed to eradicating the achievement gap in our
community and is proud to have been selected to pilot both the Summer Learning and
Afterschool national signature program models at Roberto Clemente School No. 8 during
the 2013-2014 program year.
“I think it’s very
important kids know
how to swim.”
-Simone Mateo
Her brother, Richard Priest, who’s 9, is enjoying lessons in the pool and tennis, soccer, and
running laps in the gym. “You get energy,” he says. “You get exercise, and you get healthy.”
School families turn out for an annual school wellness fair at the Carlson branch and for
an end-of-year picnic at Camp Arrowhead.
“The Y has been just a natural fit for us,” says Jeff Halsdorfer, principal. “The benefit
for our students and our families is that the Y has done a phenomenal job of promoting a
healthy lifestyle.”
Many Rochester students live in neighborhoods where it is not safe to play outdoors, notes
Sara Lewis, vice president of youth development. “This is expanding the walls of the Y,
bringing people into the branch who wouldn’t otherwise come in.” Connecting the charter
school families to the Y leads some to become members – perhaps with financial scholarships –
for safe, fun physical activity and lasting relationships.
That happened this spring for Valentin and her family, who joined the Maplewood branch
near their home. The 50-year-old says it is not too late for her to learn to swim herself:
“I want to take lessons.”