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TampaY_Annual Report_2017

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Our Y has a tremendous history here in Tampa<br />

as the city’s oldest nonprofit and we have been<br />

evolving over the last 129 years as we strive to<br />

serve the ever changing needs of our families.<br />

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO<br />

The year <strong>2017</strong> was a big one for me<br />

because it’s the year I was fortunate<br />

enough to join the Tampa YMCA<br />

family! And what a family it is. Even<br />

before my wife and I officially called<br />

Tampa Bay home, I was welcomed<br />

with open arms. Since October<br />

<strong>2017</strong>, I have been forging new<br />

relationships, educating myself on<br />

our Y’s culture and atmosphere and<br />

working alongside our great team of<br />

volunteers and staff to make a great<br />

Y even better.<br />

I arrived during a year when we<br />

accomplished so much! <strong>2017</strong> was<br />

a year when new data showed the<br />

drowning rate among young children<br />

in Hillsborough County decreased<br />

by half. This is encouraging news<br />

to the Tampa Y because drowning<br />

prevention is a top strategic priority<br />

area. However, there is much work to<br />

be done. Florida still ranks number<br />

one in the nation for youth drowning<br />

cases. The Y will continue to reach<br />

more vulnerable populations in<br />

the years to come. Together, with<br />

supporters like you, we’re committed<br />

to ensuring not one more local child<br />

drowns.<br />

As a local leader in health and<br />

wellness, the Tampa Y launched the<br />

new Enhance ® Fitness program at<br />

three of our Ys. This senior fitness<br />

and arthritis management program<br />

is designed to increase fitness levels<br />

while building a sense of social<br />

connectedness. The feedback we’re<br />

getting is phenomenal and we look<br />

forward to expanding the program at<br />

more Ys in the near future.<br />

In <strong>2017</strong>, we expanded the Y’s Veggie<br />

Van – A Mobile Market Place to<br />

include two new stops in Plant City<br />

and Dover. Through the Veggie<br />

Van, we distribute fresh fruits and<br />

veggies into targeted communities<br />

without access to healthy and<br />

affordable food. We also kicked off<br />

a new collaboration with the James<br />

A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and look<br />

forward to bettering the lives of<br />

thousands of Tampa Bay veterans!<br />

This past year, we expanded the<br />

Downtown Y to include a newly<br />

renovated multi-use fitness space,<br />

called “the STUDIO.” Further<br />

north, we cut the ribbon on a large<br />

renovation project at the Bob Sierra<br />

North Tampa Family Y to provide<br />

12,000 North Tampa children,<br />

teens and adults the support and<br />

resources they need to achieve<br />

greater health and well-being.<br />

Furthermore, more Northdale/<br />

Carrollwood kids can learn about<br />

teamwork, relationship-building and<br />

other life skills in the facility’s newly<br />

expanded Kid Zone.<br />

In addition, I’m excited to have<br />

come aboard at the same time we<br />

broke ground on the final phase<br />

of the Spurlino Family YMCA at<br />

Big Bend Road. By late 2018,<br />

we’ll welcome thousands of South<br />

Hillsborough County residents<br />

into our new 32,500-square-foot<br />

facility in Riverview. This supportive<br />

environment will serve as a muchneeded<br />

community hub where<br />

families can spend quality time<br />

together, kids can build character<br />

and confidence and everyone can<br />

improve their quality of life.<br />

My thanks to the Governance<br />

Board, center advisory boards,<br />

volunteers, donors and staff for<br />

their dedication and continuous<br />

support to serve the changing needs<br />

of our community. Throughout <strong>2017</strong>,<br />

we’ve stayed true to our Vision 2020<br />

III established priority areas: closing<br />

the achievement gap, improving<br />

Tampa Bay’s health and well-being,<br />

teen leadership development and<br />

drowning prevention.<br />

I feel very fortunate to have this<br />

wonderful opportunity to serve such<br />

a diverse and vibrant community.<br />

Our Y has a tremendous history<br />

here in Tampa as the city’s oldest<br />

nonprofit and we have been evolving<br />

over the last 129 years as we strive<br />

to serve the ever changing needs<br />

of our families. I look forward to<br />

nurturing that continued evolvement<br />

as we continue to strengthen the<br />

foundations of community.<br />

With appreciation,<br />

Matt Mitchell<br />

President & CEO<br />

813.224.9622<br />

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