Spring_2019_Newsletter

WHERE COMMUNITY
COMES TOGETHER
OZARKS REGIONAL YMCA • www.orymca.org • Spring 2019
Roy Blunt YMCA of Bolivar • Ozark Mountain Family YMCA • G. Pearson Ward YMCA • Monett Area YMCA • Pat Jones YMCA
Cassville YMCA • Dallas County Area YMCA • Lebanon Family YMCA • YMCA School Age Services • YMCA Camp Wakonda
phi·lan·thro·py
/fəˈlanTHrəpē/
Noun
The desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the
generous donation of money to good causes.
OZARKS REGIONAL YMCA- We are so thankful for those who have
helped us kick off our 2019 Annual Campaign! As you visit our
branches, be sure to check out the Donor Recognition Walls. Watching
these areas grow and become more colorful has definitely been
an exciting way to see the impact our donors are making within the
communities we serve.
Thanks to Our Community
By Angel Adams
OZARK MOUNTAIN FAMILY YMCA- Every year the Ozark Mountain
Family YMCA partners with the City of Hollister and Hollister
schools to provide recreation and educational opportunities to
local children. We believe it is our social responsibility to provide
our local families with as many opportunities we can. Throughout
the year we offer safety around water courses, team sports, recreational
gymnastics clinics, and more. We are so thankful for the
amazing support from the City of Hollister and our community.
As the Ozarks Regional YMCA continues with the Annual Campaign,
it is important to understand that we aren’t fundraising, but instead,
we are encouraging philanthropy. These efforts allow us to
continue to provide in excess of $300,000 each year to those in
need. The ORYMCA believes that no one should be denied access to
membership, and/or programs due to the inability to pay.
So what does this assistance look like? It allows children a safe
place before &/or after school, and during snow days while parents
are working. It gives a child the experience of summer day camps &
possibly a week at Camp Wakonda. Funds are used to provide nutritious
snacks through our School Age Services programs. People
who otherwise would not be able to participate in healthy living and
sports programs now have access. Our membership assistance provides
single parents, senior citizens, military, low-income families
and more, a place to learn about healthy lifestyles, nutrition and
social responsibility.
The funds raised during our Annual Campaign are used strictly for
financial assistance, none of it goes towards operational costs. In
addition, you can designate which branch you would like to assist
with your donation.You play an active part in making a difference
where you would like.
Through the generous efforts of our donors and the help of the
United Way, the ORYMCA is making a difference in the lives of
thousands of people.
Please consider
joining our philanthropy
movement.
Together, we are
working towards a
better community.
Visit www.orymca.
org/give today!
Pinwheels for Prevention
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Ozarks Regional
YMCA is encouraging everyone to have conversations about child
sexual abuse prevention.
Pinwheels for Prevention gardens will be springing up at Y locations.
The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign’s purpose is to
encourage individuals and organizations to take action by learning
more about prevention, supporting child and family-friendly
policies and services.
To put Christian principles into practice through programs
that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

WHERE COMMUNITY
COMES TOGETHER
Back to Where it Began
By Paula Shepard
ROY BLUNT YMCA OF BOLIVAR- Here at the Ozark Regional YMCA we
are not just about growing our community, we are here to give back
as well. One way many do that is through sports. At the Roy Blunt
YMCA in Bolivar our sports staff is made up of people with all different
backgrounds whether
they were former college
and high school athletes,
sports majors, or former
YMCA sports athletes. We
are highlighting one of
our soccer referees, Manny
Ofori-Yeboah. Manny
told me he started participating
in Y sports here
in Bolivar at the age of “5
or 6” he thinks. Whatever
age he started he loved it
from then on. This will be
Manny’s second season
as a referee for the soccer
program. Manny loves the
Bolivar community; he is currently a middle school teacher and was
wanting to give back more to the community, and he saw the Bolivar
Y as a great place to do so since he remembered the impact it had
on him.
He remembers growing up not only learning the skills he needed
to play the sport, but he was also taught some important lessons
while playing. One of those valuable lessons was respect. “I had
such an amazing coach, I knew he had our best interest in mind
and I respected him for that ... our coach taught us to respect each
other and keep building each other up playing as a team. We would
always go up to [the refs] after the games and thank them for being
our ref. I was taught to respect the people we played against
we always had to shake hands after the game thanking them for a
great game.”
Manny is committed to helping our young athletes grow up to be
amazing people. Manny told me “while being a ref with our younger
ages I don’t have to just be a ref, I have the ability to help the kids
work on their skills. Sometimes when the ball goes out of bounds,
we have to let the kid try to throw the ball in 3 or 4 times before
they get it right.” I love this about our sports and our referees they
aren’t just there for another paycheck, they are there for the benefit
of the kids helping them grow. Manny is our head soccer ref in Bolivar
where we offer “biddy” soccer which teaches fundamentals to 3
and 4-year-olds. They can later continue developing those skills in
our soccer program offered for 5 to 9-year-olds.
At the YMCA we are not just a place for someone to come workout,
we are a family that is all about giving back to the community. One
of the best ways to do that is through our sports, it is ingrained in
our culture. The Y is where some famous athletes got their start,
from Mark Spitz, to Wilt Chamberlain, and to Frank Robinsons. With
the growing love for soccer in the United States who knows our
next big soccer star could be here at one of our YMCAs.
Upcoming Events
HEALTHY KIDS DAY
We are hosting FREE community events throughout the month of April
to show your family a healthy summer is fun and easy!
Monett Area YMCA- April 16, 6-8 pm
Lebanon Family YMCA- April 20, 8 am-12:30 pm, at Mills
Center (hosted by Lifepoint Church)
Ozark Mountain Family YMCA- April 27, 10 am- 1 pm
YMCA CAMP WAKONDA OPEN HOUSE
Tour Camp, meet the farm animals, meet staff and participate in a
variety of activities.
April 20 and May 25
ROCK N RIBS BBQ FESTIVAL
Come out to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds for BBQ sampling and
music. Proceeds support seven area children’s charities including the
Springfield YMCAs.
April 25-27
OZARK MOUNTAIN FAMILY YMCA GOLF TOURNAMENT
100% of the proceeds of this event go to the Ozark Mountain Family
YMCA Annual Campaign to help our community.
May 31
for more information visit orymca.org
Member Spotlight
This is Taylor Porter. She has
three buckets she puts her money
in. One is to spend, one is to
save, and one is to give. She
chose to donate her "give" money
to the Ozark Mountain Family
YMCA and her parents matched
it! Twelve dollars may not sound
like a lot but to us it means the
world! Thank you, Taylor, for inspiring
us with your huge heart!