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Kentucky’s 21 YMCAs serve more than 493,000 people each year, uniting men, women and children of all faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels.
Nationally, 42 million families and 72 million households are located within three miles of a YMCA. In fact, more Americans belong to a YMCA than live in the five largest U.S. cities.
The YMCA movement has much to be proud of: The American Institute of Philanthropy awarded YMCAs an “A” rating for their program service excellence and low administration costs. YMCAs on average spend only $7 to raise $100, and 89 percent of budget goes directly to programs.
For the second year in a row, YMCAs occupied the No. 1 spot on THE NONPROFIT TIMES’ “Top 100” list of nonprofit organizations. YMCAs collectively earned $4.75 billion in revenue, an increase of $172 million over the previous year.
Volunteerism Works!
Volunteer-founded, volunteer-based and volunteer-led, YMCAs of Kentucky depend on the generosity and dedication of their 9,400 volunteers across the state to meet the unique needs of each community.
These volunteers include educators, judges, newspaper publishers, bank executives, law enforcement officials, healthcare professionals and other community leaders.
Volunteers are at the center of YMCA operations, from reading to preschoolers to teaching swimming and working with seniors. They also serve on policymaking boards that set the strategic direction for their YMCA with professional staff to ensure that each Y is mission driven.
Children, Youth & Teens
Every day, YMCAs of Kentucky help children and youth deepen positive values, their commitment to service and their motivation to learn.
Collectively, our YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit child care provider in the state, serving more than 27,000 children.
The YMCAs of Kentucky provided high-quality, affordable care to these children last year, and 30 percent of kids in the child care program were given financial assistance.
Over 100,000 teens are also served at the the YMCAs of Kentucky through a variety of activities, including peer mentoring, camping, youth sports and afterschool arts programs.
The Kentucky YMCA Youth Association (founded in 1890) is among the nation’s largest teen-serving YMCAs. From its Frankfort headquarters, these teen specialists travel into all areas of Kentucky offering a wide range of youth development programs, including Student YMCAs (formerly “Y” Clubs) in every middle and high school throughout all 120 counties.
One other historic Y program is Project Safe Place. This program provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for young people in crisis through a network of sites sustained by qualified agencies, trained volunteers, and businesses.
The program began in Louisville, Kentucky in 1983 as an outreach effort of the YMCA Center for Youth Alternatives. Success has prompted the implementation of this youth shelter outreach program in communities throughout the United States. Following are some Safe Place statistics:
- 65,992 Youth have received help at Safe Place sites.
- 13,005 Safe Place sites are available across the country.
- 61,539 Youth have received counseling by phone as a result of Safe Place outreach efforts.
- 143 Safe Place programs are operated by youth service agencies (including ten communities with a Safe Place designated shelter).
- 42 Safe Place states.
- 712 Communities are served by Safe Place.
Family Strengthening
YMCAs of Kentucky help families build stronger bonds, achieve greater work/life balance and become more engaged with their communities.
Many families participate in our family programs that focus on bringing children and parents together. From family fitness programs to family camp and adventure guide programs, YMCAs of Kentucky have been bringing parents and children together for more than a century!
Parents can also come to the Y for support and education when dealing with life changes and family stress. Many Ys offer parenting skills classes and provide community resources centers for low-income families and many other programs that help to build positive connections.
Older Adults
Adults 55 and older now make up 10 percent of total YMCA membership, and adults 65 and older are the fastest-growing category of YMCA membership.
While most YMCAs now offer fitness and exercise programs specifically geared toward older adults, more than 570 Ys offer older adult trips and programs, and 561 have older adult social clubs.
Health and Well-Being for All
Since their founding, YMCAs have offered programs that enable individuals to strengthen their spiritual, mental and physical well-being. Today, YMCAs are the nation’s largest providers of health and well-being programs.
All are welcome at the YMCAs of Kentucky regardless of age, race, sex, faith, background, ability or income.
The YMCAs of Kentucky are working to combat rising levels of obesity and promote healthy living for millions of Americans through YMCA Activate America®. The YMCAs of Kentucky have joined 1,525 other YMCAs that have committed to this bold approach to directly address our nation’s growing health crisis by engaging and supporting all health seekers and communities in their pursuit of well-being in spirit, mind and body.
Aquatics programs, child, youth and adult obesity programs and fitness education are some of our programs designed to educate children and parents on healthy lifestyles, nutrition and physical activity.
Kentucky YMCAs ... improving the health of families and communities across the state.
At the YMCA we earn our tax exemption every day. |
