WHO WE ARE

For more than 150 years, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington has been offering a safe haven for people - young and old alike - to come together and nurture their spirits, minds, and bodies through our programs and services. Below are a sample of programs and events that have enriched the lives of our kids, families, and communities.

YMCA PhD Program  |  YMCA Thingamajig
Summer of Service  |  YMCA Youth and Government
Child Care and Teens  |  Family Time  |  YMCA Youth & Family Services
Financial Assistance

YMCA PHD PROGRAM

With the help of a $142,000 grant from the US Department of Education and $50,000 from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, we kicked off a physical education program in our after-school programs at four D.C. branches. The YMCA PHD Program (physical, healthy and driven) is just one of the ways our association is addressing the rising obesity crisis among our young people.

For 45 minutes a day, three times a week, children participate in a variety of physical activities that are designed to be fun as well as beneficial to their overall health and wellbeing. The program also contains an educational component and discussions on nutrition, body composition, and drug and alcohol awareness. The YMCA's goal is to instill lifelong healthy practices in children while they are still young.

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YMCA THINGAMAJIG

Created to inspire and excite children about invention, science, technology, and the arts, YMCA's THINGAMAJIG Invention Convention celebrated a milestone this summer - our twelfth year. Young inventors entered their creations in one of twelve categories. For example, the "Super Duper Action Contraption" section featured "thingamajigs" that lit up, made sounds, and moved, while "It's All in the Game" highlighted toys and games made from recycled materials. The day-long event also included interactive and educational activities, such as a "computer autopsy," a rock climbing wall, and a Y Idol talent competition. This year's event attacted more than 3,000 children, 400 inventions, and more than 300 volunteers. Every year, THINGAMAJIG continues to garner widespread media attention for the association.

YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY

In the spring, more than 3,000 children and their families in the metropolitan region participated in YMCA Healthy Kids Day, a national event designed to educate communities across the country about health, safety, and wellness issues. Our branches - along with their community partners - provided free health screenings, child identification kits, fire safety demonstrations, and bike safety tips, as well as a lot of fun, games, and nutritional snacks. To further promote and encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle for their entire family, we also offered 50 percent off of our membership fees.

SUMMER OF SERVICE

YMCA's Summer of Service program taught hundreds of young people about the importance of civic responsibility. The program offers 12- to 15-year-olds the opportunity to make a difference in their communities. At the same time, young people learned about peer relationships, leadership skills, and the needs of their neighborhoods. Program participants engage in service projects that focus on three core areas. "Service to Self" builds and develops character through games and activities. "Service to Others" teaches teamwork and how it leads to increased productivity and group spirit. "Service to Community" focuses on planning and implementing service projects to help enrich the community and support individuals and groups in need.

Participating branches: YMCA Alexandria, YMCA Capital View, YMCA Fairfax County Reston, YMCA National Capital, YMCA Prince George's County, and YMCA Upper Montgomery County.

YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT

Nearly 200 YMCA youth participate in this national program, which gives high school students the opportunity to act and speak as model city legislators, teaches how our civic system works, and encourages students to continue their civic engagement into adulthood. Through a comprehensive curriculum, the program teaches students to identify community and social needs, to plan and undertake service projects, and to develop long-term political solutions to problems.

CHILD CARE AND TEENS

Regionally and nationally, the YMCA is the largest nonprofit provider of child care and summertime activities, offering quality and fun activities in a safe and nurturing environment. This year, our association served nearly 25,000 children and teens in our child care, summer camps, and teen activities. The core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility are at the heart of all of our programming.

FAMILY TIME

Branches throughout the metropolitan region, regularly host family swim nights and potluck dinners as a way of helping to ensure that children and their parents have an opportunity to connect with one another. One particularly popular event in our region is YMCA Camp Letts' Family Weekend, which is held over the Labor Day holiday. For many families, this event has become an annual tradition they look forward to and participate in, even long after their children have grown up and moved away.

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YMCA YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES

Our newest service program, YMCA Youth & Family Services, is the result of a merger between YMCA Silver Spring Youth Services and YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Youth Services and was formed to streamline our operations in order to better serve our communities. YMCA Youth & Family Services provides comprehensive prevention and early intervention services for youth and their families, regardless of ability to pay. Low-cost and no-cost multicultural services include counseling, after-school activities, parent education and support, and drug and alcohol seminars.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The need for financial assistance in our area is great, even in communities where it is not readily apparent. The Y continues to be there for these individuals to ensure that everyone who wants to participate in our programs will have that opportunity. Due to the generosity of individual and corporate donors, we were able to provide more than two million dollars in financial assistance and scholarships.