Yonkers Family YMCA

Calling All Dads (Fathers, Father Figure, and Child Event April 19, 2013)!

John — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:07:09 +0000

All fathers and father figures are invited to participate in a night of fun and fellowship, with their children. There will be food, games, swimming, and more. See the attached flier for more details.

Click here for flier: CALLING ALL DADS

To Register simply send and mail to: Dads@yoymca.org include your name, and the name and age of each child.

The YMCA Poseidons Swim to Victory

John — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:21:56 +0000

When you think of the fact that three years ago the Yonkers YMCA did not have a swim team, then you would realize that coming in 9th out of 12 teams is a major victory. Recently, at the Westchester Fair League Championships the Poseidons and came in just ahead of the White Plains YMCA, the Tarrytown YMCA, and the Riverdale YMHA.

Melanie Sanchez was awarded 1st place in the 8 & under girl scoring the highest points in her individual events out of 80 girls. Melanie, keep it up! We are so proud of you!

A good team always follows good coaching. Thank you Heidy Lopez for your hard work! Thank you as well to all of the YMCA Aquatics staff that worked alongside her.

John — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:18:45 +0000

Yonkers, New York (March 7, 2013) –YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the nation’s 2700 YMCAs, selected Yonkers Family YMCA to participate in its Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) initiative. The goal of REACH is to improve health and eliminate disparities related to chronic diseases in African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino communities.

In October, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) REACH initiative awarded Y-USA a cooperative agreement of up to $4 million per year for up to five years to improve our nation’s health and well-being, with a specific focus on addressing gaps between racial and ethnic groups across the country. Y-USA is re-awarding this grant, selecting up to 16 new communities per year to participate in the REACH initiative in their communities. The Ys receiving funding are serving communities of their cities that reflect populations of under 500,000 and have an established relationship with a geographic area that is at least 50 percent African American/Black or Hispanic/Latino or a combination of the both racial/ethnic groups. Being selected for the REACH program will allow the Yonkers Family YMCA to address barriers to healthy living in its community.

“As a leading nonprofit committed to healthy living, the Y believes that everyone in Yonkers deserves to live life to its fullest regardless of where they live or the color of their skin,” said Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Chief Executive Officer. “The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health funding helps ensure our programs and initiatives are helping those individuals who face the greatest barriers to healthy living.”

Many preventable risk factors—tobacco use, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity—are more common in communities of color, often resulting in higher prevalence of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and asthma, among others. Chronic disease contributes to roughly 75 percent of the $2.5 trillion spent annually on health care in the United States.

To achieve the REACH goals, communities implement targeted interventions that address the specific needs of African American/ Black and Hispanic/Latino communities. Strategies selected address critical issues to ensure all community members can achieve one or more of the following:

a healthy weight

have access to nutritious foods
are able to be physically active
are not exposed to smoke and other tobacco products
live in places that encourage emotional well-being

“Where you live should not affect your health,” said Neil Nicoll, President and CEO, YMCA of the USA. “Yet, too many communities lack the resources for individuals to access opportunities for physical activity and healthy foods and improve their health and well-being. The Y’s longstanding partnership with CDC has allowed us to strengthen communities through programs and initiatives that create environments where all people have the opportunity to make a healthy choice. These funds enable us to continue this work and expand it to communities that need it most.”

The Yonkers Family YMCA is one of 16 Ys selected to receive funds through REACH. Ys who will receive funds are:

YMCA of Silicon Valley Gilroy/San Martin, CA

YMCA of Memphis & The Mid-South Memphis, TN

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI

YMCA of Greater Kansas City Wyandotte County, KS

YMCA of Greater Whittier Whittier, CA

YMCA of the East Bay Richmond, CA

Ed & Ruth Lehman YMCA Longmont; Boulder County, CO

Yonkers Family YMCA Yonkers; Westchester County, NY

YMCA of Western North Carolina Inc. Shiloh, NC

Florida’s First Coast YMCA Duval County, FL

Merrimack Valley YMCA Lawrence, MA

Greater Syracuse YMCA Syracuse, NY

YMCA of Metropolitan Hartford Hartford, CT

Old Colony YMCA Stoughton; Brockton, MA

YMCA of the Triangle Area SE Raleigh, NC

York & York County YMCA York, PA

Several other national organizations will work with Y-USA to help achieve the goals of the cooperative agreement. Partners include the American Psychological Association, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Council of La Raza and California State University at Long Beach Center for Latino Community Health. All of the organizations funded through the REACH program bring the resources, dedication, and experience as leaders in this effort to create health equity across the country.

To learn more about the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health program, including previous funded programs, visit www.cdc.gov/reach.

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net

Salsa, Sabor Y Salud – April Session

John — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:15:31 +0000

Small changes can bring big success. And small changes start at home with the family. That’s the inspiration for the Kraft Foods Foundation three-year, $1.5 million partnership with the National Latino Children’s Institute (NLCI) and YMCA of the USA to expand the successful Salsa, Sabor y Salud (Food, Fun and Fitness) healthy lifestyles program.

First National Program of its Kind

Developed in 2002 by NLCI in partnership with Kraft Foods, Salsa, Sabor y Salud is the first national program of its kind to address the growing obesity rates and inactivity levels among Latino children. According to the American Medical Association, 38.2 percent of Hispanic children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese, compared with 31.7 percent of all children those ages. And, more Hispanic children ages 2 to 11 are obese than their peers.

Salsa, Sabor y Salud addresses the issue by teaching families the importance of achieving balance through healthier food choices and increased levels of physical activity.

“Since 2002, Salsa, Sabor y Salud has engaged Latino families with culturally relevant content built around traditions and culture. The program promotes hands-on learning about making nutritious food choices and increasing physical activity,” said Josie Garza, Executive Director, NLCI. “The expansion to include the Y will help us reach even more Latinos across the country.”

“The Y has a longstanding commitment to addressing the most pressing needs of our community, and childhood obesity is a top priority,” said Neil Nicoll, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Kraft Foods Foundation and NLCI to provide Salsa, Sabor y Salud to Ys nationwide that we can collectively bring more families together to learn healthy habits and achieve greater health and well-being.”

Getting the Whole Family Involved

Family gatherings are central to Latino culture. Salsa, Sabor y Salud is a unique program because it builds on this tradition with creative, comprehensive and culturally relevant tools designed to get the whole family involved in building a healthy lifestyle. Created for Latinos by Latinos, the eight-week bilingual curriculum has families celebrating traditions, finding better-for-you ways to prepare favorite recipes, and getting up on their feet moving.

It’s based on four messages:

Eat from all food groups every day

Be sensible about portions
Be physically active every day
Take small steps for success

The curriculum has proven to make a positive impact on participants. According to a University of Illinois evaluation of the program, 93 percent of the participants surveyed said they were eating more nutritious meals. And they reported an increase in the number of days they were exercising from 2 to 3.5. The program also received the President’s Circle Award for Nutrition Education from the American Dietetic Association in 2007.

This is a free program offered to Latino Families in the Yonkers community.

This program is partially supported by the United Way of Westchester and Putnam.

Marisol Mancebo, SSS Coordinator – MarisolM@yoymca.org (914) 963-0183 Ext. 17

Healthy Smart Behavior Program-April Session

John — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:53:29 +0000

Celebrate your heritage, connect with others and motivate yourself and family to maintain a long-term healthy lifestyle. In a Health-Smart Behavior Program group, discover your own motivations to make healthy behavior choices, learn coping skills for managing negative emotions about your health choices, and self praise of health behaviors.

The Health-Smart Behavior Program combines a culturally sensitive self-assessment of healthy behaviors with a supportive group of peers and a coach to equip individuals and families—youth and adults—with the tools and encouragement needed to make lasting behavior changes.

In the Health-Smart Behavior Program, you will identify your motivations for healthy behavior and the barriers that come between you and the healthy lifestyle you desire. Each group meeting will include goal setting, health and wellness education and peer support to increase and sustain your targeted Health-Smart Behaviors. Working with others, you will be inspired to change your behavior and have the accountability to help you commit to making changes that last.

Register today. Don’t miss this opportunity to take control of your lifestyle and make health-smart behaviors today. There are no costs for this program.

This program is sponsored in part by the United Way of Westchester and Putnam.

Vanessa Cowan, HSB Coordinator – VanessaC@yoymca.org (914) 963-0183 Ext. 13