The Third Thursday

Tom's Pic Dear Friends,

The Tampa Y is going green! For the second year in a row, we are releasing our 2013 Annual Report in digital format. Publishing this document online not only helps the environment by saving paper, it also allows us to deliver information to our donors, members and friends in the most affordable manner. I invite you to click through the pages to find out how we’re strengthening the foundations of the community across Hillsborough and East Pasco counties. In the report, we also pay tribute to the thousands of generous donors, volunteers, staff and community partners who are behind our life-changing work. Together, we are meeting Tampa Bay's most critical needs.

As part of our commitment to social responsibility, we also have exciting changes happening at all of our branches. This summer, we’re installing new recycling bins at all of our branches to ensure we’re doing our part to help conserve resources and energy. At the Central City and New Tampa Ys, crews are also installing more energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, which is brighter and lasts longer. We’re very excited about both projects and can’t wait to tell you more about it in the months to come.

Switching gears, thanks to all of you who attended last month's Healthy Kids Day® at Curtis Hixon Park. You were one of thousands and we appreciate your support of the Y's mission to fight childhood obesity and prevent summer learning loss. Our dedicated staff and volunteers spent much of their weekend touching more lives and I send them my gratitude.

Healthy Kids Day also officially kicks off the Y's summer camp season, which is one of my favorite programs. This year, we’re piloting a “Go for Green” program as part of our Vision 2020 focus on drowning prevention. The Monday of each camp week, campers at six of our branches will be swim tested. Those who cannot pass the swim test get a red band. All red band swimmers will receive swim lessons throughout their camp swim time that week - at no extra charge. This is being made possible through the generous support of the Tampa Bay Rays, United Way Suncoast, and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. The goal is to teach them the skills required to pass the swim test and get a green band. I’m looking forward to seeing all the extra green bands this summer!

See you at the Y!

Tom Looby
CEO & President
813-224-9622

A Lifesaving Necessity

When Elisha Busby and her husband moved from Missouri to Tampa Palms, they immediately discovered their young kids had to learn to swim. "There's water everywhere. I learned quickly that not even knowing how to float was not an option for my children," shares Elisha. That’s why she enrolled 9-year-old Grace and 7-year-old Jacob in swim lessons at the New Tampa Family YMCA, "It's a place where parents don't have to break their wallets and the program, including the staff and the facility, is incredible," says Elisha.

Pictured above: Jacob Busby learned how to swim at the
New Tampa Y.

Aquatics for All

All abilities jumped in for the New Tampa Family YMCA’s third annual “Cinco de Mayo” adaptive swim meet earlier this month. Fifteen swimmers with a physical, visual and/or intellectual impairment participated in the competition. The New Tampa Y Adaptive team, Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay and Man O’ War from Orlando went head-to-head, with the top three finishers in each event receiving ribbons.

Pictured above: The New Tampa Family Y hosts an annual meet for disabled swimmers.

Finding Deeper Meaning in Camp

12-year-old Cody Allen and his 18-year-old sister, Haley, are regulars at YMCA Camp Cristina. But summer camp took on a different meaning when doctors found tumors in their mother’s brain last year. “Her focus when she got sick was making sure they had somewhere to go for the summer,” recalls Executive Director Darren Dannelly. “That was her main focus so we’re happy to be that for her and a lot of other kids.”

Pictured above: Haley and Cody Allen have grown up together at YMCA Camp Cristina..

Healthier and Happier Kids

Thousands of active, smiling kids came together thanks to the Tampa Y, which hosted a free community event on Saturday, April 26th. More than 2,000 children, teens and adults got moving and learning together for Healthy Kids Day® at Curtis Hixon Park.

Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to help families get a jump on creating a healthier summer, which is a critical out-of-school time for children’s health. Research shows without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. Healthy Kids Day helped parents start thinking early about what their kids need to grow and achieve all summer long.

Pictured above: During the Y’s Healthy Kids Day, children of all ages participated in a variety of fun activities, like face painting.

Friends Reunite at the Y

Carolyn Williams and Sadie Stevens grew up together as young kids. Eventually, their lives took them in different directions until they both decided to take greater control of their heath by signing up for SilverSneakers™ at the Bob Gilbertson Central City Family YMCA.

65-year-old Carolyn spends her mornings on the treadmill and bicycle. “I feel great! My blood pressure is down. My clothes are fitting different,” says Carolyn. “So, if I am feeling like this, I know it’ll be something I’ll be staying with because I really love it.”

Pictured above: Sadie Stevens (left) and Carolyn Williams (right) are SilverSneaker members at the Central City Y.

Did you know the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA has been named a finalist in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s prestigious 2014 Nonprofit of the Year Awards? The award honors Tampa Bay-based 501(c)(3), non-foundation community organizations benefiting residents of Greater Tampa Bay who are fiscally responsible and accountable with regard to program outcomes. The Tampa Y is a finalist in the Public & Societal Benefit category. Winners will be announced on June 5th. Wish the Tampa Y good luck!

Did you know the Board of Hillsborough County Commissioners will commend the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA next Wednesday? Commissioner Sandy Murman invited Tampa Y President & CEO Tom Looby to a special commendation on Wednesday, May 21st at 9am to celebrate our 125th anniversary. We are honored to be invited and look forward to sharing how the Tampa Y has been strengthening the community for 125 years!