Page 10 - Tampa YMCA Annual Report 2022

DEAR FRIENDS,
When I look back on 2022, I am once again blown away by the tremendous impact we’ve made on the community. Together we are making a huge difference in the lives of individuals throughout Tampa Bay. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
Before I dive into the details, I want to thank you for your role in this work. None of this would have been possible without generous supporters like you!
I’d like to start with one of our most imperative priorities, drowning prevention. More children under the age of four drown in Florida than anywhere else in the nation, with Hillsborough County ranking among the highest nationally for drowning. Thanks to the commitment of community and corporate partners, we were able to teach more than 14,500 children how to swim and be safe around water in 2022. We did this by investing more financial resources in our Safety Around Water (SAW) program, growing our capacity to serve more youth across our Tampa Bay region. Formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%. SAW is offered at NO COST to the community and enables us to reach children who might otherwise not receive swim lessons.
Our highly successful summer camp program received recognition this year as an American Camp Association® (ACA) accredited summer camp program. The focus on a child’s physical, emotional and intellectual wellbeing, while offering a safe and positive environment, led us to achieve the prestigious ACA accreditation. This means the Tampa Y camps underwent a thorough review of our operations by the American Camp Association (ACA). From staff qualifications and training to emergency management, we met the highest standards in the industry. The ACA’s nationally recognized standards program focuses primarily on program quality as well as the health and safety aspects of a camp’s operation. Our accredited summer day camps are now a part of a very limited number of ACA accredited camps in the state of Florida. We provided more than 20,000 camper weeks to children this summer, teaching valuable
life skills and helping them build lasting memories in a safe, fun environment!
Additionally, we continued to work with families and the community to bring healthy living and nutrition to the neighborhoods that need it most. This year was our seventh year bringing fresh produce to the community by way of the Veggie Van and other meal assistance programs. In fact, the Tampa Y provided more than 558,000 meals to kids, seniors and families in the Tampa Bay Community.
Lastly, I am very proud to share that we reinvested $7.6 million back into into the community through financial assistance and subsidized programming
to help ensure that every child in our community could pursue their fullest potential at the YMCA regardless of their family’s financial capacity. The
Y is for everyone... every individual regardless of age, race, religion or physical capacity... everyone is welcome at the Y. Your generosity allowed us to serve 234,082 individuals in 2022, strengthening the community and building a brighter future for youth and families across the Tampa Bay Area.
I would like to thank the Governance Board, Center Advisory Boards, volunteers, donors and especially our great staff, for their dedication and commitment to support the needs of the community. I am
excited to continue to build a stronger Tampa Bay community together.
With appreciation,
Matt Mitchell
President & CEO 813.224.9622
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