Page 10 - Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA Annual Report 2015

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
When you put it all down in writing, the positive impact we make on a yearly basis is remarkable. Together, we’re making a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and a huge impact on each individual we serve.
As you see in this annual report, we’ve stayed true to our Vision 2020 established priority areas in 2015: closing the academic achievement gap, chronic disease prevention and management, teen development and drowning prevention.
The Veggie Van – A Mobile Market Place is one of our most innovative initiatives in 2015. Since July, the Veggie Van has been taking fruits and veggies directly to kids and families in targeted high- need neighborhoods across Hillsborough and East Pasco counties. On page 6 in this annual report, you can watch a video for an up-close look at the Veggie Van’s real impact. Our thanks to the Veggie Van’s founding partners – Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Joy McCann Foundation and Bank of America – for helping us change the face of childhood hunger in the Tampa Bay area.
The Tampa Y also cut a lot of ribbon during grand openings in 2015. In September, we unveiled the new Carol Kennedy Aquatic Center at the South Tampa Family YMCA. With the new addition, we’re able to impact more children and families with our life- saving swim lessons, water therapy programs and a family-fun water park.
We also cut the ribbon to Phase I of The Family Y
at Big Bend Road in October. Currently, hundreds of kids are learning sports, teamwork and other life skills on five athletic fields and inside the airnasium. Other outdoor amenities include a picnic pavilion, fitness trail and playground. We cannot wait to expand our impact in the South Shore community with phase two of the new Y in Gibsonton – be on the lookout for a spring 2017 groundbreaking.
To add more value to a Y membership in 2015, the Tampa Y expanded our focus on family-friendly programming to provide families more opportunities to spend fun, quality time together and engage in activities with other neighborhood families in safe, positive environments. We also piloted many new innovative health and wellness programs in 2015, including Pedaling for Parkinson’s, outdoor boot camps, high-intensity interval training, heart rate training technology and Y-Weight – an immersive 12-week program offered free of charge to our Everywhere members.
Needless to say, 2015 has been a busy but meaningful year for the Tampa Y. My thanks to the Governance Board, branch boards, volunteers, donors and staff for their dedication and continuous support to serve the changing needs of our community as we continue to build a better us!
See you at the Y!
Tom Looby, President & CEO
9