Page 4 - Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA Annual Report 2021

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
DEPENDABILITY
THAT KEEPS ON GROWING
We believe every child deserves the support, guidance and encouragement
to be who they are and discover who
they can become. That’s why the Tampa
Y provides opportunities for thousands
of youth to cultivate the values, skills
and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. We are committed to long- term, results-driven programs that inspire the growth and development
of our local youth .
By the time low-income
children reach kindergarten, many are already far behind students from middle and upper-income families in
their intellectual, social and emotional development. As
they move through school,
they often fall further behind. Many of these young people will reach adulthood unprepared to succeed. These kids are more likely to become teen parents, engage in criminal activities, suffer from mental health issues and face unemployment. The Y’s goal is to catch these students up by providing them with academic assistance after school and over the summer, when they’d ordinarily fall behind their peers.
The activities offered by the Tampa Y enable a child to set goals, work toward achieving those goals, and get the support they need form engaged, committed adults. The Y believes that a confident kid today creates a contributing and engaged adult tomorrow.
3 SUSTAINABILITY IN LIVING WITH OUR CAUSE