Page 9 - 2024 YMCA of the Suncoast Annual Report

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FLOAT class taking place at the Citrus YMCA!
Community is central to everything we do. Whether
it’s our drowning prevention programs like FLOAT, or
Safety Around Water (SAW), we are doing our best
to minimize drownings for children under 4 – a tragic
statistic Florida still leads in. SAW is an introductory
swim program – provided at no extra cost to kids
ages 5-12. Through the program across all our
branches, instructors instill a love of the water while
helping kids and parents build safety skills and
knowledge.
Continuing our community partnership with
Feeding Tampa Bay, we were privileged to serve
11,543 people with 169,134 lbs. of food.
Additionally, 90,646 children, teens, adults,
senior citizens, cancer survivors, chronically ill
community members, at-risk youth, infants and
toddlers across four counties were supported and
guided to achieve greater health and well-being for
their spirit, mind and body at the Y.
Thanks to the charitable contributions of Y members
and donors, 5,300 individuals were served
at little or no cost. Plus, 200 foster children
and their foster families were welcomed to the Y
where they could discover more about each other
and continue to develop stronger and nurturing
relationships. A total of $6.8 million was
invested in the community to ensure participation in
all programs among youth, adults and families facing
financial hardship, as well as subsidized programs
that fill community voids.
Volunteering benefits the Y and our communities
while enhancing the well-being and relationships
of those who serve. Last year 458 volunteers
donated their time and talents to assist in the Y’s
cause-driven programs and initiatives. A total
of 22,695 hours were served by dedicated
volunteers making a difference.
As a leading 4-star charity, the YMCA of the
Suncoast is committed to strengthening the
communities we serve. We believe personal and
lasting change is best accomplished when people
come together and work to invest in our children,
our families, our health and our community.
OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY | 8