Grand Opening of North Community Youth and Teen Enrichment Center

The North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center proves that it is indeed unparalleled and distinctive. Hundreds of children and families turned out for the official Grand Opening at the Center on Saturday, May 2.


Thanks to the hard work and support of many, the dream of the Youth and Family Enrichment Center became a reality as we cut the official grand opening ribbon. Andrea Walsh, YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis past chair, emceed the ceremony. We also heard from Harold Mezile, YMCA President and CEO; Fred Friswold, "Commitment to Community" campaign chair; Michael Miller, North Community YMCA Board Chair; Don Samuels, Minneapolis City Council, Ward 5; Jake Spano, Deputy State Director; Jonathan Roberts and Lupita Sherrod, YMCA program participants and part-time staff. Mayor Rybak also attended to show his support.

The YMCA also recognized its Advance Gifts donors, who demonstrated their tremendous support early on, such as: Best Buy, Cargill, General Mills, Medtronic, Jane and John Mooty, the R.M. Schulze Family Foundation and UnitedHealth Group. Of course, everyone involved in the project is grateful for every donor who contributed, because it was a true community effort to make this dream a reality on the city's North Side.

Following the ceremony, everyone enjoyed Dilly Bars from International Dairy Queen; Kemp's milk; cookies from the Cookie Cart; popcorn from Northeast Bank; and lemonade and sweet tea from Hawthorne McDonald's. Youth also participated in all the exciting activities available through the North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center, including the XRKade and swimming.

It was an exciting day for everyone involved. The North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center was rebuilt, rearranged and revamped with the strengthening and enrichment of youth in mind, and it shows!

Pictured, from left to right: Minneapolis City Council representatives Diane Hofstede (in red) and Don Samuels, North Community Board Chair Michael Miller, YMCA President and CEO Harold Mezile, Jane Mooty (seated), and North Community Executive Director Henry Crosby.

Qwest Announces Support of YMCA Beacons

On Tuesday, February 3rd, Qwest presented the YMCA of Metro Minneapolis a check for $7,500.00 to support the YMCA Beacons sites in leadership development. Six Qwest employees, from all aspects of the business, including line workers and the main office, attended a short check ceremony and a went on an extensive tour of the Beacon sites.

Employees interacted with youth and shared their job responsibilities, years of service, and personal testimonies on the importance of graduating, looking for career opportunities in areas where your passion lies, and the importance of volunteering in your community.

Needless to say, Qwest and the Beacons students had a terrific and memorable time together!!

Thank you John Stanoch, President of Qwest and Minneapolis General Board member, for supporting community service and financially supporting the local community.

Ron Goldser - Downtown Community Hero!

The Downtown YMCA is proud to recognize Ron Goldser as Community Hero for February.

Until his retirement at the end of 2008, Ron was a lawyer at Zimmerman Reed, PLLP. He’s now enjoying a well-deserved break, but that hasn’t slowed down this member-since-2003 – he’s a regular at the Monday through Saturday morning classes.

A wine expert par excellence, Ron’s efforts on behalf of the Downtown Y’s 2008 “Wines of the World” gala were outstanding. “He brought this event to a premier level, and we couldn’t have done it without him,” says Cassie Rood, Executive Director of the Downtown Y.

In addition to his time and talent, he also gave generously to the 2008 Y Partners campaign at the Roundtable level, and also persuaded his firm to give at the same level! And his gift was the first Roundtable gift for 2009.

We appreciate Ron Goldser, Downtown’s February Community Hero!

Exergaming Comes to the YMCA

It’s the latest in exercise technology. It’s an investment in the fitness of the young video game-loving generation known as the “millenials.” And it’s coming to the YMCA. So just what is “exergaming”?

Exergaming is the latest fitness activity that uses the human body as a “joystick” to physically drive, and compete with others if one desires, on computer-assisted games, simulating activities such as snowboarding, upright or recumbent bicycling, kick-boxing and dancing . It’s done using handheld remote control devices, or by standing on special electronic mats and directing movements toward a wall screen or console. In the bicycling game, for example, riders control options and track performance while speeding like a race car or experiencing bumpy off-road and mountainous terrain.

The blog PETER (Physical Education Teacher's Exergaming Resource) has several articles on the benefits of exergaming, including this piece that points out how exergaming is breaking link between video games and childhood obesity (one of the five critical community needs that are addressed by the Minneapolis YMCA through our Y Partners annual support campaign).

The Y has already introduced exergaming at the new Elk River branch, with plans to be up and running at the Blaisdell and North Community locations this winter. The goal is to promote fitness and physical activity particularly for children ages eight through ten – an age group considered a critical audience for the Y.

It's another example of how the YMCA continues to invest in the needs of our communities. A big thank-you goes to United Healthcare, whose financial support makes installation of the equipment possible.

The New Elk River YMCA Makes a Difference

Elk River Y Partners campaign pulls in $54,180
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
by Jim Boyle
Editor

The Elk River YMCA reached its goal of raising $50,000 in its first Y Partners fund-raising campaign.

But under the direction of its fearless leader, Ron Touchette, there are no plans to stop there.

“That’s only a start,” Touchette said of his confidence in an ability to raise even more in the future and the community’s willingness to care about people in their community.

Dressed in shorts in hopes of bringing back summer, the YMCA community board chairman directed the board to go out and be ambassadors of the Y. He delivered a message of hope, and said it’s time to go out and distribute a message of hope.

“We need to make sure that our community knows that the Y is here, has programming for the entire family, and will not turn anybody away just because they have fallen on hard times,” he said.

Touchette admitted his goal of bringing summer back wasn’t reached, as the mercury continued to drop, but he says summer-like conditions exist within the walls of the YMCA.

Especially for the 5,000-plus people that the facility is serving. The Y Partners campaign pulled in pledges totaling $54,180 that will be available for scholarships to potential members of the Elk River YMCA. Every single dollar raised in Elk River will stay in Elk River. The campaign was led by Kim Reichel of the YMCA Community Board.

Touchette, a real estate broker by trade, relayed a story of a man who said the YMCA wasn’t an option for his family, as it was struggling to pay the rent. “We can give people hope,” he said.

YMCA staff members laid out the Personal Pricing Plan that makes the Y affordable to many families who may consider membership out of reach. They showed in concrete terms how potential members could be eligible for discounts of up to $75 down to $10 a month, depending on their financial situation.

The plan assigns a membership fee discount based on household income, the number of adults (maximum two) and the number of dependents.

And the Personal Pricing Plan does not require an appointment or even a sit-down meeting to go over financial information. Instead, it comes down to having a valid photo ID and a person’s most recent tax return to show their adjusted gross income.

Under the pricing plan a family of four with a household income of $35,000 would qualify for a discount of $75 a month.

A family of six with an household income of $60,000 would qualify for a $50 reduction. A family of three with a household income of $30,000 would qualify for a $75 discount. An individual with an income of $25,000 would qualify for a discount of $45.

“Nobody gets turned away,” Touchette said. “It’s easy and appropriate. There’s a place here for everyone and their family.” Elk River Star News

Community Hero Sheila Oliver on FOX9

Last week FOX9 Vice President Sheila Oliver was named a Community Hero by the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis. Sheila has been tireless in her support of the Y, and in her leadesrhip of the citywide Y Partners campaign. And to top it all off, the presentation was featured on FOX9's 5:30 news.

You can see the presentation at the FOX9 website by clicking here. And thanks again to Sheila, a deserving Community Hero!

Above: Community Hero Sheila Oliver (center), with Minneapolis YMCA President and CEO Harold Mezile and VP of Financial Development Christa Getchell.

Tim Hyde, YMCA Community Hero!

We're pleased to present Tim Hyde, the most recent YMCA Community Hero!

Tim is the Promotions Director at KFAN AM-1130 and was instrumental in the establishment of the KFAN/YMCA Celebrity Poker Tournament. The inaugural tournament was held last August 11th at Canterbury Park.

(And let's take a moment here to point out what a terrific event last year's tournament was. The FAN was well represented in the tournament with the like of Paul Allen, Chad Hartman, Dan Barreiro, Mike Morris, Sludge, Tenna-B, Phil Mackey, the Common Man Dan Cole and many others. Former Minnesota Timberwolves player and current front office member Fred Hoiberg joined in the fun. Fellow listeners and poker players came out to play and support the event. It was the "Battle for the Golden Bracelet" Great prizes were awarded and a good time was had by all.)

In making the presentation, Robie Wayne, Senior Vice President of Financial Development, praised Tim for his involvement with the YMCA. "Tim is typical of the people we work with here at the YMCA - people who want to make a difference, and who want to give back to the communities we serve. We are so very pleased to have Tim and KFAN on board with the Y, and we look forward to continuing our partnership."

Tim has been at The FAN for 5 years, beginning as a promotions intern and through hard work (and, he added with typical humility, surrounding himself with great people) moved up to Promotions Director.

For him, the the partnership between KFAN and the YMCA was a natural. He recalled as a child that many neighborhood kids were highly involved with YMCA activities. "It's all about reaching out and helping kids and a great organization that is the YMCA," he said. "We look forward to organizing the Celebrity Poker Tournament again in 2009."

Thanks again to Tim Hyde - a true YMCA Communty Hero!

Operation Holiday Basket 2008

First of all, a Happy New Year to all of you from all of us here in the Financial Development Department. We wish for the best for you and your family in 2009.

You may remember a piece we did last year on Operation Holiday Basket, a community service project held at the Hiawatha YMCA. We wanted to give you an update on that program, which had its 39th edition on December 19 of last year. About 300 needy families received a turkey meal basket, courtesy of our corporate supporters Cub Foods and SuperValu.

In the picture at left, you can see some of the volunteers gathered at the Hiawatha YMCA, ready to provide a helping hand for those in need. As Gedric Merritt, an Intervention Specialist with the YMCA, put it, "I love helping folks."

Below, we offer a couple of pictures demonstrating the scene at the Y, as volunteers prepare to assemble the baskets of donated food. In looking at this, one is struck not only by the dedication of the volunteers, but by the generosity of those who donated to this cause.

Once again, we offer our appreciation to our corporate partners, and to all those who gave freely of their time and efforts to make Operation Holiday Basket a success once again!