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WE’RE GOING TO HELP ACTIVATE AMERICA
Did
you realize that in the 1950s the YMCA in America had more hotel
rooms than any other organization in America? Or were you aware
that today the YMCA is our country’s largest provider of child
care? It seems like in every generation the YMCA in America has
been on the cutting edge of an important new wave of community
engagement. This is one of the facts that has made the YMCA one
of the very most trusted and respected not-for-profits in
America. The Y’s ability to be creative has made the Y logo one
of the most recognizable logos in the world. So what is the next
great wave for the YMCA?
I
will tell you with great certainty that what will help to define
our future and further differentiate us from those that are
perceived to be our competition is something that is becoming
known across America as YMCA Activate America.
YMCA
Activate America is an innovative public health initiative of the
YMCA movement that is making healthy living a reality for millions
of Americans. This initiative is the YMCA’s response to America’s
growing obesity, chronic disease and health care crisis. The
great majority of us wants to be healthier and wants to be fit and
wants to exercise regularly. But the truth is that we are a
nation of starters and stoppers. Each year after Christmas we
have great wellness hopes for the New Year. We begin a new
routine in January and are back on the couch in March.
You
see, there are probably 10 or 15 percent of us who will exercise
no matter what. It is in our DNA. At the other end of the
spectrum is 10 to 20 percent that will never make the leap to a
new behavior. But in the middle is this vast group that really
wants to change but simply need a little help developing and
supporting a healthier lifestyle. These are the health seekers in
our country and the reason I believe Activate America is the next
hotel or child care issue the Y can and is addressing.
Imagine what the YMCA in 2,500 locations across America can
accomplish if we lead an effort to attract and engage the health
seekers and through better customer service and better programming
and more individual attention we involve people in a wellness
habit that becomes a new behavior. Think about what could be
accomplished if the YMCA could work to convene other
not-for-profits and our hospitals and our schools and together
commit to make our City healthier.
In
June, Tara Paulson, our Fry Family YMCA Health and Wellness
Director, became our Director of Total Health for our entire
Association and is working with all of our YMCA branches as we
work to encourage our members to develop more healthy lifestyles.
Watch for details about our First Annual YMCA/America on the
Move Day of Walking event this September. Stay tuned as we
continue our commitment to building a stronger and healthier
community. Please use and enjoy the YMCA year round . . . we are
here to be your partner in better health.
Submitted by: Tom Beerntsen
President/CEO
Heritage YMCA Group
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