The Union County Family YMCA continues to carry out its mission of promoting Christian principles through new programs that reach out to the community, the organization’s CEO said Tuesday.
Rotarian and Union County Family YMCA CEO Scott Sandor addressed the Union County Rotary Club at Covenant Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon on what’s changed at the YMCA and what remains the same and how those changes have not altered the organization’s mission, but are enabling it to continue that mission into the future.
“We’ve rolled out a new logo and three new areas of focus,” Sandor said. “The new logo is kinder, softer than the old logo. It is more welcoming and less rigid than the old logo. The old motto was ‘We Build Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities.’ We did away with the old motto and developed three new areas. They are ‘For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, For Social Responsibility.’
“All of our programs are directed into these new areas of focus,” he said. “For example, our Summer Camp would be in the area of Youth Development. Our fitness program would be Healthy Living. Social Responsibility would be any community programs we do such as diabetes education.”
Even with these changes, Sandor said the YMCA remains true its founding mission.
“Despite the new logo and areas of focus, our mission remains the same,” Sandor said. “To Put Christian principles into practice through programs that promote healthy spirit, mind and body for all.”
Even though the YMCA had existed for some years in Union County, Sandor said it was not chartered until 1994. Sandor said at the time its program offerings were sparse but that began to change after the YMCA entered into a partnership with the City of Union to operate out of the old Union High School gymnasium building at 106 Lakeside Drive. The city owns the building and renovated it for use by the YMCA including the construction of the facility’s outdoor swimming pool.
Since then, Sandor said the programs the YMCA offers the public have grown and so has its membership. He said the YMCA now has 2,142 members. Sandor said his goal is to eventually have 10 percent of the population of Union County or approximately 2,900 people enrolled in the YMCA.
Today’s YMCA members — and those who will join in the future — already have a wide variety of programs for all ages to choose from including After School, Summer Day Camp, Swimming Lessons and Swim Team, Water Fitness, Youth Soccer, Group Exercise, and General Fitness. These are offered in a facility that has seen continuous improvement over the years including the purchase of four new treadmills; new furnishings including carpeting; an updated database which makes it easier for members to use the facility; and a security system designed to safeguard the facility, its employees and members.
Another service offered by the YMCA is financial assistance for those who would like to participate in its programs but are unable to afford it.
“No one is denied access to YMCA programs due to inability to pay,” Sandor said.
In 2011, Sandor said the YMCA provided a total of $52,297 in assistance to members of the community through its After School ($9,840), Summer Day Camp ($6,242), and Membership ($36,215) programs. Sandor said the assistance is based on income.
For the future, Sandor said the YMCA is working to develop new programs that will enable it to become a “cause driven organization,” that will go out more into the community to learn what its needs are and how the YMCA can help address those needs. Sandor the YMCA is working to create a “welcoming environment” for the “Ready To Be Fit” population who would like to use its exercise facilities but have been unwilling to do so because of their physical condition. Other programs the YMCA plans to implement in the future are Diabetes Education and Prevention, general health and wellness education, and combating family and youth obesity.
“Our goal is getting more people involved,” Sandor said. “It’s getting more members active.”
For more information about the Union County Family YMCA call 427-0668.
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