Recent News & Upcoming Events

Youth in Government at the YMCA of Greater Cleveland
 
West Park-Fairview Family YMCA Branch Director Heather DuCloux and Downtown YMCA Branch Director Laura Floyd represented the Greater Cleveland Association at the Ohio Youth in Government Conference, held April 13-15, 2013 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. DuCloux is spearheading the effort for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland. Youth in Government is a national government and politics program of the YMCA that promotes civic literacy as well as community service.



The Fatherhood Initiative
 
The YMCA of Greater Cleveland, working in concert with Cuyahoga County officials, is participating in the Fatherhood Initiative.
 
The Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative (CCFI) seeks to strengthen families in our community by encouraging fathers to play a more active role in nurturing and raising their children. The Initiative responds to escalating social concerns regarding "father absence" by providing fathers with access to services designed to prepare them to better meet the emotional, psychological, and financial needs of their children. The CCFI also seeks to increase public awareness of the importance of father involvement.
 
Twice a month at the Downtown Y, fathers can bring in their children to swim.
 
Dates for May, 2013 are May 17 and 24 at the Downtown Y, 2200 Prospect Avenue East.  Fatherhood Initiative swimming will take place on both dates from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
 
Cost is $5 per child.



YMCA Selected to Receive $250,000 Grant from Microsoft

The YMCA of Greater Cleveland has been chosen as one of three charities of choice to receive a $250,000 grant for computer software from Microsoft. The grant was presented Saturday, April 13 at the grand opening of the new Microsoft store at Beachwood Place Mall, 26300 Cedar Road, Beachwood. A preview event took place at the store Thursday, April 11, with special guest, former Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach Byron Scott. Microsoft also sponsored a special concert by the first “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson Saturday, April 13 in the west parking lot of Beachwood Place.

Left to right: Microsoft General Manager of the Heartland District, John Fikany, and Beachwood Place Store Manager, Stacy Vyas, present YMCA of Greater Cleveland Vice President of Marketing, Rick Haase, with a check for a $250,000 grant from Microsoft. 

North Royalton Family YMCA to Host "Relay for Life"

The North Royalton Family YMCA will serve as the host site for the American Cancer Society "Relay for Life," June 28 and 29. The event runs from 6 p.m. June 28 through Noon on June 29. Click here for more information.

YMCA Programming to Come to Crocker Park in Westlake

The Health and Wellness team of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland is currently working to finalize arrangements which will allow our Association to bring weekly programs and classes to Crocker Park in Westlake beginning this summer. Programs will be heavily geared to families and adults, and will be free for patrons of the Crocker Park shopping complex. Programs will be offered outdoors throughout the 2013 summer season. More details are forthcoming.

36TH ANNUAL RITE AID CLEVELAND MARATHON TO FEATURE STUDENTS FROM YMCA OF GREATER CLEVLEAND WE RUN THIS CITY YOUTH MARATHON PROGRAM

This year's Rite Aid Cleveland Maraton, to take place Sunday, May 19, will feature students from the YMCA of Greater Cleveland's We Run This City Youth Marathon program.The program is a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, the Cleveland Metropoltian School District, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, the Cleveland Department of Public Health and Case Western Reserve University Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods. The 14-week program strives to teach young people to set and achieve goals by preparing them to run in the annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

KEYBANK FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDING FOR LIFEGUARD ACADEMY PROGRAM AT THREE GREATER CLEVELAND YMCA BRANCHES

The KeyBank Foundation is providing $150,000 in funding to allow approximately 100 young people to participate in the Lifeguard Academy program at the Downtown, West Park-Fairview and Warrensville Heights Family YMCA branches of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland.The funding will provide $50,000 per year over three years for the program. The Lifeguard Academy teaches young people to swim, and also allows them to become certified American Red Cross Lifeguards with additional certifications in First Aid, CPR and AED. Upon completion, participants will be qualified for employment in various fields. The Lifeguard Academy program is designed to help develop swimming skills in the Hispanic, Latino amd African American populations in Greater Cleveland. People of African American and Hispanic/Latino heritage are more prone to drowning accidents than the rest of the population. Nearly 60 percent of African American children cannot swim, according to statistics. The program hopes to strengthen efforts to lower minority drowning rates.