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FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT® FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 2021 Impact Report YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS THE YMCA. FOR A BETTER US.THE YMCA. FOR A BETTER US.2 Dear YMCA Friends, In her book “Pressure is a Privilege,” tennis legend Billie Jean King emphatically states that “If you have tremendous pressure, it’s because an opportunity comes along.” She then adds that “Most of the time…if you really think about it…usually it’s a privilege.” We strongly agree. Despite the challenges and pressure we’ve faced the last two years, it has been a privilege for us, and all of our staff and volunteers, to be in a position to serve all of you and our community. With the pressure we faced in 2021, we also experienced incredible opportunities. We’ve had opportunities to better serve our members, our community, our volunteers, and our staff. Our team responded time and again to the ever changing environment in ways that many thought were impossible. We shifted our perspective to view challenges as the impetus to solve problems and reshape our community. We’re thankful for those who took the time in 2021 to challenge us to make a difference. We made historic strides that transformed lives. For example, we engaged 134 young adults through our Project Connect workforce development program, providing a pathway to achieving a certification as Certified Nursing Assistants or Qualified Medication Aides. Every graduate had a career job awaiting them the night that they graduated. We launched “Youth Employment Service,” known as YES Indy, focusing on opportunities for youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are unemployed and lack a high school diploma and are simply in need of additional support. We used a portion of the MacKenzie Scott donation to rebirth projects that would have been almost impossible to get off the ground, such as the historic Monster Meeting Series that had been silenced for 60 years. Returning this series to the YMCA has allowed discussions around equity and social justice to resume throughout our community. When our former President and CEO, Derrick Stewart, left in September 2021, we knew his shoes would be tough to fill. Frankly, this work would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and influence under his watch. But it wasn’t just Derrick’s leadership that ignited our direction, it was also the dedication and fortitude of our employees, volunteers and donors. So, not only do we lift up the good work we did in 2021, but we also look forward to the opportunity to make 2022 and beyond better. Thank you for your amazing support of the YMCA in doing this important work. Together, we will transform the future! Andy Buroker Board Chair, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Gregg Hiland President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT® FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY3 COPING WITH COVID Unfortunately, we didn’t get back to “normal” in 2021, as all of us had hoped. Instead, we continued to grapple with the effects of COVID-19 while re-imagining our operational procedures and making necessary adjustments, demonstrating our commitment to the health and well-being of our community — and that we’re in this together. While the vaccine provided some relief to the community, cases surged and hospital beds were in short supply. Employee shortages further complicated a winding road to recovery. But, we didn’t give up. We fought back. We came together to do what the Y does. Following is a short list of some community initiatives we took to help get us back on track: • On April 10, single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines were administered by Veteran Health Indiana to all veterans, regardless of eligibility, and to their spouses and caregivers at the Benjamin Harrison YMCA. • On May 10 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m., our Health Net partners offered free COVID-19 vaccines for adults ages 18 or older in the Avondale Meadows YMCA. Pre-registration was available, but walk-ins were welcomed as well. • Every week, from June to August, the Gleaners mobile food drive partnered with the Avondale Meadows YMCA to provide boxed groceries to the community. Volunteers, including the Indianapolis Police Department and YMCA staff, had the opportunity every Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. to bag fresh produce, meat and dairy products and load them into the automobiles of underserved members in the community. • The American Red Cross hosted blood drives across central Indiana, including the Benjamin Harrison and Fishers YMCAs. These events helped increase the historically low blood supply and supported those in need. • Because of the COVID-19 Delta variant spike, and the increasingly difficult task of finding testing, the Indiana State Department of Health partnered with Witham Hospital and the Witham Family YMCA to send a mobile strike team to Boone County. The team operated a free drive-thru testing and vaccination clinic. • The Witham Family YMCA honored veterans with a free lunch drive-thru event on Veterans Day. Staff distributed hot boxed lunches and goody bags to veterans in a new event sponsored by CPA Seth Attinger. • Free flu shots were offered to all Ransburg YMCA members ages 11 and above on two different days. No proof of insurance was required.4 O U R M I S S I O N: To put Christian principles into practice spirit,mind and bodyfor all. through programs that build healthy56 • We built on the successful launch of the Virtual YMCA in 2020, securing resources for YMCA360 and hiring the first-ever Association Director of Virtual Programming. • Using technology and strategic partnerships, we increased group exercise offerings 62% from 2019, creating over 1,300 weekly opportunities where members could connect. • We launched virtual reality programming for veterans focused on mental wellness, stress management and relaxation. • Y+Studio & aquatics surpassed 2019 (pre-COVID) enrollment. • Our aquatics program saw record breaking success, becoming our second facility-based program to reach milestone results, with health and wellness beginning the trend in 2014. • We doubled our contributions from 2019 for community health work, including funding to expand social, emotional and behavioral health partnerships to each of our Early Learning Centers. • This year our Annual Campaign kickoff featured guest speaker Super Bowl champ Gary Brackett. Gary reminded us to take full accountability, to raise our standards and multiply our efforts. The campaign also focused on how the Y touches the community on a daily basis. Highlights included how we responded to the pandemic and worked hard to continue to build a brighter future through senior outreach, childcare for essential workers, eLearning care and career development programs like Project Connect. • The YMCA’s 52nd annual Good Friday Breakfast was held virtually on April 2. Kelly Trent, mother of Purdue Super Fan and cancer activist Tyler Trent, shared an inspiring message of faith, challenge, pain and hope. Other notable speakers included Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and YMCA of Greater Indianapolis President and CEO Derrick Stewart. The breakfast brings the community together in prayer, encouragement and reflection on a special day of reverence for Christians worldwide. • On April 5, we upgraded our computer operating system to CORE to better serve our members. With the mobile-friendly, streamlined service, members are more easily able to make and manage registrations and payments for YMCA programs and activities. • The Westfield Aquatic Center (WAC) hosted a media sneak peek event to the new facility on April 23. The WAC will connect to the future Ascension St. Vincent YMCA in Westfield, which will include a wellness center, gym, basketball court and many other best-in-class amenities. • May was National Water Safety Month and a number of our Centers offered life-saving instruction and water safety tips that could be applied to all water situations. • On July 9, The Y partnered with The American Dairy Association Indiana to celebrate National Ice Cream Month at its 32nd consecutive Ice Cream Social. The event was held at Victory Field OUR CAUSE IN ACTION7 and offered a “drive-thru” experience. Thanks to our friends at Prairie Farms and Kroger, pre-packaged ice cream novelties, including pup cups, were provided to raise money for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. • Who let the dogs out? Doggie swim at HRH did! Before the annual pool cleaning, HRH hosted a fundraising event for the pups in August. Swim time literally went to the dogs. Woof! Woof! • YMCA of Greater Indianapolis received the coveted Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency for the 11th year in a row. • WalkerHughes Insurance awarded the Ransburg YMCA with a $10,000 donation from the Make More Happen Awards, an initiative through Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance. The money is used to give Y accessibility to those who couldn’t otherwise afford a safe place for their families. • On September 6, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis moved our association office to the Northeast side of Indianapolis, a more accessible location for multiple YMCA Centers and staff across Central Indiana. The packing and cleaning of the English Foundation Building offices began in May with a celebratory cookout October 8 in the parking lot of our new home. • In September, president and CEO, Derrick Stewart, accepted a new position as Senior Vice President of Education and Communication for the YMCA Retirement Fund, which provides retirement benefits for participating Y employees throughout the U.S. • Monster Meetings were relaunched October 3 at the OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA. The meetings originally started in 1904 as evangelical events. They eventually became a platform for a broader public forum at the Senate Avenue YMCA, which opened in 1913 as the only Y for African Americans in Indianapolis. 8 • On November 16, Senior VP and COO Gregg Hiland was selected as the new president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, succeeding Derrick Stewart. Gregg brings over 31 years of YMCA experience to his new leadership role. • With the goal of improving overall health and wellness through connections with the great outdoors, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis partnered with the Sierra Club in April for the Outdoors Challenge. Although the focus was on veterans and their families, the event was free and open to all. • Tee Up for Veterans Topgolf event in Fishers on November 18 was held to support membership and programs for veterans, active military service members and their families in our communities. • The Baxter, Hendricks Regional Health and Fishers YMCAs each hosted a community 5K run/walk on Thanksgiving morning. The OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA also hosted the Heroes Health Hope 5K earlier in November. • On December 11, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis once again hosted the annual Holiday Toy Drive for children with our lead sponsor Tom Wood Ford. To date, we have distributed toys to more than 51,000 youth in the Indianapolis area. The distribution was a drive-thru event that took place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. • Also on December 11, the YMCA at the Athenaeum hosted its 23rd Annual Breakfast with Santa event between 9 a.m. and and noon. Over 250 families experiencing homelessness were served. Some families were picked up at shelters and brought to the Athenaeum to be provided with gifts and food. • The HOPE for Christmas 4th annual event was held on Thursday, December 23, at the Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay. Volunteers helped hand out meals, toys, clothes and food to those experiencing homelessness. 9 • The award-winning documentary “Sonnie” grew out of a conversation at the Benjamin Harrison YMCA. In the film, Deon Casey reveals how he fought his way through the loss of his parents, drug addiction and his personal battle with mental health. Deon’s therapeutic talks over the treadmill with gym friend Mirpoorian developed into this heart-warming and inspirational film. • The launch of the new YMCA Indiana license plates was announced in December, and plates became available on January 1. Proceeds from the plates benefit the Y’s programs in youth development and personal growth and engagement and provide access to health and wellness programs across Indiana. Next >