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IMPACTLiving Our Cause. Strengthening our Community.

YMCA OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION Fall 2012

LEARN, GROW, THRIVEDear Friends,

As I take time to reflect on the many blessings we have experienced so far in 2012, I want to thank you for your personal investment and support in advancing the mission of the YMCA in our community. Because of your continuing support, we are able to deliver life changing programs and services that impact people of all ages, interests and abilities. Our ongoing commitment to you,

as a donor and trusted friend of the Y, is to keep you informed on how your investment in the Y is impacting the lives of individuals and families in our community. This new publication will be one of the many ways in which we hope to live up to this promise.

The Y is an association of men, women and children committed to bringing about lasting personal and social change. With a focus on nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving our community’s health and well-being, and supporting our neighbors, the Y enables youth, adults and families to be healthy, confident and connected. We are able to make a difference because of the many ways you support our vision.

At the Y, strengthening the foundation of community is our cause. Every day, we work side by side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. We have been doing this in the Pikes Peak Region for more than 134 years and look forward to continuing to provide for the Pikes Peak community in such a meaningful way. I am so grateful for the volunteers, donors, friends and staff who bring our mission to life each and every day!

Warm Regards,

Dan DummermuthPresident/CEO

YMCA OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION316 North Tejon StreetColorado Springs, CO 80903www.ppymca.org

Mission Advancementemail: cbair-norwood@ppymca.org719.329.7217

MY YMCA SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCEI will miss all of the friends I’ve made this summer, but it’s now back to school time...Bummer!

Eating lunch outside was super cool. My favorite field trip was to Portal Pool!

Making tie dye T-shirts and exploding volcanoes was a ball. It was awesome getting to the top of the climbing wall!

My favorite theme was Splish Splash Week. Getting to swim every day was a great big treat.

My family had to evacuate because of the fire. But on Hero Week I got to write a letter to the firemen I admire.

Riding the bus to field trips couldn’t get much hotter. I will remember Mr. TJ for calling me “Harry Potter”!

Miss Catherine helped in the morning and Mr. Juan told funny jokes later in the day. And Miss Hilary is super nice, I do have to say!

Thank you to the YMCA for bringing me cheer. Have a wonderful time during school and I’ll see you next year!

Kellan, Age 7Garden Ranch Summer Camp

CAMPER POEM

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONThe Y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, thousands of youth, adults and families in the Pikes Peak Region are receiving the support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater health and well-being.

This past May, we finalized an agreement with the City of Colorado Springs to manage four outdoor aquatic facilities – Monument Valley Pool, Portal Pool, Wilson Ranch Pool and Prospect Lake Beach. We are also operating the City-owned Memorial Park and Cottonwood Creek Recreation Centers year-round. This collaboration with the City has been great for our residents and we are honored to be able to serve our community at an even greater level. In a few short months, we hired and trained over 125 new staff to deliver quality programs to neighborhoods that may have otherwise not had these services available. Approximately 950 staff and more than 2,200 volunteers assist in advancing the Y mission to our community.

Part of the Y’s social responsibility is to ease the burdens of government and this was a great opportunity for the Y and City to partner and help impact our community in a positive way. This past summer, the Y served more than 60,000 people at the outdoor pools and recreation centers. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and serving our community.

We had a busy summer providing a safe, fun and enriching place for our youth in YMCA Day Camp and Camp Shady Brook. That same environment is offered year-round in YMCA Before & After School Care, Youth Sports and Swim Lessons. When you walk into a Y or happen to come across these young people on a field trip, you are sure to find big smiles. What you will not be able to see is that many of these kids are able to participate in this program because they received financial assistance raised through the YMCA Community Support Campaign. At the Y, we believe all children deserve the opportunity to be part of programs that build self-esteem, confidence and skills that will last a lifetime.

We see the highest need for assistance in our community in the area of membership. A Y membership is much more than providing the opportunity to workout or swim. The Y provides a place for people of all ages, backgrounds and goals to come together with a common focus. There is a community at the Y that gives people the opportunity to connect with one another and/or spend time as a family. The end result is a stronger, healthier community.

Our goal is to make sure no individual or family is turned away due to an inability to pay and your donations help the YMCA live up to this promise. So far in 2012, the YMCA has provided direct financial assistance to more than 14,000 individuals and families. Thank you!

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK

Downtown Family Center

Fountain Valley Center

Garden Ranch Family Center

Briargate Family Center

Southeast Armed Services Family Center

Tri Lakes Family Center

Before and After School Care

Camp Shady Brook

Summer Day Camp

YMCA Annual Community Support Campaign Assistance Provided as of August 31, 2012

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NURTURING POTENTIALEntering college is an overwhelming event for even the most seasoned families. Imagine what it must be like for first generation college-goers with no point of reference. Through partnerships and focused work, the YMCA is working with our young people to help close the achievement gap. Earlier this year the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region coordinated a volunteer led Higher Education Task Force. The Task Force is providing vision and leadership to the Y to ensure we are serving a population that may not have the resources needed to be successful in education, facilitating partnerships and creating a roadmap of community services in the area of higher education for our young people and their parents.

A key component of the work led by the task force was the Y College Tour, where 26 young adults participated in a three-day exploration to six universities in Colorado. Leading up to the tour, students were required to participate in a workshop series which included topics such as Why Go To College?, Test Taking Skills for the ACT, SAT, etc., How to Apply for College, Applying for College Scholarships, Budgeting, and Life As A College Student. Between visits, staff provided virtual tours of other colleges and the group was treated to lodging and team building exercises at the YMCA of the Rockies.

One of many success stories through this program comes from a young man named Chris. In January 2012 and at the beginning of his final high school semester, Chris wasn’t sure he would graduate. But after joining the Y’s college readiness workshop series and participating in the college tour, Chris is now attending Pikes Peak Community College. With staff support from the Y and the Lorraine Secondary School, Chris received strong guidance and assistance leading to his college

enrollment. Being part of this program provided Chris the confidence and resources needed to explore his dreams and experience an opportunity he never thought was possible – going to college.

Our goal is to continue this program as a way to bridge the gap for college readiness. In 2012, this program was funded through grants from YMCA of the USA and Taco Bell Graduate to Go. As we move forward, the expansion

of this program will include funding from grants and our annual Community Support Campaign.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

The James Berwick Memorial YMCA Scholarship, managed by the YMCA Foundation, is presented to a graduating high school senior from the Pikes Peak Region each year. This scholarship recognizes outstanding students that have demonstrated exceptional character and ethics through involvement in YMCA programs and volunteer activities. Additional consideration is given to students that volunteer in the YMCA or related programs serving children with special needs. This scholarship is given annually in the memory of Mr. James Berwick whose years of dedicated service to his family and community modeled the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

The 2012 James Berwick Memorial YMCA Scholarship was presented to Chris Jordan, a graduate from the Lorraine Secondary School in Fountain. Chris was recognized for participating in the YMCA Higher Education Service Project offered through the Access 4 Teens Program at the Fountain Valley YMCA. As he became more involved in the program, Chris began realizing that his dream of going to college was within reach. He began to make steady academic progress

2012 BERWICK SCHOLAR

A gift to the YMCA Foundation of the Pikes Peak Region is the gift of a lifetime. To learn more about the YMCA Foundation, please contact: Carrie Bair-Norwood, 719.329.7217or cbair-norwood@ppymca.org. Envision your legacy and make it come true through the YMCA.www.ppymca.org/plannedgiving

WILL YOUR PATH CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS? YMCA FOUNDATION OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION

and demonstrated exceptional character and ethics during his involvement in YMCA programs. In addition, Chris earned enough credit hours to apply for college while working 20 hours per week at a local Taco Bell. As a result of his dedication and hard work, Chris is now attending Pikes Peak Community College with plans to transfer to CSU-Pueblo to major in Engineering. The scholarship recognizes these achievements and helps ease the cost of college for Chris’ family.

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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region2012 Governance

Char Waters, BriargateDave Campbell, Camp Shady BrookJerry Nelson, DowntownLois Carlock, Garden RanchStuart Laing, SoutheastWayne Timura, Tri-Lakes

YMCA CENTER ADVISORY BOARD CHAIRS

Officers Ken KeeneChairman

Jim JohnsonVice Chairman

Cari ShafferSecretary

Diane OlivieriTreasurer

YMCA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Members Doug Berwick Ted RinebargerKeith Ketelsen Denny WeberBarry O’Shea

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board MembersDeborah AdamsLindsey AparacioPaul ButcherMike CallicrateMatt CarpenterRafael CintronGary FefferJulian FloresKent FortuneMatt GrageSteve HelbingAl Holland

Ted KerrJay KlosterPhil LaneRegina LewisRick MackC.J. MooreNate OlsonShawn RaintreeLisa RosintoskiJeff ThomasMary ThurmanAnn WinslowSteve Woodford

OfficersThomas KennedyBoard Chair

Walt Glover Treasurer

Sharie FlanaganSecretary

Ed Gleason Past Chair

SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORSThe Waldo Canyon Fire was a life changing event for our community. We know many of our staff, donors, volunteers and friends of the Y were directly impacted by this disaster.

As some of you may know, our Southeast Armed Services YMCA was an official American Red Cross Evacuation Center to help those displaced by the fire. It was an honor for our organization to serve in this capacity. To further assist those in need, the Y opened its facilities at no charge to evacuated families and front line emergency responders and their families. Because of extremely high temperatures and low air quality, the Y also welcomed everyone in the community in our facilities during this time. Our Day Camps were opened at no charge to evacuated families for their children to participate in “normal”

activities while parents took care of things that needed to be done. Many people came to the Y for a place to shower, rejuvenate and connect with community.

We spend every day at the Y assisting individuals and families in our community who need a “hand up” out of challenging situations, thanks to the generosity of donors who contribute to the YMCA Community Support Campaign. We feel blessed to have been able to provide a sense of community, programs and services for our neighbors during this time of great need.

A special thank you to Pepsi for providing bottled water for to displaced families and emergency responders at all of our YMCA locations.