The YMCA
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Lee Anne introduced Tom Coons, the CEO of the Simcoe Muskoka YMCA.
Tom commented that the recent accounting of largest employers in the region put the Y's of Simcoe Muskoka at 16th in the Public Sector list. This illustrates the scale of the operation, though not many realize it. The Y is a large employer and a consumer of goods and services.
He discussed some of the services the Y's provide. The Youth Training Programe has worked with over 20,000 students, of whom 75% have been placed in employment. The Y's child care service is the largest in the Region and the best quality, serving 5,000 families. The resident camp on Beausoleil is celebrating its 85th year and a lease for another 15 is being negotiated. The Geneva Park leadership camp for environmental and leadership studies has been acquired, missions to Honduras have been organized and financial assistance to Y's in Sierra Leone, to combat AIDS and promote peace, and in Sri Lanka, to help with tsunaml relief, has been sent.
Tom says the Y's of the Region are working far beyond the traditional image of 'Swim & Gym' - they promote healthy Spirit, Mind and Body. In Midland, thanks to Lee Anne, extensive work on child care, health and wellness and training is ongoing.
Thanks to sponsorship, everybody, no matter their financial situation, is accommodated and he told three stories of lives that had been positively affected thanks to the Y's commitment to turning no one away. The Y is co-ordinating a Community Round Table to develop a community plan for health and wellness that should lead to even greater demand for the service.
That's why it's so important for the Midland Y to rebuild its facility, to prepare itself to meet this demand and to make the building more efficient and attractive.
He thanked the Rotary for its previous generous assistance and, to mark the Y's appreciation, presented a plaque to President Jim and President-elect Mike.
He discussed some of the services the Y's provide. The Youth Training Programe has worked with over 20,000 students, of whom 75% have been placed in employment. The Y's child care service is the largest in the Region and the best quality, serving 5,000 families. The resident camp on Beausoleil is celebrating its 85th year and a lease for another 15 is being negotiated. The Geneva Park leadership camp for environmental and leadership studies has been acquired, missions to Honduras have been organized and financial assistance to Y's in Sierra Leone, to combat AIDS and promote peace, and in Sri Lanka, to help with tsunaml relief, has been sent.
Tom says the Y's of the Region are working far beyond the traditional image of 'Swim & Gym' - they promote healthy Spirit, Mind and Body. In Midland, thanks to Lee Anne, extensive work on child care, health and wellness and training is ongoing.
Thanks to sponsorship, everybody, no matter their financial situation, is accommodated and he told three stories of lives that had been positively affected thanks to the Y's commitment to turning no one away. The Y is co-ordinating a Community Round Table to develop a community plan for health and wellness that should lead to even greater demand for the service.
That's why it's so important for the Midland Y to rebuild its facility, to prepare itself to meet this demand and to make the building more efficient and attractive.
He thanked the Rotary for its previous generous assistance and, to mark the Y's appreciation, presented a plaque to President Jim and President-elect Mike.