Thursday, May 16, 2024
Dear Friends,
First and foremost, Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers out there! We admire your daily diligence in ensuring our families thrive with the love and care only a mother can provide. Thank you for all you do, always.
As you will see, May is a busy month for the YMCA. As a matter of fact, this morning we held one of our bi-annual all-staff meetings. During this gathering, we shared excitement about transitioning to our summer program menu, discussed some exciting projects that are on the horizon, and revisited our new Strategic Plan launched this past October. And being that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we reviewed our strategic commitment to prioritize mental health. Helping us bring this strategic priority to life was our keynote speaker, Dr. Rahul Mehra, CEO and Chief Physician Executive of the National Center for Performance Health.
Dr. Mehra noted the importance of mental health awareness, but more so, he challenged us to venture beyond awareness and to take substantive action to foster healthy mental well-being.
“As we talk about Mental Health Awareness Month, you as Y staff have the power to move action over awareness. Mind, body and spirit are part of your domain and mission, which is why you are positioned to help with youth development, help families out when it comes to suicide prevention and providing social connections.”
We thank Dr. Mehra for his time and expertise.
Noting our transition to summer programming, Summer Camp is set to begin at the end of the month. It is one of our favorite times of the year when we will begin to welcome over 2,200 campers every day to our Y Camps. They will be participating in a variety of curriculum-based activities and programs while having tons of fun, learning new skills and making new friends in a safe environment while building character through activities based on the Y core values: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. It is very important that children stay active and continue learning during the long summer months. A child can grow so much from being in camp for just a few weeks as they grow in confidence and creativity.
Because our community is strongest when we work together, financial assistance is available for the YMCA’s Summer Camp program…ensuring that every child in our community can enjoy a healthy camp experience. We would not be able to do this without your support. If you have not had the opportunity to give and would like to help a child this summer, please visit: https://tampaymca.org/give. Your generosity makes a difference.
Speaking of your generosity, we will be wrapping up another successful Annual Campaign this month. To date, we raised $1.85M of our $1.9M Campaign goal…leaving us two weeks to exceed our target. We are thankful to you for helping us nurture the potential of children and teens, improve our community’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The Tampa Y has long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver lasting personal and social change, and you help make all this possible.
Finally, as you begin planning for summer, just a reminder, the Y is also a great place for families to stay connected during the summer months. Whether it is participating in sports, a swimming program, or just enjoying some relaxing time at the pool including one of our many splash pads, the YMCA is a hub for connection and family fun. Be sure to include the Y in your plans this summer!
With appreciation,
Matt Mitchell
President & CEO
813.224.9622