02 Feb The YMCA of Greater Kansas City Receives $2,102,020 Grant from the Hall Family Foundation

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City was recently awarded a $2,102,020 grant from the Hall Family Foundation for direct operating support of the Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter, Sr., Community Center (Linwood Y).

This support will ensure the viability of our positive youth development programs, which are critical community resources. This partnership will also help to bridge the gap in revenues until the programs can be underwritten by sustaining revenue from the YMCA’s new downtown facility, opening in late 2020.

The Y’s goal is to provide accessible and positive programming that nurtures youths’ current interests while also exposing them to new activities that challenge them to be their best. Providing strengths-based programs and positive outlets helps break the cycle of poverty and mitigates risk factors and barriers created by poor social determinants.

The Y’s Youth Development Continuum includes daily afterschool academic enrichment programming. Caring adult staff members and volunteers are trained in positive youth development principles and are sensitive to children’s home environments. Youth receive homework assistance and participate in activities that help them develop new skills, attitudes, and knowledge to be successful in school. Examples include robotics club, chess club, and spring break/summer STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) camps. Programs focus on life skills, goal-setting, and post-secondary preparation and awareness in order to help youth gain the knowledge and understanding needed to overcome the risk factors that exist around them.

Founded in 1860 as the seventh YMCA in North America, the YMCA of Greater Kansas City has over 158 years of experience in meeting the holistic needs of residents of all ages. Since its inception, the Y has been more than simply a place to exercise. The Y empowers people of all ages to live healthier lives throughout their entire lifespan and does so in an environment that fosters social support. The Y is committed to making membership and all programs and services accessible to low-income individuals through financial assistance policies.