Dear Friends:

We’re asking this question all over Tucson on bus-stop posters, and in print ads and radio spots. The point? These days everyone knows the importance of eating better and exercising more, but the YMCA recognizes that this isn’t enough. As we’ve emphasized throughout our institutional history, a healthy individual is healthy in Spirit, Mind and Body.

There’s even statistical evidence supporting the YMCA’s approach. America on the Move cites research showing that people who are most successful in adopting healthy lifestyles are supported by their families, their communities and their culture. In the nationwide effort to fi x our “obesity problem,” which is really a problem of inactivity and poor nutrition, the YMCA’s emphasis on the whole person is what sets us apart.

Our “image” campaign is actually a campaign to get Tucsonans moving, make them feel part of a community, and give them the support they need to make important lifestyle changes. That’s why wherever you see our “Y healthy” advertising, you’ll always see the encouraging theme, “You’re getting there,” and supportive tagline, “We’re with you. Estamos contigo.”

As our advertising campaign unfolds, we’re making news, too. The Association of Fundraising Professionals named YMCA Board Chairman Helen Schaefer and her
husband, John, its Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year, and Jeffrey Minker its Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser. I hope you will take the time to recognize their efforts and congratulate the Drs. Schaefer and Jeffrey Minker when you see them around town.

You may also have seen the news that Kelli King Bednar was honored as a 40 Under 40 Recipient from the Tucson Citizen, and Dave Powell received the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Community Leadership Award. Dave was nominated by the YMCA’s long-time collaborative partner, the UA Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition.

I want to welcome new YMCA Corporate board members, Catherine Locke of Cox Communications, Cathy Ries of Tucson Electric Power and Melissa Vito of the UA Student Affairs department. We welcome your expertise and enthusiasm for bringing the YMCA’s vision of building strong kids, strong families, strong communities to life.

Summer was a whirlwind of activity for some 12,000 Tucson children enrolled in YMCA programs. Thanks to all who donated to our annual Changing Lives campaign, we invested $450,000 in summer programs alone to fund a 30% increase in requests for financial assistance. Your contributions helped fulfill our standing pledge that “no child will be turned away due to the inability to pay a program fee.”

To that end, we also received a record $148,000 award from the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmen’s Fund. Many thanks to the Sportsmen’s Fund Board of Directors and all of you who generously contributed to the Fund’s success this year. Their support underwrote 450 scholarships for young people to enjoy a week at our
Triangle Y Ranch Camp in Oracle.

I am very pleased to announce that we’ve been awarded a second three year Carol White Physical Education Program “PEP” grant to expand on the important groundwork laid by our Partners for Healthy Active Children/Compañeros Para Niños Sanos y Activos program. The new grant will fund training for middle school PE teachers in the Sunnyside School District. Curricula in the enrichment classes will include Triangle Y Ranch Camp movement labs and other fitness activities, and character and nutrition education throughout the year. Periodic assessments will identify changes in the students’ fitness levels and their grasp of nutrition and physical activity concepts. Grant funding began in August 2008 and will continue through July 2011.

Fifty million steps was the goal of our YMCAs’ 2008 America on the Move events promoting more physical activity for a healthier community. We collaborated with the Pima County Public Library and the Pima County Health Department in creating exciting activities downtown, including nutrition education, yoga demonstrations, stress reduction tips and opportunities to explore the YMCA’s mobile climbing wall.

The Lohse Family YMCA kicked off the week on September 20 with a two-mile walk around downtown. Local celebrity walkers including State Representative
Olivia Cajero Bedford, Vice Mayor Karin Uhlich and Miss Arizona Erin Nurss were present to help lead over 100 participants. The Lighthouse/City YMCA encouraged people to walk with their pets on Dog Day, September 27. The Ott Family YMCA held a TinMan Triathlon, and the Northwest Family YMCA gave kids pedometers and training on how to use them. Northwest also offered their members help to complete the online Stanford Health and Lifestyle Assessment (SHALA). SHALA is a test of an individual’s health and well being, and his/her willingness to make a lifestyle change. Our YMCA’s are using it as part of our holistic approach to encourage new members to make healthy lifestyle changes.

What’s next? Mark your calendars for the 14th annual Mulcahy/City YMCA Annual Golf Tournament on December 5 at the Canoa Ranch Golf Club in Green Valley. All proceeds benefit deserving boys and girls who live on Tucson’s south side. For information on sponsorships and foursomes, call Amelia Duarte at 294-1449.

Thank you, as always, for reading my President’s Letter. I’ll be back in touch soon.

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