YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the resource office for the nation's Ys, has received a $250,000 grant from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to provide underserved communities with opportunities to participate in and receive the health benefits of boating and fishing. The program also seeks to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and conserving the nation's aquatic resources.
Twenty Ys will receive a $10,000 grant to provide financial assistance to underserved communities to participate in outdoor recreation and conservation programs. According to Harvard University's Health Diversity Project, children and families from low-income urban areas face inequalities in neighborhood and school environments that may keep them from accessing environmental resources that could improve their health and well-being and overall development. By reaching out to children and families from low-income areas, this grant is intended to address these disparities.
Specifically, the grants will be used to:
- Engage children and families in conservation education and outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing, kayaking, canoeing and sailing;
- Provide training for teen counselors, staff and volunteers to teach and champion conservation, boating and fishing; and
- Improve the health and well-being of participants by inspiring them to be active outdoors.
Ys were selected through a competitive grant process based on community demographics and conservation and outdoor recreational programming potential. The 20 Ys receiving the grants include:
- YMCA of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
- YMCA of Boulder Valley Lafayette, CO
- YMCA of the Suncoast Clearwater, FL
- Metropolitan Augusta YMCA Augusta, GA
- Camp Hammond YMCA Berryton, KS
- YMCA of Greater Boston, Oak Square Family Branch Brighton,
- Camp Copneconic Flint, MI
- YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI
- Storer Camps Jackson, MI
- YMCA of Greater Saint Paul St. Paul, MN
- YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis Minneapolis, MN
- YMCA of Northwest North Carolina Winston Salem, NC
- Camping Services Branch YMCA Huguenot, NY
- Lake County YMCA Painesville, OH
- Family YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties Salem, OR
- Beaufort County YMCA Port Royal, SC
- YMCA of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN
- YMCA at White Rock Dallas, TX
- William A. Hunton Family YMCA Norfolk, VA
- YMCA of Greater Seattle, Camping Services YMCA Seattle, WA
Each year, Ys nationwide engage more than 1.5 million children and families in outdoor recreation and education programs that provide participants with opportunities to discover nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain confidence and make lasting memories. Such programming includes day camps, resident camps, school-sponsored outings and Adventure Guides, a program dedicated to developing parent/child bonding as partners participating in group activities.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to work with the Y to introduce more youth and their families to the fun and excitement of boating and fishing, as well as the importance and responsibility of preserving our nation's natural resources,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “We want to inspire youth to get active and develop leadership qualities to ultimately protect the legacy and future of our nation's waterways and the Y has the scope and reach to help us make that happen.”
In addition to providing grants to local Ys, the award from RBFF will be used to increase awareness of local outdoor recreational opportunities by creating marketing and promotional materials in both English and Spanish that will be distributed throughout the service areas of participating Ys.
“At the Y, we are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, can learn, grow and thrive,” said Neil Nicoll, President and CEO of Y-USA. “We are grateful to have this opportunity to work with RBFF to further reach and connect people in underserved communities to the great outdoors.”
