FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

FOR HEALTHY LIVING

FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

THE Y.

FOR A BETTER US.

RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL YMCA
IMPACT REPORT 2016

THE Y.

FOR A BETTER US.

RIVER VALLEY
REGIONAL YMCA
IMPACT REPORT 2016

Hello Friends,
In 2015, our YMCA had a year of challenges.
You know the challenges that we face in our community. People of all backgrounds and ages are struggling. More and more people seem to
be facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Families find it difficult to spend time together. People are not connected. Face time happens
through a screen. And instead of seeing these issues addressed, it seems that all we do is watch them grow.
But there is a local organization, the River Valley Regional YMCA, which is working daily to address these challenges. The Y understands
what our community needs to be its best. Working through local volunteers and staff, the YMCA provides everyone the opportunity to be
healthy and thrive, to connect with others, and to contribute to a better community. Every day, our community faces new challenges that
create a greater need for the work we do. YMCA donors, volunteers, members, and partners like you make the difference. Everything the Y
does is in service of making us as individuals and a community better.
Volunteerism at the Y to build a better us has been core to the YMCAs mission from the very start. In 1844, the Y was founded in
London, England by volunteers with the purpose of helping young people stay clear of vices. Not only was the Y helping people directly with
spirit, mind, and body, but it was done with a complimentary purpose of helping the City of London.
Likewise, in 1866 concerned citizens in Williamsport formed the Williamsport YMCA. For the last 150 years the YMCA here has had the
same dual purpose. If we, as a community, can come together to help people learn, grow, and thrive, then our community will become a
better place to live, work, and raise a family. From then until now, the YMCA in our region continues to thrive and expand because people
in our community realize the value of an organization like the YMCA. We are proud that 2016 is the 150th anniversary of the Williamsport
YMCA!
The YMCA is unique in our service to the community. The Y is the only social service organization that helps people from the earliest age (6
weeks) to well over 100 years old. We listen to the community and constantly change the services and programs offered. The Y integrates
volunteers into our mission work. The Y lets the community know the impact of the work that we do through a multitude of personal
testimonials. And the Y asks the community to support our efforts. We are volunteer driven and community supported.

To all those who helped the YMCA

this past year, we offer our
sincerest thanks.
Bill Fox
Chair, River Valley Regional YMCA Corporate Board

Dave Fagerstrom
Mission Advancement (President/CEO)

On the Cover:
Cover A - YMCA childcare children
Cover B Kathleen Campbell and Amy Farrer, volunteers at the Tioga County Branch YMCA, stand
in the newly built wellness center. Kathleen and Amy led the local volunteer efforts to secure
over $400,000 to fund the branchs much needed renovations. Thanks to their efforts, the Tioga
County Branch will continue to grow and thrive. Thank you Kathleen and Amy for your dedication!

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Nurturing the potential of every child

We believe that kids deserve opportunities to discover who they are and
what they can achieve. Through the Y, our areas youth are cultivating values,
skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and
educational achievement. There is an old Y saying, It is better to build a
strong boy today, than to mend a broken man tomorrow.

The Y offered opportunities for kids to start a lifetime of healthy activities, through
youth sports, swimming lessons, and over 100 other activities to 3,500+ youth. The Y offers a
multitude of activities, from youth basketball to cheerleading, and everything in between. There
is something for every kid at the YMCA.

The Y empowered children to make friends, gain confidence, develop skills, and create
memories to last a life time, through our summer day camp programs for over 2,000 kids this last
summer. All of our major camps utilize out-of-doors settings in order to get kids fresh air and
away from the TV and video games.

The Y prepared children for future success

academically and socially - to enter kindergarten.
Our before and after - school programs offer
academic tutoring as well as teaching the Ys
four core values of Respect, Responsibility,
Caring and Honesty. We are the largest provider
of licensed, curriculum-based childcare in north
central Pennsylvania, with over 1,200 children
attending daily.

The Y inspired and empowered teens with

leadership skills, values and healthy living habits.
These teen programs are offered to local kids
free of charge.

HEALTHY LIVING

Improving our communitys health and well-being

With an emphasis on balance, the Y brings individuals together,
encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports,
fun and shared interests. As a result, youth, adults and families are
receiving the support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater
health and well-being for their Spirit, Mind and Body.

The Y motivated and supported healthier lifestyles by offering programs such as fitness
challenges, Zumba, personal training, fitness classes for all levels, etc. The Y is not only
a resource for those that wish to stay fit, but is also actively engaged in helping health
seekers who need the Ys expertise to help them make behavioral changes needed to start a
healthy lifestyle.

The Y empowered hundreds of seniors to stay physically and socially active through
both land and water-based programs. The Y is proud of our collaborative efforts with
the senior community to help keep our senior population healthy, socially engaged, and
independent.

The Y strengthened positive family relationships through family fun nights, family
programs, and parent-child programs. With the onset of the internet generation, the Ys
efforts to maintain face-to-face activities for the whole family is making a positive difference
in the ability of family members to connect to one another.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Giving back and providing support to our neighbors

At the Y, we foster the care and respect which all people need and deserve. We develop skills and encourage
volunteerism through values-based programs. We welcome and connect diverse demographic populations
through membership and services. We help prevent chronic disease and build stronger communities through
collaboration. Every day, Y-volunteers, donors, leaders and partners are empowering people to be healthy,
confident, connected and secure.

500+ volunteers devoted their time and talent to help our Y offer our programs,
activities and events that benefited our community.

The Y was steadfast in our commitment to make membership, programs and services
accessible to all. More than 100 volunteers solicited over 7,500 donors, who helped our
community through their generosity, enabling us to improve the lives of youth and families
through financial assistance. The lions share of this was awarded to families that would
otherwise not have been able to afford child care while they work.

The Y collaborated with over 100 other community partners and organizations to
improve health and well-being and develop the potential of children and teens.

CHANGING LIVES FOR THE BETTER...

Dylan is one of the stand-out students in the YMCAs Brick House program. Dylan had a rough start
when he first began to attend Brick House three years ago. In general, Dylan was opposed to anything
that even remotely resembled rules or authority. At the beginning of this past year Dylan made some not
so smart choices while wandering the streets with his friends after school. The staff at the YMCA has
recognized a noticeable change in Dylans behavior and attitude. He is often one of the first to arrive
each day and last to leave, and he has stepped up when it came to mentoring his peers on appropriate
behavior. When asked why, Dylan said, I used to come just to play basketball but lately I come just
because Im happy when Im here.
I am fifty years old, a widow, a single mother of three fine sons, and an active member of the YMCA for
the past four years. I joined the YMCA shortly after my husband passed away from a sudden massive
heart attack, at age 48. I purchased a family membership and soon I found myself meeting some
incredibly strong people who deeply inspired and encouraged me, and felt myself becoming empowered
through exercise, fitness and dedication. My decision to join the Y has made me stronger, more
confident and empowered. I am no longer on medication for depression, anxiety or high cholesterol.
To this day, I am tremendously proud to be a YMCA member.

Meet Tom Travis. Tom is 82 years old. Before he started coming to the Y, he had high blood pressure,
Type 2 Diabetes, back pain, was feeling very sluggish, and weighed 250 pounds. Since joining the Y,
I have dropped 35 pounds and am feeling a lot better. Coming to the Y has helped Tom eliminate his
back pain, lower his blood pressure, improve his strength, increase his energy, improve his diabetes,
and become more alert. He said I am surprised to be able to do it at all at this stage in my life. The Y
has really helped me a lot. Tom is just one example of the thousands of people that our YMCA is
positively impacting on a daily basis.

FINANCIAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015*
*The following are unaudited results.

OPERATING
REVENUE AND SUPPORT
OPERATING REVENUE AND SUPPORT

Operating Revenue and Support

Program Service Revenue
Contributions & Grants
Other Income
United Way Funding

Total Operating Revenue

and Support

4,861,069
543,758
411,008
134,440

Child Care 40%

Membership 32%

5,950,275

Programs 9%
Grants 5%
Rental 5%

Operating Expenses
Membership
Programs
Child Care
Management and General
Fundraising

Total Expenses
Change in Net Assets From
Operations (includes depreciation)

861,167
1,824,714
2,001,953
1,258,837
36,440

Contributions 5%
Other Income 2%
United Way 2%
CHILD CARE 40%

MEMBERSHIP 32%

PROGRAMS 9%

GRANTS 5%

RENTAL 5%

CONTRIBUTIONS 4%

OTHER INCOME 2%

UNITED WAY 2%

5,983,111
(32,835)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDED

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDED

Non-Operating Changes
Release of Restriction by Donors
Total Changes in Net Assets
Net Assets at Beginning of Year

(268,916)
(301,752)
12,963,331

Net Assets at End of Year

$12,661,579

Subsidized Programs 52%

Scholarships 48%

Branch Membership
Bradford County YMCA

998

Eastern Lycoming YMCA

2,999

Jersey Shore YMCA

1,001

Tioga County YMCA

Williamsport YMCA

Total

999
3,642

9,639

Financial assistance ensures that the

YMCA is available to all residents of our
communities. We rely on the generosity
of our donors, volunteers, members and
partners to give the additional financial
support that will enable the YMCA to make
a meaningful impact in the communities
that we serve. During 2015, we provided
$236,933 of subsidized services to our
members and program participants.

SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS 52%

SCHOLARSHIPS 48%

RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL YMCA

IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE UNITED WAY

THE WILLIAMSPORT
YMCA TURNS 150
Originally a Christian lay leadership organization
with traveling religious speakers offering classes
to its members, the YMCA has transformed and
continually redeveloped itself into the community
organization that it is today. The Williamsport
Branch YMCA is a perfect example of this
progression as it celebrates its 150th Anniversary
this year.

The local Y was organized on March 16, 1866 when

a group of ministers met to dedicate their efforts
to look after the young men of the city. Initially
meeting in a Sunday school room, the Williamsport
YMCA grew to become one of the most active
groups in Pennsylvania and even hosted the State
YMCA convention in 1869 and 1882 where they
proclaimed that serving youth would become their
main objective.
By the 1890s they had outgrown their first two
meeting spaces and built their own building at 211
West Fourth Street. The focus had also changed
again to spirituality through strength to help
people get and stay healthy which almost doubled
membership by 1910.

When the Y was

originally started
it was the Young
Mens Christian
Association,
Jim Bower Sr.,
YMCA Trustee
described. A
place where
people could
stay overnight,
have a room or
do some athletic
things and keep fit while they were trying to get
themselves prepared for their adult life.
After needing more space yet again, the building
on Elmira Street opened in 1923, and was widely
proclaimed as the most modern YMCA building in
the world. This brought the opportunity to be one
of the first groups in the nation to play basketball,
which had just been invented by James Naismith
at the International YMCA Training School. The
Williamsport YMCA team then won the state
championship in 1929 and earned such a reputation
as a basketball city that it hosted the National

Championships in 1935 and 1937.

Longtime member, Laverne Whaley says one of his
fondest memories as a kid was watching guys from
television play in the big basketball tournaments at
the Y. That was exciting to us. After they left the
gym we would go and pretend we were them. There
was a director there, he continued, that really
helped us when we didnt have the money to get in.
He gave us jobs to work our membership off. He was
a really good guy in that way.
The Y continued to grow and expand by adding
18 bowling lanes in 1948, squash, handball and
paddleball in the 60s, and volleyball in the 70s and
80s. By the 1990s the focus had shifted to youth
development and the Williamsport YMCA became
one of the primary providers of childcare in the
area. My daughter was the first one to sign up for
their Kindergarten. They had a great teacher. She
got all of them to read at a 2nd or 3rd grade level.

The Y is a very important part of life for Andre

Phillips, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and her
family. We spent 25 years in competitive swimming.
I have four kids, all of whom went through the Y
program here and continued to swim in college. It
was about family. We were all together here every
single weekend, said Phillips.
Advisory Council Chair, Jason Fink, says the Y is
ready for the future. Today the Y is well positioned
to address the present and future needs of our
area residents. A new facility led by competent
and dedicated staff and supported by committed
volunteers, the Williamsport YMCA is ready to
provide programs and services that will meet the
communitys needs for decades to come.
The Williamsport YMCA has positively impacted the
lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals over
the decades. There is no doubt that the YMCA will
remain relevant well into the future, still changing
the community for the better, one person at a time.
Weve always been members of the Y. We think its
very important to be, explained Harold Chapman.
The cornerstone of any vibrant community is the Y.

Everybody in that Kindergarten even knew how to

swim, said Whaley.
The 21st century brought about more changes to
the organization as they formed the River Valley
Regional YMCA which now includes Williamsport,
Bradford County, Tioga County, Jersey Shore and the
Eastern Lycoming Branches.
It was decided in 2012 that the Williamsport
Branch YMCA needed a complete overhaul if they
wanted to continue with their areas of focus:
Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social
Responsibility. The new Williamsport Branch YMCA
opened its doors in December of 2014 with a
renewed mission to serve their community.

Although much has changed since 1886, the YMCA

is committed to staying true to our roots. From then
until now, the YMCA has served the community well,
constantly changing to meet the demands of the
city and surrounding areas. The Y is still concerned
with a holistic approach, helping people be well in
spirit, mind, and body. And the Ys three areas of
focus: Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social
Responsibility, are still as vigorously pursued as
they have ever been.

VOLUNTEERS

The River Valley Regional YMCA volunteers provide advocacy, policy direction,
and fundraising support for the Association. The visionary leadership of these
volunteers helps us to fulfill the YMCA mission daily.
RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL YMCA CORPORATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chip Amer
Ken Bear, Chair
Heather Blokzyl

Dee Brown
Ron Cimini
Shannon Clark

Amy Farrer
Jason Fink
Patty Jackson

Ed Metzger
Brian Paulhamus
Jeff Rauff

Terry Roller
Wendy Roof
Ken Scheesley
Ed Winslow

RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL YMCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Betty Allen
Jim Bower, Jr

Ron Cimini
Bob Elion

John Fry
Craig Kremser

Andree Phillips, Chair

Jeff Rauff

Pete Schultz
Marvin Staiman

THANK YOU
FOR
SUPPORTING
THE

YMCA!

RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL YMCA IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE UNITED WAY

Williamsport
Branch

641 Walnut Street

Williamsport, PA 17701
(570) 323-7134

Bradford County
Branch
9 College Avenue
Towanda, PA 18848
(570) 268-9622

Eastern Lycoming
Branch
50 Fitness Drive
Muncy, PA 17756
(570) 546-8822

Jersey Shore
Branch

826 Allegheny Street

Jersey Shore, PA 17740
(570) 398-2150

WWW.RVRYMCA.ORG

Tioga County
Branch

40-42 Besanceney Drive

Mansfield, PA 16933
(570) 662-2999