ReleaseWire http://media.releasewire.com/photos/show/?id=68004&size=small http://www.releasewire.com/ Ann Arbor YMCA - Latest Press Releases on ReleaseWire http://www.releasewire.com/company/ann-arbor-ymca-962.htm en-us Ann Arbor YMCA Celebrates One-Year Anniversary at New Facility with Over 7,000 Members Enjoying New Space and Community-Based Health, Wellness Programs http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Ann Arbor, MI -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2006 -- This month, the Ann Arbor YMCA is celebrating numerous accomplishments since moving to its new, larger facility at 400 West Washington Blvd. one year ago.

"We moved into the new building to meet the changing needs of our members, offer a more, family-friendly environment and provide new programs and services," states Cathi Duchon, Ann Arbor YMCA President and CEO. "At our one-year anniversary, we're celebrating the increase of our membership, 30,000 additional square feet of building space and over 120 new classes. We want to thank all our members, donors and the residents of Washtenaw County who've helped turn the new Ann Arbor YMCA into a valuable community resource!"

Since the grand opening on April 1, 2005, the Ann Arbor YMCA has helped the local community by:

- Creating New Youth and Teen Programs

In conjunction with the new facility, the YMCA received a grant from Pfizer for a Teen Fitness Program. Since its inception in September of 2005, over 100 teens have participated in this program.

In addition, the YMCA now provides a staffed after-school program for up to thirty, fifth to eighth-graders each weekday and structured activities for teens on school vacation-days. This includes fieldtrips, basketball tournaments and fitness classes. Overall, teen memberships grew from 100 to 850 since 2005.

- Expanding space for:

The aquatics facility to offer more swim classes and meet the needs of both children and adult swimmers.

Childcare and Childwatch programs, where children have more room to enjoy various activities.

Gym facilities to accommodate 260 kids in the Youth Basketball League, a five-fold increase since spring of 2005.

Their personal wellness program, both in terms of staffing and equipment. Now, the YMCA offers more one-on-one wellness coaching to people who might otherwise not exercise. During this past year, the YMCA provided a total of 1,782 personal training sessions to 261 members. On average, this represents 35 personal training sessions per week in the new building, compared to 5 per week in the old facility.

- Offering expanded weekday and weekend hours to enable more use of the facility each day. Starting April 1, 2006, the YMCA will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.

- Coordinating Chain of Plenty and Youth Volunteer Programs that continue to serve the community.

- Increasing financial assistance. The YMCA awarded over 370 membership scholarships, 178 program scholarships and 20 scholarships for families in childcare during the past year.

YMCA Awards Received
- Voted "Best Fitness Center in Ann Arbor" by Ann Arbor News readers in 2005
- Nominated by the Washtenaw-Livingston Business Review for "Deal of the Year" for 2005
- Recognized by the YMCA of the USA through the Mission Driven Quality Promise Awards in nine program areas
- Nominated by the Washtenaw Contractors Association for 2006 Pyramid Awards' "Best Project Team (over $3 million)"

About the Ann Arbor YMCA
The first Ann Arbor YMCA was organized by students at the University of Michigan in 1858. It was the second YMCA in the State of Michigan following Detroit. With our new, state-of-the-art facility opened on April 1, 2005, we provide a wide range of programs that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Please visit http://www.annarborymca.org or call 734-996-9622 for more information.

Media Contact:
Marcia Luke-van Dijk, Ann Arbor YMCA Marketing Director, 734-996-9622, mlvd@annarborymca.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Media Relations Contact

Melanie Rembrandt
Telephone: 734-996-9622
Email: Click to Email Melanie Rembrandt
Web: http://www.annarborymca.org

]]> Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:30:00 -0600 http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm Ann Arbor YMCA Gulick Project to Help Members Feel Healthier, Celebrate Health Improvements http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Ann Arbor, MI -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2006 -- This month, the Ann Arbor YMCA is celebrating numerous accomplishments since moving to its new, larger facility at 400 West Washington Blvd. one year ago.

"We moved into the new building to meet the changing needs of our members, offer a more, family-friendly environment and provide new programs and services," states Cathi Duchon, Ann Arbor YMCA President and CEO. "At our one-year anniversary, we're celebrating the increase of our membership, 30,000 additional square feet of building space and over 120 new classes. We want to thank all our members, donors and the residents of Washtenaw County who've helped turn the new Ann Arbor YMCA into a valuable community resource!"

Since the grand opening on April 1, 2005, the Ann Arbor YMCA has helped the local community by:

- Creating New Youth and Teen Programs

In conjunction with the new facility, the YMCA received a grant from Pfizer for a Teen Fitness Program. Since its inception in September of 2005, over 100 teens have participated in this program.

In addition, the YMCA now provides a staffed after-school program for up to thirty, fifth to eighth-graders each weekday and structured activities for teens on school vacation-days. This includes fieldtrips, basketball tournaments and fitness classes. Overall, teen memberships grew from 100 to 850 since 2005.

- Expanding space for:

The aquatics facility to offer more swim classes and meet the needs of both children and adult swimmers.

Childcare and Childwatch programs, where children have more room to enjoy various activities.

Gym facilities to accommodate 260 kids in the Youth Basketball League, a five-fold increase since spring of 2005.

Their personal wellness program, both in terms of staffing and equipment. Now, the YMCA offers more one-on-one wellness coaching to people who might otherwise not exercise. During this past year, the YMCA provided a total of 1,782 personal training sessions to 261 members. On average, this represents 35 personal training sessions per week in the new building, compared to 5 per week in the old facility.

- Offering expanded weekday and weekend hours to enable more use of the facility each day. Starting April 1, 2006, the YMCA will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.

- Coordinating Chain of Plenty and Youth Volunteer Programs that continue to serve the community.

- Increasing financial assistance. The YMCA awarded over 370 membership scholarships, 178 program scholarships and 20 scholarships for families in childcare during the past year.

YMCA Awards Received

- Voted "Best Fitness Center in Ann Arbor" by Ann Arbor News readers in 2005

- Nominated by the Washtenaw-Livingston Business Review for "Deal of the Year" for 2005

- Recognized by the YMCA of the USA through the Mission Driven Quality Promise Awards in nine program areas

- Nominated by the Washtenaw Contractors Association for 2006 Pyramid Awards' "Best Project Team (over $3 million)"

About the Ann Arbor YMCA

The first Ann Arbor YMCA was organized by students at the University of Michigan in 1858. It was the second YMCA in the State of Michigan following Detroit. With our new, state-of-the-art facility opened on April 1, 2005, we provide a wide range of programs that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Please visit http://www.annarborymca.org or call 734-996-9622 for more information.

Media Contact:

Marcia Luke-van Dijk, Ann Arbor YMCA Marketing Director, 734-996-9622, mlvd@annarborymca.org

Ann Arbor, MI -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/24/2006 -- In response to America's growing obesity and health-care crisis, the Ann Arbor YMCA is one of 30 national YMCAs participating in The Gulick Project, part of the YMCA Activate America™ campaign. Named after Luther Gulick, an early YMCA health and wellness pioneer, the goal of the Gulick Project is to re-engineer the way national YMCAs work with prospective and current members to promote healthy living. The YMCA is particularly focused on attracting and retaining health-seekers. These are people who want to get fit but have been frustrated by diets or fitness programs that do not meet their needs.

"With most states reporting obesity rates over 20%, we believe we can change the direction of the health of our community, and ultimately the nation, by helping health seekers feel more comfortable in a fitness environment," states Diane Carr, Ann Arbor YMCA Senior Program Director. "The more comfortable these health seekers are, the more time they will spend at the YMCA. And with 16% of American adolescents ages 6 to 19 being overweight, it is also a priority for us to connect with these young people and help them develop healthy lifestyle habits."*

The Ann Arbor YMCA Gulick Project hopes to create a relationship-based YMCA through the following:

1. Engagement
Prospective members are given an individual consultation to learn about programs and services pertinent to their specific needs and background.

2. Connectedness
When enrolling their children in YMCA programs, parents receive a personal, staff-member welcome and are introduced to other members so that each new participant has a friend at the YMCA.

3. Small Communities
The YMCA helps build small support communities by creating "member appreciation" events and informal clubs for groups sharing various activities or classes. These communities increase member engagement and support long-term, healthy lifestyles.

As part of the Gulick Project, the Ann Arbor YMCA also:

• Works directly with participants to encourage healthy living and acknowledge small steps of progress by each member, whether in a class setting or during personal-training sessions.

• Offers health-education courses and one-on-one wellness coaching to help members focus on physical activity, improved nutrition and mental health.

• Provides healthy food choices in the facility, offering fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains and avoids sugar-sweetened drinks and trans fats.

• Emphasizes a specific, minimum amount of physical activity for all adult and children's programs.

• Limits computer time and eliminates exposure to commercial broadcast television for children while they're in the facility.

"The Gulick Project focuses on making a person feel healthier and successful rather than on weight loss," states Larry Thomas, Ann Arbor YMCA Personal Coach. "Weight loss is a by-product of this individualized program that is based on a long-term relationship between the member and the YMCA community."

About the Ann Arbor YMCA
The first Ann Arbor YMCA was organized by students at the University of Michigan in 1858. It was the second YMCA in the State of Michigan following Detroit. With our new, state-of-the-art facility opened on April 1, 2005, we provide health and wellness programs that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Please visit www.annarborymca.org or call 734-996-9622 for more information.

*Data from Center for Disease Control and 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Media Relations Contact

Melanie Rembrandt
Telephone: 248-540-9660
Email: Click to Email Melanie Rembrandt
Web: http://www.annarborymca.org

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