Summer is a time for fun, but it also puts students at risk for summer learning loss. Studies show that students, on average, lose one month of learning over the summer. For lower-income students, the loss is even greater. This summer, more than 300 academically at-risk students participated in YMCA Summer Learning Academies. The free, five-week programs took place at Diggs-Latham, Old Town, Petree, and Kernersville Elementary Schools. The Y also partnered with Cook Elementary School on their existing three-week summer program. The Summer Learning Academies are funded by the United Way, Hispanic League, a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, a grant from Philip Morris International, and generous donations to the YMCA Annual Giving Campaign. The program incorporates reading, math, tutoring by certified teachers, health and wellness information on nutrition and physical activity, computer labs, and enrichment components such as character development, the arts and humanities, and educational field trips, as well as an increased focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities. As part of the program, parents attended weekly meetings offered in English or Spanish, which provided information on the education system in North Carolina, tips for communicating with teachers, parenting skills, and for communicating with children, as well as other family topics. Results from testing this summer show 94% of students in the program increased or maintained their score in Math and 82% increased or maintained their score in Reading. To learn more, contact YMCA Childcare Services at 336 727 4849.

A Newsletter for Friends of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina

CONNECTIONSFALL 2014

A SUMMER OF LEARNINGYMCA Summer Learning Academies

The Y also incorporated a daily summer reading program and STEM activities in Summer Day Camp. Along with swimming and camp games, there was time each day for reading and STEM activities to keep campers’ minds engaged. The day camp enrichment component included a curriculum developed by a certified teacher with age-appropriate books and activities.

In an effort to combat child hunger, the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina offered a free Summer Food Program, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation and partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. Combining food and fun, the program provides nutritious meals and snacks, as well as learning enrichment activities to keep youth healthy, active and well-nourished all summer long.

GREETINGS FROM THE BOARD CHAIR & THE PRESIDENT/CEOAnother safe and fun summer has ended at the Y. Through the support of our new and current members, more than 1,000 backpacks were donated to children in need this August. Volunteers also took more than 200 children shopping as part of YMCA Bright Beginnings. Both programs are great examples of social responsibility from our members and volunteers.

The 18th Annual YMCA of Northwest North Carolina Golf Tournament was held on August 26, 2014 at Tanglewood Park. More than 200 golfers participated in the tournament. Golf Tournament proceeds provide financial assistance to make Y programs available to everyone in the community.

We recently hosted Victor Serbulov, YMCA Ukraine General Secretary,

and his family. Our partnership with YMCA Ukraine began in 1993, after the fall of the Soviet Union. Our friends at YMCA Ukraine are facing new challenges everyday. They continue to serve local communities with Y programs, most recently embracing the children of refugees displaced because of the current political strife. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers for peace.

Thank you for your continued support.

IN SPIRIT, MIND & BODY, Linda Wood, Board Chair Curt Hazelbaker, President and CEO

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: STUDENTS SUPPORT YMCA COMMUNITY GARDENStudents from YMCA Youth and Government, a hands-on program for high school students to learn about governmental process and to develop leadership skills, were recently part of the grand opening of the Robinhood Road Family YMCA’s Community Garden. The students explored ways to fight the hunger crisis in the surrounding community during the event. Partcipating students from Calvary Baptist and Forsyth Country Day School were awarded a $3,000 grant earlier this year to learn about political activism by raising awareness about the hunger issue in our community. For the past six months, they have conducted extensive research and chose to support the YMCA Community Garden.

FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: SURVIVORS REBUILD STRENGTH IN THE WATERIt has been nearly a year since the tragic crash on Interstate 40 in Tennessee took the lives of six members of the Front Street Baptist Church in Statesville and left the survivors to rebuild their health after serious injuries. “After the bus crash everyone in our community was so impacted, if there was any way we could help, we wanted to help,” says Dorie Shore, Aquatics Director at the Statesville Family YMCA. As the months passed and the crash survivors began to heal, the Y opened its doors to provide aquatic rehab at no cost.

In May, a few of the survivors began coming to the Y to spend time in the pool for water rehabilitation. The focus is to improve posture, balance, range of motion, and upper body strength, as well as strengthen core muscles. “When anyone comes to us for water rehab, we talk about their concerns, any injuries, disabilities, and their goals for the future,” explains Dorie. “We are able to make a difference in their quality of life on land with the time we spend in the water.”

CONNECTIONS | A Newsletter for Friends of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina

To learn more or get involved in YMCA Youth and Government or the Robinhood Road Family YMCA Community Garden, call 336 777 8055 or visit ymcanwnc.org.

To learn more about the water rehab program at the Statesville Family YMCA, contact Dorie Shore at d.shore@ymcanwnc.org or 704 873 9622. Find a Y pool near you at ymcanwnc.org/locations.

Pictured from left to right: Luke Kunkel, Austin Hurst, Kyle Davies, Nicky Jones, Mike Finley (Senator Burr’s Representative), Crystal Conway, Jackie Kniejski, and Logan Shortt

FALL 2014

FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS: HERITAGE CLUB MEMBERS DAVID AND NATALIE HINTONDavid Hinton has a philosophy about giving. “When you give back you have returned something to someone who gave you something – you have satisfied your obligation,” he says. “When you give, you give because you want to. Because it’s the right thing to do. You never really stop giving.”

That may explain why David has given so much to the YMCA over the past three decades in his various volunteer roles and through the Annual Giving Campaign. He and his wife Natalie have also made a commitment to the YMCA’s Heritage Club. “We want to help future generations.”

“When you make a commitment to the Heritage Club, you could be helping your own children or those of people you know. You never know who may need [the support of the Y] in the future,” David explains. As an accountant he understands firsthand that an increased endowment for the Y means the ability to help even more people in the years to come.

“The Y is one organization that tries to improve the lives of individuals and the community as a whole. From a safe place to go after school to organized youth sports in a safe environment to ESL classes to programs that fight obesity – the Y does so much,” David says. “When you look at all that; I just want to be part of changing lives.”

“My dad instilled the values in me to give time and money to help improve the lives of others and I am working to instill those same values in my children.”

To share your YMCA Heritage Club story or learn more, contact Joan Marie Belnap at 336 777 6225 or jmbelnap@ymcanwnc.org.

FOR HEALTHY LIVING: DOCTOR FINDS SUCCESS IN YMCA DIABETES PREVENTION PROGAMDr. Don Graham knew exactly what a prediabetes diagnosis could mean for his future. “I was shocked. It was an eye opener,” says Don, age 53, a pulmonologist at Surry Medical Specialists. Hearing that he was at risk for diabetes triggered a major lifestyle change including joining the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program. “I was motivated because I knew the physical consequences of diabetes. From my research, I knew that diet and exercise worked better than medicine, but I still had a lot to learn.”

In the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, a trained lifestyle coach introduces topics in a supportive, small-group environment and encourages participants as they explore how healthy eating, physical activity and behavior changes can benefit their health. The 12-month, group-based program consists of 16 one-hour, weekly sessions, followed by eight monthly sessions (for a total of 24 sessions). Participants discuss topics such as healthy eating, increasing physical activity, reducing stress, problem solving and much more. “We could share what we were struggling with that week,” says Don. “And being weighed in was great accountability.” Don began to view his past food choices through a new lens, seeing that a lunch he used to eat regularly actually contained enough fat grams for two days.

“The best part is that I have the knowledge to actually make a real lifestyle change.” Those lifestyle changes resulted in weight loss of 40 pounds and no longer being labeled pre-diabetic by his doctor. “My blood sugar normalized – this program worked for me.”

Several branches will host YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program Sessions this fall. Call Kate Kaczmarek, Director of Healthy Living, at 336 712 2000 or visit ymcanwnc.org/diabetesprevention for more info.

David and Natalie Hinton

YMCA RACE SERIESFall isn’t just the season of turning leaves and cooler temperatures, for many it’s time to lace up running shoes for race season. YMCAs across Northwest North Carolina are hosting fall 5Ks and race events. Now is the time to try something you’ve always wanted to do. Stop by your local YMCA or visit ymcanwnc.org/run for more info. Fall races are planned for the Alexander County, Statesville, Stokes, Wilkes, and Yadkin Family YMCAs. The final race of the series is the YMCA Mistletoe Run on December 6, 2014 at the William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA.

“I knew that diet and exercise worked better

than medicine, but I still had a lot to learn.”