YMCA of Northern Colorado

Our goals are: 1) never turn a child away from participating in a YMCA program because of inability to pay, 2) to provide youth development and activities that give our children the opportunity to become confident kids today and healthier, happier, grown-ups tomorrow, 3) to help children understand and value their health by giving them resources and guidance to maintain physical activity, health, and wellness, and 4) to build a stronger, more inclusive community, provide support for families, and promote positive change overall.

As an organization that is committed to strengthening community, it is imperative that we foster partnerships and collaborations with other community groups. Our list of community partners includes the Boulder Valley School District, the City of Boulder Family Resource Schools, the Boulder County Foster Family program, Boulder County Head Start, Boulder Rotary, the University of Colorado Athletic Department, and Foothills United Way. By partnering with these and other nonprofit groups, the Y is able to provide quality programs for our members and for the larger community by sharing our resources. This strategy of collaboration and cooperation—of bringing the best together to deliver a quality program—has served us well as we work to support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The YMCA of Northern Colorado serves over 50,000 children, youth and adults each year. With two facilities, a residential camp and access to 63 program sites throughout the community, we have the capability to make a significant positive impact on the health and well-being of our community. The 35 members of our board of directors represent a diverse group of stakeholders, all with the common vision of making a positive impact on the children and families of our community.

We are currently working to reduce the incidence of childhood drowning in our community. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among Colorado children ages 14 and under. With the addition of a seasonal cover on our outdoor aquatics facility and the cooperation of the Boulder Valley School District, we will soon be able to offer water safety classes to every BVSD student in the second grade.

We also are working to reduce the number of children who are either overweight or clinically obese through an intervention program that targets both the child and the family. We've had increasing numbers of families participating in the MEND program, and many have left with a new understanding of health and wellness.