Tag: YMCA

Huntington Y receives Gatorade Play It Forward grant

The Huntington Y was recently awarded a $1,000 grant from the 2018-2019 Gatorade West Virginia Girls Soccer Player of the Year, and St. Joseph High School graduate, McKenzie Moran. Gatorade Play It Forward empowers Gatorade Player of the Year recipients across the country to award local or national sports organizations with grants so they can continue helping young athletes enjoy the benefits.

“We are honored McKenzie chose the Huntington YMCA for this grant,” said Brian Byrd, executive operations officer of the Huntington Y. “This grant will help our mission of strengthening our community and its families and creating a positive environment for our kids to grow and learn.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year is an athletic award program that annually recognizes student-athletes for outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character. In existence for more than 30 years, the prestigious award has honored several sports icons including Peyton Manning, Abby Wambach, Karl-Anthony Towns and Derek Jeter.

“The Gatorade Player of the Year award highlights student-athletes who set an example both on and off the field,” said Amanda Turak, assistant marketing manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The grant gives these athletes a chance to donate to organizations like the Huntington YMCA that positively impact the youth in their own communities.”

Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, largely due to tighter budgets in communities, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier and better students. Through the Gatorade Play It Forward program, all 607 Gatorade Player of the Year award winners select a youth sports organization that will receive a $1,000 grant to help the next generation of athletes benefit from sports.

About the Y

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.

YMCA statement regarding arrest of staff member

At the YMCA of Huntington, the safety and well-being of our members, participants, and staff is a top priority. We are troubled by the recent arrest of and charges facing one of our employees. Due to the charges against him, his employment has been suspended without pay. We are deeply saddened by the alleged actions, and our thoughts are with the alleged victims.

The alleged incidents took place away from our facility and in no way involved or put at-risk children in our care.

A full criminal background check and reference check was performed on this staff member at the time of his hire, and he did not have any previous arrests or areas of concern. However, in light of this incident, we are reviewing our hiring, monitoring and training policies to ensure that YMCA of Huntington is utilizing industry-best practices and that we continue to serve Huntington and the Tri-State area with distinction and pride, as we have for more than 134 years.

The YMCA of Huntington is fully supporting the Huntington Police Department during its investigation and will continue to do so. Because there is an ongoing investigation, all questions about the alleged incidents should be directed to the Huntington Police Department.

The YMCA of Huntington is a people-focused organization committed to enriching lives and strengthening communities. Our actions are guided by our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. These values call us to treat our employees – and all people – with compassion, fairness, and dignity.

www.huntingtonymca.org

Huntington native and Broadway star J. Mark McVey to speak at YMCA ‘Just for Kids’ dinner

Huntington native and Broadway star J. Mark McVey will be the keynote speaker at the “Just for Kids” Huntington YMCA Scholarship Dinner Thursday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Conference Center, 2849 Fifth Ave., Huntington.

Individual tickets for the dinner are $125, or corporate-sponsored tables of eight seats can be purchased for $1,000. Presenting and video sponsorship opportunities are also available. To purchase tickets or to become a sponsor, contact Kristi Adkins, associate director, Huntington YMCA, at (304) 525-8127.

Best known as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables,” J. Mark McVey made his Broadway debut in that role after winning the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actor while on tour. The first American to perform the role in London’s West End, McVey has also played Valjean at the Hollywood Bowl and on the 25th anniversary national tour, where he won the Ovation Award and the Broadway.com Award. McVey’s other Broadway appearances include “The Who’s Tommy,” “The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public” and “Stairway to Paradise.” He made his Carnegie Hall debut with renowned composer Marvin Hamlisch and continues to perform with numerous symphonies in the U.S. and around the world.

The Huntington YMCA will also be honoring Phil Cline with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Cline rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected business and civic leaders in Huntington. Cline is a past chairman of the board for Marshall University and Cabell Huntington Hospital and has also held executive leadership roles on numerous other boards for banks, businesses and charities. A past YMCA board president, Cline’s philanthropy allowed the Huntington YMCA to establish the Phil Cline Family YMCA, which is home to most of the youth and senior activities at the YMCA.

The “Just for Kids” Scholarship Dinner enables the Huntington YMCA to continue its mission of providing programs and memberships to underprivileged youth, seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The Phil Cline YMCA Wants to Awaken Summer Imagination at Annual Healthy Kids Day®

Event encourages kids to stay active and keep learning all summer long

Huntington, W.Va. On Saturday, April 21, the Phil Cline Family YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active at the annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and wellbeing for kids and families. Healthy Kids Day is an opportunity to ignite children’s imaginations so that they can imagine what they’ll accomplish this summer. The day-long event features some of the following activities: arts and crafts, face painting, vegetable planting, Huntington Fire Department Demonstrations, EMS Ambulance Tour, Car Seat Safety Checks and much more.

Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,500 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long. When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y wants families to focus on helping children imagine what they can accomplish over the summer.

“When a child is healthy, happy, and supported they can make great things happen,” says Misty Byars, Child Care Director at the Phil Cline Family Y. “We believe in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find that potential within themselves. A child’s development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer,” said Duron Jackson, Phil Cline Family Y Program Director.

Keeping Kids Healthy All Summer Long

In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits this summer that can have a lifetime effect:

  • High Five the Fruits and Veggies – Make sure kids get at least five servings a day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend to maintain healthy childhood development. And to keep kids’ taste buds evolving, have everyone in the family try at least one bite of a new fruit or vegetable at least once a month.
  • Read Together – The summer is a great time to enjoy books with summer program participants—and 30 minutes a day goes a long way! Take trips to the local library or create a family reading challenge to see who can log the most minutes of reading. Encourage youth to create their own stories as well.
  • Get Moving! – Activities that require movement also help kids flex their mental muscle. Use materials in unique ways: ask youth to build models, manipulate tools or develop their own theatrical scenes.
  • Play Together – Play may be the best way to prevent childhood obesity. By putting more play into your family’s day, you will soon find yourself getting the activity that will have your family feeling energized and strong.
  • Make sleep a priority – Doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, learning and other vital functions.

The Phil Cline Family YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place Saturday, April 21st at 917 9th Street from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Healthy Kids Day encourages youth and families to awaken summer imagination and this cannot be done without proper nutrition. Walmart Foundation is proud to sponsor Healthy Kids Day to raise awareness about the importance of food security and nutrition for youth and families.

Delta wants to ensure that kids have their best summer ever and is a proud sponsor of Healthy Kids Day.

Locally, Healthy Kids Day Vendors attending will be Cabell County Health Dept., Med Express, Family Resources, CCEMS, Dr. Jason Moore, NECCO, Pita Pit, Crout & O’Dell Orthodontics, Huntington Fire Dept., CWAB, KVC, United Way, Marshall Forensics, Valley Health, Contact Huntington, Kindred Communications and Link. Food donations and or gift cards from Sysco, FoodFair, Heiners, Sheetz, Ginos, Olive Garden, WIC Camden Park, Herrs, Paula Vega, Qdoba, Chipotle, Jewelry Gold & Pawn, Marshall Hall of Fame Café, Pita Pit and Davis’ Place.

For more information, contact the Phil Cline Family Y at 304.525-8127 or visit www.huntingtonymca.org.