Building A Healthy Community… Opening the Doors to Good Health The Excitement is Building! There is a definite buzz in the air, and it cannot be attributed to the arrival of summer alone – the new Stork Family YMCA is taking shape! From the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2009 to walls going up, the new facility is coming alive before the eyes of an eager community. “People are excited to see the progress being made on the site and are looking forward to being a part of the new Stork Family YMCA” says YMCA Vice-President Tom Abbott who is overseeing construction of the 45,000 sq. ft. YMCA facility adjacent to a new branch of the Waterloo Public Library. The Stork Family YMCA is expected to serve over 6,000 members annually, half of whom will be families. An estimated 20% of members will receive financial assistance to remove financial barriers to participation: “Many people in our community do not share in its prosperity and are missing the benefits of good health. Research shows that the YMCA has a positive impact on low income children, youth and families in both the short and long-term. The Stork Family YMCA will provide much needed health and recreation opportunities to some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” explains YMCA CEO John Haddock. Campaign Update #3 Pictures clockwise starting with above: John Haddock, Mike Stork and Tom Abbott at the groundbreaking ceremony November 2009; Stork Family YMCA construction site in April and June 2010 The project would not be possible without the support of donors to the Building A Healthy Community Campaign which has raised $5.6 million against its $10 million goal. We would like to thank the following donors for generously supporting the Campaign at the $100,000+ level: BMO Bank of Montreal Brock Solutions Dare Family The Economical Insurance Group Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Rotary Club of Kitchener-Westmount Harold and Violet Seegmiller The KW YMCA Endowment Foundation Patrick Spence and Erin Eberhardt-Spence Fred and Ruth Stork Michael and Hennie Stork Sun Life Financial TD Bank Financial Group
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Building A Healthy Community… Opening the Doors to Good Health
The Excitement is Building!There is a definite buzz in the air, and it cannot be attributed to the arrival of summer alone – the new Stork Family YMCA is taking shape! From the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2009 to walls going up, the new facility is coming alive before the eyes of an eager community. “People are excited to see the progress being made on the site and are looking forward to being a part of the new Stork Family YMCA” says YMCA Vice-President Tom Abbott who is overseeing construction of the 45,000 sq. ft. YMCA facility adjacent to a new branch of the Waterloo Public Library.
The Stork Family YMCA is expected to serve over 6,000 members annually, half of whom will be families. An estimated 20% of members will receive financial assistance to remove financial barriers to participation: “Many people in our community do not share in its prosperity and are missing the benefits of good health. Research shows that the YMCA has a positive impact on low income children, youth and families in both the short and long-term. The Stork Family YMCA will provide much needed health and recreation opportunities to some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” explains YMCA CEO John Haddock.
Campaign Update #3
Pictures clockwise starting with above: John Haddock, Mike Stork and Tom Abbott at the groundbreaking ceremony November 2009; Stork Family YMCA construction site in April and June 2010
The project would not be possible without the support of donors to the Building A Healthy Community Campaign which has raised $5.6 million against its $10 million goal. We would like to thank the following donors for generously supporting the Campaign at the $100,000+ level:
BMO Bank of MontrealBrock SolutionsDare FamilyThe Economical Insurance GroupLyle S. Hallman FoundationRotary Club of Kitchener-WestmountHarold and Violet SeegmillerThe KW YMCA Endowment FoundationPatrick Spence and Erin Eberhardt-SpenceFred and Ruth StorkMichael and Hennie StorkSun Life FinancialTD Bank Financial Group
Newcomer YouthThe Newcomer Youth program provides youth who are new to Canada an opportunity to learn more about the culture and customs in Canada while developing relationships with other newcomers and becoming part of the YMCA family. The program includes a recreational component, leadership activities, guest speakers from the community (eg. police, nutritionist, school guidance counsellor) and field trips into the community including the public library, and our Outdoor Centre on Paradise Lake.
The goal of the Building A Healthy Community Campaign is to raise $250,000 to support the Newcomer Youth program. To date, over $175,000 has been raised for this program.
Special thanks go out to the Astley Family Foundation, RBC and TD Bank Financial Group for their support of this program.
The Importance of a Healthy CommunityEveryone, whatever their age or stage in life, benefits from good health – the ability to live and enjoy life. People who are physically active have more energy, less stress, benefit from cardiovascular fitness and are able to maintain a healthy weight. Despite these important benefits, Canadians are becoming increasingly sedentary: almost half of Canadians aged 20 to 34 are inactive with the figure ranging to 53% of adults over the age of 35 years. The Population Health Profile for the Waterloo Wellington LHIN shows that 53% of the population is either overweight or obese. Close to 1 in 5 residents are daily smokers.
What is perhaps most disturbing is the fact that childhood obesity rates have tripled in the past 25 years. Today 1 in 4 Canadian children are overweight or obese and are at risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease and Type II diabetes. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, our children may be the first generation of kids who may not live as long as their parents. At the same time, a record number of baby boomers are entering their high-risk years. Growing ethnic populations with special risk factors will also
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contribute to increased pervasiveness of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Taken together, the data indicate that a health care crisis is looming on the horizon unless we invest in health promotion and disease prevention at personal and community level. That’s where the YMCA comes in. We are experienced at helping people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances lead healthy, active lives. We support the personal growth of people in spirit, mind and body through our vision to build a healthy community. “The Y is not just another fitness club, it is a partner in building healthy kids, healthy families and healthy communities” says Dr. Liana Nolan, Commissioner/Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Waterloo. For more information about how you can become engaged in building a healthy community, please contact:
Kathy Wilson, Vice President Financial DevelopmentKitchener-Waterloo YMCA460 Frederick Street, Suite 203Kitchener, ON N2H 2P5519-584-7479 ext. 216 [email protected]
