YMCA News Archive

YMCA Center for Youth Voice Helps K-12 Schools Across Minnesota Hold Mock Elections to Teach Kids How to Vote

jeffrey.needham — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:51:51 +0000

YMCA Center for Youth Voice Helps K-12 Schools Across Minnesota Hold Mock Elections to Teach Kids How to Vote jeffrey.needham Mon, 10/31/2022 - 08:51

St. Paul, MN – The YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will support more than 300 schools across the state in hosting mock elections on or just before Election Day.

Every two years, the YMCA partners with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office to run Students Voting, the statewide mock election for K-12 schools. The program is designed to help K-12 students learn about the importance of elections and the power of their voice – and their vote – in democracy. Every school that registers for the free program receives:

Realistic General Election ballot customized with their choice of offices and ballot questions
Ballot boxes
Privacy screens to set up desktop/tabletop voting booths
“I Voted” stickers

Participating schools are strongly encouraged to set up “polling places” in their buildings where every student can participate in the election.

“There is strong research that confirms that mock elections are not just a fun thing to do on Election Day, but actually helps to really build habits of democracy and voting and that is what we are trying to do,” said Amy Anderson, executive director of the YMCA Center for Youth Voice.

WHO:
YMCA Center for Youth Voice

WHAT:
Students Voting, Minnesota K-12 Mock Election Program

WHEN:
Schools are encouraged to hold their mock elections on Election Day, November 8, 2022. In cases where schools are choosing to be closed on Election Day, schools are holding their mock elections on either Friday, November 4 or Monday, November 7.

Special Note and Photo Opportunity: From 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022 students at Highland Park High School will be holding their mock election or Monday, November 7, 2022, students at Mahtomedi High School will be participating in their mock election. There are also other schools that are options.

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 166 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 370,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcanorth.org.

YMCA Hosts Fall Resilinator Adventure Race October 22-23 at Hyland Lake Park Reserve

jeffrey.needham — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:09:02 +0000

YMCA Hosts Fall Resilinator Adventure Race October 22-23 at Hyland Lake Park Reserve jeffrey.needham Mon, 10/17/2022 - 09:09

Bloomington, MN –YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will host its Resilinator adventure race for buddy pairs on Saturday and Sunday October 22-23, at Hyland Lake Park Reserve, presented by Cargill and hosted by Three Rivers Park District.

For the first time in American history, kids have a shorter life expectancy than their parents due to factors such as a sedentary lifestyle and declining participation in organized sports. The YMCA aims to change this with fun, challenging and unique activities like the Resilinator race. Buddy pairs race - while being tethered together - through fun and challenging obstacles to earn a finishers medal and a new confidence and grit. Buddies can be friends, siblings or a child with a parent, mentor, grandparent or coach. Racing in a buddy pair provides the participants the opportunity to work together by developing trust and communicating to solve the challenges and obstacles they face throughout the course.

“My favorite part was running through the huge leaf pile before the finish line,” said Josh, a 10-year-old YMCA racer. “The race was hard but really fun. I can’t wait to do it again!”

“Pediatricians across the Twin Cities prescribe the Resilinator to help kids get active,” said Glen Gunderson, president of the Y. “The YMCA is proud to provide unique wellness opportunities for kids with the support of partners across our community.”

A new opportunity this year is the Resilinator: Grown Up Edition. The inaugural event for buddy-pair participants ages 18-99 takes place on Saturday, October 22.

“Often as adults we find ourselves needing moments to disconnect-to-reconnect, opportunities to be active with like-minded people that don’t require months of preparation, celebrate our resilience, or experience outdoors in ways that inspire us to play,” explained Ashlee Mueller, director of events for Y Adventure Lab. The Resilinator: Grown Up Edition lets us be a kid again, even if just for an hour.”

WHO:
YMCA of the North’s Y Adventure Lab with Cargill and Three River Parks District

WHAT:
Resilinator, an adventure race for buddy pairs

WHERE:
Hyland Lake Park Reserve at 10145 Bush Lake Road in Bloomington, MN 55438

WHEN:
Resilinator: Grown Up Edition - Saturday, October 22 with start times from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Resilinator: Kids & Families - Sunday, October 23 with start times from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

About the YMCA of the North

Michelle T. Edgerton Joins YMCA of the North as Executive Vice President of Advancement and Development

jeffrey.needham — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:00:47 +0000

Michelle T. Edgerton Joins YMCA of the North as Executive Vice President of Advancement and Development jeffrey.needham Tue, 10/11/2022 - 11:00

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, welcomes Michelle T. Edgerton as executive vice president of advancement and development.

Edgerton will be advancing the successful efforts of the $227 million Forward For All campaign to strengthen people, places and programs to serve the community. She will be collaborating with YMCA teams focusing on new initiatives like George Wellbeing and programs that are accessible, affordable and for all. Edgerton will cultivate and maintain donor relationships; lead philanthropic initiatives; and collaborate with fundraising committees to direct and inspire successful outcomes for all development strategies, events and campaigns.

“We are excited to welcome Michelle to the Y team and gain her leadership in navigating how we continue to meet the ever-increasing needs of the people in our great community,” said Glen Gunderson, president of the YMC of the North. “Michelle’s strength is building strong, successful fundraising programs and helping organizations obtain greater clarity and mission alignment through strategic investments.”

Previously, Edgerton held leadership positions at community-focused organizations including chief development officer for United States of Care, chief advancement officer for Northside Achievement Zone, chief advancement officer for The Family Partnership and director of development for Twin Cities Rise. In 2019, she founded The Edgerton Group, an innovative, strategic fundraising and organizational development consulting firm

Edgerton holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Augsburg University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Wake Forest University, and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary. She serves as president of the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) – Minnesota Chapter and is a member of the Global Board of Directors for AFP.

About the YMCA of the North

MidCountry Bank donates $125,000 for YMCA of the North Military and Veteran Engagement Programs and Services

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 19:38:39 +0000

MidCountry Bank donates $125,000 for YMCA of the North Military and Veteran Engagement Programs and Services jeffrey.needham Thu, 10/06/2022 - 14:38

MidCountry Bank donated $125,000 for YMCA of the North Military and Veteran Engagement Programs and Services. The funds will support the wellbeing for the military community with programs including veteran family overnight camp, kids to camp, family sports day in partnership with the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota United, YMCA members and Y move program.

Pictured Left to right – Karen Larson, Glen Gunderson, Chris Vosbeek (CFO of MidCountry Bank) and Kerry! Givens.

YMCA of the North receives $8 million gift for groundbreaking George Wellbeing initiative

jeffrey.needham — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000

YMCA of the North receives $8 million gift for groundbreaking George Wellbeing initiative jeffrey.needham Tue, 10/04/2022 - 09:00

Penny & Bill George and the George Family Foundation make lead gift to multi-year $29 million campaign

Minneapolis, MN (Oct. 4, 2022) — The YMCA of the North, the second-largest YMCA system in the country, is the recipient of an $8 million gift from Penny & Bill George and the George Family Foundation to expand the Y’s innovative George Wellbeing initiative.

“Over the last four years, we have been working on how to best build on our strong legacy of community engagement and individual health to serve the public with an experience that integrates the whole person — mind, body, and spirit,” said Glen Gunderson, president of the YMCA of the North. “This generosity from Penny, Bill, and the George Family Foundation is the lead gift for a multi-year $29 million fundraising campaign to dramatically expand the already-successful George Wellbeing program to incorporate whole-person health and wellbeing into all of the YMCA of the North’s offerings moving forward.”

George Wellbeing aspires to bridge the gap between conventional healthcare and accessible practices, supporting individuals and communities whose needs are not fully met by currently available institutions.

“The dominant healthcare model in Minnesota and nationwide is a ‘sick care system’ that does not support whole-person health, resulting in growing challenges among communities that do not possess the wealth or health needed to fit within the existing model,” said Sally St. John, vice president of whole-person wellbeing at the Y of the North.

With a robust mix of in-person, digital, and hybrid experiences — and with health and wellbeing coaching at the core of the experience — George Wellbeing supports and enriches five key dimensions of health and wellbeing:

CONNECT: practitioners, instructors, community, partnerships, relationships
NOURISH: nutrition, supplements, botanicals, hydration, nature
MOVE: fitness, physical activity, outdoors
REFLECT: mindfulness, mental/emotional health
RESTORE: whole-person healing modalities, rest, sleep

Practices and programs include acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition and gardening, health coaching, massage therapy, mental health therapy, mindfulness, and physical therapy.

“The YMCA of the North’s George Wellbeing initiative is extraordinary,” said Penny and Bill George, co-chairs and founders of the George Family Foundation. “Their visionary work will have a profound impact here in Minnesota, and has the potential to serve as a national model for accessible, life-changing whole-person health and wellbeing for millions of people across the country.”

For more information on George Wellbeing services offered through YMCA of the North, visit wellbeing.ymcanorth.org.

About the George Family Foundation

Founded by Penny and Bill George in 1994, the mission of the George Family Foundation is to foster wholeness in mind, body, spirit, and community by developing authentic leaders and supporting transformative programs serving the common good. Their focus areas are whole-person health and wellbeing, authentic leadership, spirituality and mindfulness, youth development, the environment, and community. Learn more about the Foundation at www.georgefamilyfoundation.org.

About the YMCA of the North