Washington County Family YMCA will help ensure more children have the skills to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. 

Washington County Family YMCA (WCFYMCA) announced on October 28th that it is one of 68 communities and organizations joining the Early Years Initiative through a $500,000 grant to help meet the developmental needs of infants and toddlers and surround Hoosier families with the resources to make the most of the crucial years of learning from birth to age 3.

This is the second round of grants in the Early Years Initiative, which began in 2023 and is made possible by $60 million in grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. The goal of the initiative is to ensure Indiana’s infants and toddlers develop the foundational knowledge and skills needed to support their future learning and development. In total, the initiative has awarded 154 grants to 133 organizations.

Through its grant, WCFYMCA will expand the current facility to add a child care center, adding approximately 46 high-quality seats for young children in our community, with nearly all of these seats supporting children ages 0-3 WCFYMCA aims to address the lack of access to high quality childcare for families in our community. Lack of access to high-quality early care and education opportunities from birth impacts young children and their families, as well as the entire Washington County community. Access to positive early childhood learning experiences can significantly influence later educational,professional, and personal success. Research shows that children’s experiences from birth to five have a significant effect on their lifelong success, impacting social and emotional intelligence, health, and employment.

Lack of access to high-quality early care and education also has significant implications for our community as a whole. A 2009 study of Perry Preschool, a high-quality program for 3- to 5-year-olds developed in Michigan in the 1960s, found an investment in early childhood education translated to a decreased need for remediation in schools, reduced crime and social services needs, and increased productivity. Lack of access to child care has a significant economic impact on Washington County employers: based on a study completed by Early Learning Indiana and Indiana University in 2018, Washington County employers are losing an estimated $5.8 million annually because of direct costs of absences and turnover due to lack of child care. 

“Our initiative seeks to alleviate the burdens faced by families, schools, and businesses and create a safe, nurturing, and enriching environments for young children,” shares Kristy Purlee, CEO of the WCFYMCA, “We realize that investing in our youth benefits the entire county through improved economic impact and increased school readiness. Once the funding is in place for these remarkable changes, construction on the expansion will begin. With determination, innovation, and a collective commitment to our youngest members, we can create a supportive environment that empowers every child to thrive and reach their full potential.”

The Early Years Initiative places special emphasis on serving families in low-income households, within communities of color and where very young children are multi-language learners. WCFYMCA is committed to reaching out to and making a meaningful impact on the lives of Washington County families.

“Research is clear that a child’s brain develops most between birth and age 3, and that the neural pathways formed in these earliest years of life form the basis for all future learning and development,” said Maureen Weber, president & CEO of Early Learning Indiana. “That’s why the work of the Early Years Initiative is so critical. We must ensure supportive environments and responsive interactions between infants and toddlers and their caregivers to set the trajectory for their overall development and lifelong learning.”

For more information about WCFYMCA, and to stay up to date on its Early Years Initiative progress, visit wcfymca.org.

Pictured - A few of our Day Campers from our Summer program L to R: Maxximus Routson, Iver Whitlow, Tyrion Termini, and Sergeant Matt Hein from the Washington County Sheriff's Department.  

Salem, IN - June 19, 2024 - The Washington County Family YMCA is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the Drive For the Future Raffle Event, with Jedidiah Trainor of Pekin, IN emerging as the lucky winner. Trainor won a brand-new Bronco Sport, which he generously decided to gift to his 17-year-old son, Hunter, a student at Salem High School.

The raffle was a highlight of the YMCA's Beth Armstrong Y-For All Capital Campaign, launched on May 11th with a lively Cars and Coffee event at Salem Motorsports Park. The campaign aims to raise funds to build a childcare and family recreation center for the community.

Jedidiah Trainor purchased his ticket after Hunter's mother, Beverly, bought one, believing their chances of winning were good, especially with only 2,000 tickets available. Beverly even visited the YMCA Fair Booth on Monday, playfully urging the staff to draw either her or Jed’s ticket. Her enthusiasm and optimism turned out to be well-placed, as Fair Board President Rose Anderson drew Jedidiah's winning ticket live on Facebook on June 19th at 6 pm at the Washington County Fair.

Despite selling only 450 of the 2,000 available tickets, the event was still a success, netting approximately $10,000 for the capital campaign after expenses. YMCA CEO Kristy Purlee expressed her gratitude, noting that many were led to purchase a ticket to support such a worthy cause. "This was about more than just the raffle; it was about coming together as a community to support the future of our children and families," Purlee stated.

The YMCA Board of Directors, while surprised by the lower-than-expected ticket sales, viewed the event as a positive and innovative way to raise awareness for the Capital Campaign Project. Rusty Hudson, YMCA Board President, remarked, "I feel the value of the public relations and attention received for our cause was far greater than we anticipated."

The Washington County Family YMCA extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and supported the raffle event. Your contributions are helping to build a brighter future for our community.

For more information about the Beth Armstrong Y-For All Capital Campaign and how you can get involved, please visit our website or contact the Washington County Family YMCA directly.

The Washington County Family YMCA is excited to launch YMCA360! This brand-new Video on Demand and Live Streaming service brings the Y experience seamlessly to mobile devices, TVs, streaming devices and the web, and will be included free with every YMCA membership.

With YMCA360, pursuing a healthier lifestyle is possible anytime and anywhere. Members will be able to view and participate in hundreds of group exercise classes, youth sports training, well-being classes, cooking classes, remotely connect with personal trainers, view daily live fitness classes and so much more. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

“YMCA360 allows people to pursue a healthier mind, body, and spirit at their own pace, on their schedule, and in any location. Be it in our facility, in their living rooms, or while traveling,” Kristy Purlee, Chief Executive Officer.

When the YMCA shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19, the staff worked hard to continue finding ways to fulfill the Y’s mission even with their doors closed. From their living rooms, back yards, and basements they created and shared hundreds of videos on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, free to the community. When their doors reopened the desire to continue connecting with people in new innovative ways led the Washington County Family YMCA to bring YMCA360 to their members.

“With many affected by COVID-19, we saw a need for an innovative way to offer programs that could be accessed from anywhere,” said Purlee. “We are excited to expand our class offerings through YMCA360. This is a great way for us to continue to live out our mission in Washington County and the surrounding areas.”

YMCA360 is available free to the community now through December 31, 2021. Beginning January 1st, it will switch to a members-only benefit. 

YMCA360 is available now on Apple TV, iOS, and Roku. Android and Android TV support will be launching soon! Individuals and families who are interested in learning more about YMCA360 or membership options can visit www.wcfymca.org or speak with staff at the Washington County Family YMCA Member Service Desk.