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Senior Citizens Fastest Growing Membership in YMCA
Older adult fitness, sports offered by more Ys as
seniors booms
Sept. 26, 2005 Senior citizens 65 and older now
represent the fastest-growing category of YMCA membership, which has
reached 20.1 million, according to data released today. As the country's
demographics shift and nearly 78 million baby boomers begin to enter
their 60s, YMCAs' programs for older adults are growing rapidly. In 2004
fifty-six percent of Ys offered Older Adult Fitness, the number of YMCAs
offering Older Adult Sports increased 95.7 percent and 1044 Ys offered
arthritis aquatics classes.
YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for
the nation's 2,594 independent YMCAs, says YMCAs across the country have
more than 600,000 volunteers and revenues over $4.75 billion. For the
first time ever, more Americans belong to a YMCA than the combined
population of the top five U.S. cities. Half of the membership is
children.
Increasingly recognized as one of America's top
charities of choice, YMCAs across the country are strengthened by the
extraordinary generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations and
public entities at all levels, the announcement said.
Contributed gifts and public support represented
nearly $1.3 billion or 26.9 percent of combined YMCA revenue in 2004.
This included more than $287 million raised in capital campaigns and
$144 million raised in annual campaigns, as well as $85 million from the
United Way and $587 million from foundation and government grants.
"At a time when studies show that American children
and adults are increasingly inactive, overweight and at risk of obesity
and other chronic illness, public awareness and support of the YMCAs'
crucial role remains exceptionally strong," said Kenneth L. Gladish,
Ph.D., president and CEO, YMCA of the USA.
"Today YMCAs are involved in groundbreaking
research, and convening policymakers around the country to get children
and adults more active. And the strong support of the public, will help
YMCAs engage still more children and at-risk teens in creative, well-
supervised programs that get them active while building good character
and self-confidence," he added.
In 2004, YMCAs collectively remained the nation's
largest provider of child care engaging more than 500,000 children in
high-quality, affordable care through nearly 10,000 YMCA operated child
care sites across the country.
From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs are at the
heart of community life in the United States with 42 million families
and 72 million households located within three miles of a YMCA. As such,
YMCAs partner with thousands of local organizations to develop and
implement effective collaborative programs and community-based
solutions.
Other items of note in 2004:
-- 1,638 Ys worked collaboratively with elementary
schools and 1,019 with hospitals
-- Ys served more than 9.7 million members under
the age of 18, an increase of 5.2 percent over 2003
-- More than a third of all families benefiting
from YMCA childcare reported annual incomes less than $25,000 and 60
percent earn less the $40,000
-- 645 YMCAs offered one or more of a range of Arts
& Humanities programs
-- The number of YMCAs offering Family Fitness
jumped 94.2 percent.
Top Five YMCA Programs in 2004:
1. Day Camp
2. Youth Basketball and Aerobic Group Exercise
3. Youth Progressive Swim
4. Step Aerobics
5. School Age Child Care
About the information:
YMCA of the USA's annual statistics were tallied
from 2,594 YMCA responses to a questionnaire on 2004 operations
collected in the first quarter of 2005. Additional YMCA statistics can
be found online at
http://www.ymca.net. Click on the "At A Glance" button under "About
the YMCA Movement."
YMCA of the USA is national resource office for
America's 2,594 YMCAs, collectively the nation's largest community
service organization and charity of choice. YMCAs serve 20.1 million
people, including 9.7 million children, through a broad range of
programs. YMCAs are for people of all faiths, races, ages, incomes and
abilities. Financial assistance is available. For more information visit
http://www.ymca.net
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