YMCA OF GREATER CLEVELAND LOCATIONS
Warrensville Heights
Family YMCA
4433 Northfield Road
Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44128
Garrettsville YMCA
8233 Park Avenue
Garrettsville, Ohio 44231
Vermilion Family YMCA
320 Aldrich Road
Vermilion, 44089
French Creek Family YMCA
2010 Recreation Lane
Avon, Ohio 44011
Ridgewood Family YMCA
6840 Ridge Road
Parma, Ohio 44129
Euclid Family YMCA
631 Babbitt Road
Euclid, Ohio 44123
North Royalton Family YMCA
11409 State Road
North Royalton, Ohio 44133
Downtown YMCA
2200 Prospect Avenue East
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Geauga Family YMCA
12460 Bass Lake Road
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Hillcrest Family YMCA
5000 Mayfield Road
Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124
Lakewood Family YMCA
16915 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
YMCA of Greater Cleveland
2200 Prospect Avenue East
Suite 900
Cleveland, OH 44115
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West Park-Fairview Family YMCA
15501 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44111
West Shore Family YMCA
1575 Columbia Road
Westlake, Ohio 44145
Y-Haven
6001 Woodland Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44104
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Euclid Family YMCA Branch
Director Courtney Nicolai and
Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik in
front of the Y’s new gazebo.
During the week of Sept. 8, more than 400 volunteers from the YMCA helped
revamp and add on to the YMCA as part of the company’s “Global Day of
Caring.” Additions include a new outdoor walking track lined with 10 fitness
stations as well as a sand volleyball court. Inside, new lighting was added in the
gym and pool areas, the walls were painted and a teen room and resource room
were added. Continued on Page 2
After the General Electric (GE) “Global Day of Caring” September 10, and a Grand
Re-Opening event September 20, it’s not business as usual at the Euclid Family
YMCA. For Courtney Nicolai, executive director of the Euclid branch of the
YMCA, it was “Extreme Home Makeover: YMCA” edition.
$260,000 IN IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE EUCLID
FAMILY YMCA COURTESY OF GENERAL ELECTRIC’S
“GLOBAL DAY OF CARING”
OVER 400 GE VOLUNTEERS GIVE THE
EUCLID FAMILY YMCA A MAKEOVER
Connecting members, contributors and friends. www.ClevelandYMCA.org • Fall 2014
YMCA of Greater Cleveland
EUCLID YMCA MAKEOVER, CONTINUED
The YMCA was closed Sept. 8 through Sept. 14 while the work was
being done and the grand reopening was held Sept. 20 to show off
YMCA’s new look.
“We wanted to have a nice community re-launch and let everybody know
the Y is open and we have lots of programing,” Nicolai said. Nicolai said
the first thing many noticed when they arrived at the revamped YMCA
was the new lighting.
The teen room, Nicolai said, is a “blank slate.” It’s an area where kids
can come after school and do homework, or where they can play board
games and watch TV. “We do a lot of visits for kids who are in foster
care, so they come to visit with their biological families,” she said. “So
now we have a really nice playroom for them to do that. Got an area
that’s safe and secure.”
and financial health representatives at the event.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Cleveland Clinic, Pinnacle Academy
and Infield Chiropractic were among those in attendance.
The resource room will be used for its social service program, where
donations such as diapers and clothing can be accepted for the families
it works with. The group exercise room was also redone by G.E., with
a ballet bar added, and in January the Euclid YMCA will bring back its
youth arts program, “Y Arts.” Offerings include ballet, music classes and
private instrument lessons.
“There’s a lot of different vendors here so people can get information
and find out about what’s going on in the city,” Nicolai said.
Special Thanks to the Lake County News Herald. Portions of this story
include their coverage of the renovations and work to improve the Euclid
Family YMCA. We also thank the hundreds of volunteers from GE
for their efforts.
A wellness fair also was held in conjunction with the grand reopening.
Nicolai said there was everything from emotional health, spiritual health
NEARLY $3 MILLION HEALTH
EQUITY GRANT RECEIVED FROM CDC
country over the past decade. We now understand our role as ensuring
that everyone in the country, not only Y members, has the opportunity
both to be physically active in safe and convenient environments and to
access healthy food, regardless of where they live.”
The Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention (CDC) has awarded the YMCA
of Greater Cleveland a 3-year,
$ 2,958,810 Racial and Ethnic
Approaches to Community Health
(REACH) grant to implement a threepronged health equity strategy.
The Y’s Clevelanders in Motion Health Equity Coalition consists of
representatives from medical, public health, academic and governmental
institutions, as well as neighborhood-based organizations and
community residents.
The REACH grant will support the work
of the Y-convened Clevelanders in
Motion Health Equity Coalition which is
focused on four activities: transforming
Cleveland’s wide and under-utilized
streets into safe and inviting places to walk, run and bicycle; expanding
and institutionalizing its 10-year old, We Run This City youth marathon
program partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District;
supporting neighborhood-specific Healthy Eating/Active Living (HEAL)
initiatives; and expanding its chronic disease prevention efforts through
partnerships with community-based health centers.
“Our Coalition includes both regional advocacy organizations like Bike
Cleveland as well as neighborhood-level, grassroots efforts like the
amazing Buckeye HEAL Initiative,” said REACH Principal Investigator and
Y Director of Community Health & Advocacy Barbara Clint. “Our goal is
to create streets which work for all users, ages 8 to 80, and to link folks
at highest risk for lifestyle-related chronic disease with healthy eating
and active living resources,” Clint continued.
Selected as one of just 49 grantees nationwide, the new REACH
award builds on the health equity work launched by the Y’s in 2006
and expanded with prior CDC assistance as a REACH grantee from
2007-2012 and as a sub-grantee in 2013. The Y has convened the
Clevelanders in Motion Health Equity Coalition since January 2006.
The Y was selected for CDC funding both on the basis of its strong
organizational capacity, well-established community coalition,
evaluation plans and capacity and demonstrated work with priority
populations to reduce barriers to physical activity. Also selected for a
3-year award was the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. Their award,
coupled with the Y’s, will result in nearly $6 million in health equity
resources coming to Greater Cleveland over the next three years.
In commenting on the Y’s selection, Y President & CEO Glenn Haley
remarked, “The CDC’s selection reaffirms the direction in which not
only the Cleveland YMCA has been moving but also Y’s throughout the
For further information, call Y Director of Community Health &
Advocacy and REACH Grant Principal Investigator Barbara Clint at
216 268 6293, or email [email protected].
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160th ANNIVERSARY GALA
Over 400 guests celebrated the YMCA of Greater Cleveland’s 160th Anniversary on Saturday, August 23 at the new Westin Cleveland Downtown.
Partygoers were treated to a festive evening of dining and dancing and a sneak preview of the new Parker Hannifin Downtown YMCA, slated to
open in late 2015 at the Galleria at Erieview in Downtown Cleveland.
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1). Event Co-Chairs David Gunning II (left) and John Slagter. 2). Special Guest Host WKYC-TV-3’s Maureen Kyle. 3). YMCA of Greater Cleveland Chief
Financial Officer Holly DuPlain and husband, Russ, were the winning bidders of an original Hector Vega piece. 4). Dr. Mary I. Carson and her husband,
YMCA of Greater Cleveland President and CEO Glenn Haley. 5.) Event Co-Chair John Slagter and his wife, Christine. 6). Fred Geis and Kris Monaco
were the winning bidders on a silent auction island getaway package. 7). Cleveland State University President Ronald Berkman, YMCA of Greater
Cleveland President and CEO, Glenn Haley, and Board of Directors Member and Capital Campaign Chair, Daniel S. Serbin. 8). YMCA of Greater Cleveland
Board of Directors Member Jack Schneider and his wife, Angie. 9). Event Co-Chair and YMCA of Greater Cleveland Board of Directors Member
David H. Gunning II and his wife, Gina. 10). YMCA of Greater Cleveland Board of Directors Member Brian Kenyon and his wife, Lori. 11). Dr. Darlene
Lobel and YMCA of Greater Cleveland Board of Directors Member Kimberly Manigault 12). Danette and Pastor Douglas S.Gunkelman 13). Board of
Directors Member and Capital Campaign Chair, Daniel S. Serbin with a Hector Vega original featuring the new Parker Hannifin Downtown YMCA.
14). Dr. Ronald Adams and his wife, Nancy. 15.) YMCA of Greater Cleveland Member of the Board of Directors Michael Dostal and his wife, Rose.
Photo 7 courtesy of Currents; Remaining photos by Hanson Photographic.
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NEW AND RECENTLY
PROMOTED STAFF
We are happy to welcome David Gardner
to our YMCA of Greater Cleveland Family
as the new Program Director at the West
Park-Fairview Family YMCA. He began his
duties September 8, and has over 16 years
experience in the parks and recreation
industry, having most recently served as the
Brook Park Recreation Center Deputy Director.
Carissa Lambert is new as Site Administrator
for our Hayes before-and-after-school child
care site location in Lakewood. Carissa is
now full-time with the child care department.
Carissa has previously held positions in our
preschool, summer camp, child watch and
teen camp programs.
Nathan “Nate” Gunkelman, who has been
the Lead Member Service Representative
(MSR) at the North Royalton Family YMCA
since March of this year, has been promoted
to Membership Coordinator at the Ridgewood
Family YMCA.
Also, Molly Vargo, former Ridgewood
Membership Coordinator, moves to North
!
e
m
o
c
l
Congratulations!
We
Royalton, where she will serve as Membership
Director. Molly and Nathan will work closely
together on streamlining the membership
functions of both the North Royalton and
Ridgewood Family YMCA branches.
Regional Program Director for West Side YMCA
of Greater Cleveland branch locations Jarrod
Williams has been promoted to the position
of Executive Director of Youth Sports and
Development.
Christopher Frame has joined our
Information Technology Department serving
the entire YMCA of Greater Cleveland
Association as Help Desk Representative.
Most recently, Chris has worked as the Lead
Member Service Representative at the French
Creek Family YMCA in Avon.
Two new Directors of Aquatics began their
duties on Monday, September 29.
Alyssa Duer is the new Director of Aquatics
at the Hillcrest Family YMCA. She was most
recently the Aquatics Coordinator at the Lake
WEST PARK-FAIRVIEW
FAMILY YMCA UNVEILS
NEW TEEN CENTER
There’s a brand new Teen Center at the West Park-Fairview Family YMCA.
The newly-renovated space is courtesy of a $10,000 grant from the FirstMerit Foundation.
The new space includes a flat-screen television, and XBox Kinect system, and will be used
exclusively for teen programming during the hours of 3-6:30 p.m., according to Branch
Director Brandon Bussey.
County YMCA and Pool Supervisor for the
YMCA of Greater Cleveland at the Hilcrest and
Geauga Family YMCA branches.
Bryan Smith is the new Director of Aquatics
at the Euclid Family YMCA. He graduated from
the University of Akron with a Degree in Sports
Management and was most recently the Aquatics
Manager of the Brookpark Recreation Center.
SAVE
THE DATE
15TH ANNUAL Y-HAVEN STEPS
AND STAGES BENEFIT PLANNED
FOR NOVEMBER 8 AT CLEVELAND
PUBLIC THEATRE
All proceeds benefit Y-Haven, a program of
the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, serving 113
homeless men, with a wide range of services
including substance abuse and mental health
treatment, case management services and
permanent housing placement.
Tickets for the event are $75 each ($55 of
which is tax-deductable). You can purchase
tickets by mail, at the door or online at
yhaven.org. For more information, contact
Chip Joseph or Karen Wukela at
216 431 2018.
JOIN FOR $30
THROUGH
OCTOBER 18
New members can join for $30 this October
— a $70 savings. Members will also have
their choice of a free program. Choose from:
youth skills class, swim lessons, premium
group exercise, or a small group personal
training class.
ABOVE, FROM LEFT: West Park-Fairview Family YMCA Branch Director Brandon Bussey with Volunteer
Advisory Board Chair Liz Legler and FirstMerit Bank Regional Manager/Senior Vice President Michael Dostal;
The new West Park-Fairview Family YMCA Teen Center features new furniture and computers and an Xbox
Kinect game system and flat screen television.
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LIMITED
TIME
OFFER!
ALWAYS BE PREPARED
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EVENT AT WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS
FAMILY YMCA SHOWS FAMILIES HOW TO STAY SAFE
The Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management and Warrensville Heights
Family YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, partnered to host a National
Preparedness Day Event on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the Warrensville Heights
Family YMCA, 4433 Northfield Road in Warrensville Heights.
September was National Preparedness Month, and encouraged communities to take steps
to prepare for emergencies. The event was focused on home preparedness, including
children, pets, elderly, and individuals with special needs.
“We want to do everything we can to keep our communities safe. The YMCA of Greater
Cleveland is delighted to partner with the Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency
Management on this first-ever National Preparedness Day Event,” said YMCA of Greater
Cleveland Vice President of Marketing Rick Haase. “The safety and security of our
members and guests and the children we serve is our top priority. Our goal with the event
is to educate and inform.”
ABOVE: Warrensville Heights Mayor Bradley Sellers
demonstrates how to extinguish a fire with the help of the
Warrensville Heights Fire Department.
BELOW: YMCA of Greater Cleveland Association Director of
Personal Training Jerry Jacobs demonstrates self-defense
tactics on a member of the audience.
The event was specifically designed with families and children in mind, and included a
host of activities, including demonstrations such as Build a Kit - American Red Cross; Pet
CPR – YMCA of Greater Cleveland; Senior Citizen Preparedness - Cuyahoga County Senior
and Adult Services; DNA Buccal Swabs - Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner; How to
Extinguish a Fire – Warrensville Heights Fire, Department, and Life Jacket Instruction –
U.S. Coast Guard.
YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT
CONTINUES TO EXPAND
Downtown YMCA Branch Director Laura
Floyd hopes next April to take 50 students
to the Columbus State House as a part of the
continually expanding YMCA of Greater Cleveland
Youth in Government program. Last year, 40
students traveled to Columbus with Floyd.
YMCA Youth In Government (YIG), is a YMCA
program in the United States that allows high
school students to serve in model governments
at the local, state, and national levels. Some
states have Model United Nations (MUN)
programs for middle school students. Each
state may participate in the national programs,
which include the Youth Conference on
National Affairs (CONA) and the Washington,
D.C. Youth Governors Conference.
One of the Cleveland students’ hand-written
bills was passed from the Ohio House of
Representatives Floor, but was vetoed at the last
minute by Ohio Governor John Kasich. The bill
centered on increasing Ohio’s minimum wage.
For this school year, in addition to the six
Cleveland Municipal School District schools
participating in the program, Middle Schoolers
from the Orange School District will take part
as Pages in the program. This year, the Ohio
State Alliance will allow students in grades 7
and 8 to write bills as a part of the program.
“We really want to see our kids become more
active in their communities,” said Floyd.
“The program allows us to see that what the
students are really passionate about has a
definite effect on them. It’s really awesome,
and very gratifying.”
NARROWING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
The Downtown YMCA has launched an initiative to
help close the achievement gap in one of Cleveland’s
investment schools.
During the 2014-2015 school year, eligible children
will be given the opportunity to participate in a
revolutionary program model created by the YMCA
of the USA.
The program will expose and energize students at
Cleveland’s Marion Sterling Elementary School in nine
key areas of focus: academics, health and wellness,
career and college exploration; service learning;
global awareness; art education; 21st Century Skills,
and parent engagement. Lauren Harrison, Site
Director, will be leading the effort.
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NEW MEMBER OF THE LIVESTRONG
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE YMCA
Tamiyka Rose, Manager of State Government Relations for the
MetroHealth System, has joined the YMCA of Greater Cleveland
Corporate Board of Directors.
She is a committed public servant, with more than fifteen
years of professional experience in the public sector. She
has demonstrated performance in analyzing complex policy
issues, utilizing outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal
communications skills.
Tamiyka has the ability to motivate and mobilize individuals leading to transformational
results. Most notably, she successfully led The MetroHealth System’s efforts in lobbying
state and federal regulators for an experimental Medicaid waiver program which
extended health coverage to nearly 30,000 uninsured residents in Cuyahoga County.
The LIVESTRONG at
the YMCA program is
in full swing at four
YMCA of Greater
Cleveland branch
locations: Lakewood
Family YMCA, West
Park-Fairview Family
YMCA, Hillcrest
Family YMCA and the
Warrensville Heights
Family YMCA.
She recently received the “Who to Watch in Healthcare,” award from Crain’s Cleveland
Business, and was chosen as one of Kaleidoscope magazine’s “Forty under 40.”
The program focuses on you – the whole person –
not the disease. The free, 12-week program meets
twice a week for 90 minutes. Traditional exercise
methods ease you back into fitness and help you
maintain a healthy weight.
Prior to her work at the MetroHealth System, she served as the Medicaid policy and
budget analyst in the Ohio Office of Budget and Management. She also was a legislative
liaison in Governor Strickland’s Office and a legislative aide in the Ohio House of
Representatives.
You’ll focus on:
• Building muscle mass and strength
• Increasing flexibility and endurance
• Improving confidence and self-esteem.
A native of Cuyahoga County, Tamiyka holds a master’s degree in public administration
and a bachelor’s degree in political science, both from The Ohio State University. She
currently resides in Macedonia, Ohio with her husband and their daughter.
For more information, contact Linda McVey
at 216 509 3480 or email
[email protected].
WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS FAMILY
YMCA GALA A SUCCESS
For the second year in a row, the Fall Gala to
support the Annual Campaign of the Warrensville
Heights Family YMCA, was a resounding success.
117 individuals attended the event, held at
the Mediterranean Party Center in Bedford
Heights, which raised about $1,200 for the
Annual Campaign.
Annual Campaign Committee members
included Michael Carter, branch director of
the Warrensville Heights Family YMCA; Josie
Klimas, Active Older Adult Program Coordinator,
and Volunteer Advisory Board Members Ian
Stuart of the Goldberg Companies and Maria
Trivisonno, Children’s Public Services Librarian at
the Warrensville Heights branch of the Cuyahoga
County Public Library.
The evening included a brief program, which
featured a performance by the Pneuma Dance
Company, led by Roxanne Parker.
Gail Stringer led the audience in line dancing, and
there were Chinese and 50-50 raffles, including
two handmade quilts crafted by Marcia Dawson,
Rosemary Hubbard, and Jessie Wilkes. DJ
Kevin Wallace provided music for dancing.
YMCA MISSION: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
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