Jeanne celebrates her birthday every year in Doug's Strong & Balanced Group Fitness Class

Y member Jeanne Armstrong recently celebrated her 93rd birthday and attributes her participation at the Y as a big factor in how she continues to stay active. Jeanne has been going to the Y with her family for many years--with her children and, now, her grandchildren. Jeanne's husband Ed gave back to the Y for providing a welcoming space for his family. His firm donated toward the development of the Y's Tennis Center and he served as chair of the Y Board of Directors. The Armstrong family is a beautiful example of the generosity of Y members who give back to the place that allows for continued growth in health and wellness, and a sense of community and belonging.

As 2019 wraps up and your Y heads into the new year, we want to say thank you

to all of our incredible members and community partners who are choosing to give to the Y this holiday season. When making your end-of-the-year charitable giving plans, we encourage you to consider the Y. We invite you to join us in giving either a Gift of the Present or Gift of the Future! Giving a Gift of the Present through the Y's Annual Giving Campaign provides immediate opportunities to support individuals and families in need by giving them access to YMCA programs. A Gift of the Future supports the Y's Capital Campaign, which will help build a new Y. Any contribution goes a long way and we thank you for whatever you have to give. You can donate here.

Weyerhaeuser Gives

During this season of giving, your Y is especially thankful to have received a generous grant of $29,800 from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund for our  Afterschool Program Expansion. This grant will support expansion into  underserved areas of Lane County. Your Y is committed to offering these  enrichment programs to as many households as possible, regardless of ability to pay. This generous donation will make a positive difference for many families. Read more here .

Giving Tuesday Success

Giving Tuesday was a blast at the Y, as we celebrated our new impact video, Reaching Our Potential. The video featured several inspirational Y members and their stories. Showtimes ran throughout the day in the Y lobby, as Y staff and members stopped by to watch and grab some snacks. Link to the video here.

Betty Soreng's Challenge Grant inspires hundreds of Y supporters

Y supporters have stepped up in big ways to meet Betty Soreng's generous $500,000 challenge grant through The Oregon Community Foundation. As of today, 322 donors have matched $389,599 and the deadline isn't until Dec. 31.

Almost 150 donors chose the Betty Soreng challenge grant to donate to the Capital Campaign for the first time!

"The number of new donors exceeded our wildest expectations," said Danielle Uhlhorn, the Y's Chief Development Officer. "A new member wrote a $50,000 check because he was so insired by the project and a longtime Y member offered us the last $6 in his pocket because he really wanted to be a part of the excitement."

Parents, do you need a night out?

Your Y knows how tricky and chaotic the holiday season can be for parents, and we want to help! Take time to shop, unwind or nap while we offer your kiddos a cozy night in to eat popcorn, watch a movie and make crafts! Parents' Night Out may be just what you need.

Date: Friday, December 13

Time: 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Place: The Beck Center at the Eugene Family YMCA

Cost: $20/youth ages 2 ½ to 12 years old

Registration: At the Welcome Center, or call 541.686.9622 or register here

Note: Please feed your kiddo dinner prior to drop-off and dress them in comfy PJs or something cozy

Give the Gift of Fitness to Yourself or a Loved O ne

If you want to jump start your fitness program or want to push yourself to the next level, a Fit For You package can help. This month only, Fit For You packages are 20 percent off. Fit For You packages are one-on-one training sessions with a Wellness Coach who will tailor workouts to your specific goals and fitness level.

	Regular Price	Special Price
1 Session	$35	$28
4 Sessions	$140	$112
8 Sessions	$245	$196

Y staff live and work by four core values

Join us in celebrating your Y's Purpose by participating in COLOR WEEK, Dec. 16-20. Each day, Y staff will dress up in a different color to highlight your Y's core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility! 

Monday, Dec 16: Wear RED to honor our core value -- CARING

Tuesday, Dec 17: Wear BLUE to honor our core value -- HONESTY

Wednesday, Dec 18: Wear YELLOW  to honor our core value -- RESPECT

Thursday, Dec 19: Wear FLANNEL to celebrate the holiday season with us

Friday, Dec 20: Wear GREEN to honor our core value -- RESPONSIBILITY

Y staff get in the Holiday Spirit! 

Staff are like family to us and we want to celebrate around the holidays with them! The all-staff holiday party will take place on Thursday, December 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Y's Beck Center. Staff will be participating in Secret Santa and getting in the holiday spirit while enjoying each other's company! During this season, we recognize our strength when we are inclusive, welcoming and celebrating all. The strength of our diversity becomes beautifully apparent during the holiday season in so many wonderful ways. 

Y staff make Merry during Springfield Christmas Parade

Parade-goers couldn't miss the Eugene Family YMCA presence at the Springfield Christmas Parade on Saturday. Your Y celebrated with jugglers, one of our bright Youth Development buses, and colorful messages showing how the Y is FOR ALL!  It is dubbed the "oldest and coldest" parade in Oregon, but its true characteristic is one of generosity. The parade is presented by the Oregon Riders Society, whose mission is to help families and children in need--a mission the Eugene Y wholeheartedly supports!

Kim: Rising Business Star 

	Y staff Kari, Kim, and Sabrina, and Kim's son Cash

Your Y's own Kim Miller, Health and Wellness and Healthy Living Director, received her 20 Under 40 Rising Business Star award at a gala Thursday, Dec. 5. Kim is passionate about helping others with their wellness journeys and working to create an inclusive and healthy community. She earned this honor based on her dedication and commitment to Y values and community wellness. Congratulations Kim! You are an inspiration to us all. 

Annual Food Drive earns Y members guest passes

The season of giving continues! Your Y is having its annual food drive to support Food For Lane County. We are happy to help with this cause this time of year when many families in the community are in need. A simple donation can make a big difference. Bring four cans of food to the Y's donation bin and receive one guest pass, now until late December. A maximum of one guest pass per day can be earned. 

Y to Host World-Class Y USA Trainer Gigi Woodruff

Your Y is fortunate to be part of a global organization that allows us to learn from influential leaders about how to take actionable steps to better our community. Your Y is hosting Gigi Woodruff,  Y-USA Senior Leadership and Board Governance Director, Dec. 17 and 18. She is a nonprofit organizational leader with more than 25 years of leadership  development and executive coaching experience. Gig will train Y staff and board members, as well as CEOs and board volunteers from more than 25 local  nonprofits in Lane County.

"Informed nonprofit leaders and board members do important,  critical work in Eugene, Springfield and beyond," says Y CEO Brian Steffen. "Gigi has helped countless YMCA CEOs and board volunteers understand their responsibilities and govern effectively. I know she will do the same with our community's nonprofits."

Can you swim from Cuba to Florida in the Y pool? YES, you can!

Your Y's aquatic staff is inviting members to participate in a 100-mile swim challenge for 2020. This lap-swimming challenge will motivate individuals to stay active and reach for a long-term goal--the equivalent of swimming from Cuba to Florida. Members track miles, yards or laps and those who tally 100 miles over the course of a year, win a prize. More details to come.

Sign up NOW for Winter 2020 Swim Lessons! 

From Parent/Child to Pre-competitive, we have lessons for every swimming level. Don't miss the chance to strengthen your child's confidence in the water and develop a life-long skill that will keep them safe and healthy!

Date: Registration Opens: Mon, Dec. 23

Time: Winter Session 1 Lessons are Jan. 6-30

Place: Small and Lap Pools

Registration: Register at the Welcome Center, at 541.686.9622 or  here

LIVE STRONG® at the YMCA celebrates success, support and friendship

	Congrats to the recent graduates!

The LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program is a 12-week exercise program offered at no cost to help cancer survivors improve their fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, develop supportive relationships and improve their quality of life. The Y has graduated 12 sessions--each averaged 12 participants. In typical YMCA fashion, all alums will be celebrating their involvement and continued success at a YMCA potluck on Thursday, December 12 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. We love the supportive system that LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA creates even long after each session ends!

REMINDER
Update insurance information for Y membership

For those members who receive the benefit of having their insurance pay all or part of their dues; we want to remind you that we will need you to stop by the Welcome Center and verify your insurance and fitness ID number with us for the 2020 billing cycle before the end of January. Thank you for your help in this process.

Time to Jingle and Mingle!

Get into the holiday spirit while staying active and playing tennis! Your Y's annual Tennis Team Event and Holiday Social is coming up. The team tournament will be using the World Team Tennis format.

Date: Saturday, December 14

Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Place: YMCA Tennis Center

Cost: $10 per person

Registration: Register by Thursday, Dec. 12

Note: There are no Saturday morning tennis drop-ins on Dec. 14.

SPECIALTY WORKSHOP

Join registered yoga teachers Heidi Zola and Susan Goldberg, and Amy Green from Energy Alchemy Vibrational Healing Arts, as they weave elements of restorative yoga and sound therapy to take you on a deeply relaxing, inward journey. Susan and Heidi will guide participants into gentle yoga poses supported by props while Amy plays various instruments that create healing tones and vibrations to rejuvenate and balance the body, mind and spirit. Come ready to receive and leave with a deep sense of peace and tranquility. Props provided.

Date: Sunday, January 12

Time: 1:30-3 p.m.

Place: Meading Room 

Cost: $27/members,  $30/community members

Registration: Register at the Welcome Center or here

How Important is Sleep?

"Everyone needs to sleep in order to be healthy. How much sleep is really needed and how important is it?" Join Megan Daly to find out what is optimal, how to sleep better and all the ways you benefit from sleep. 

Date: Wednesday, January 15

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Place: The Beck Center at the Eugene YMCA

Registration: Free and open to the public (no registration needed)

Y Holiday CLOSURES

Your Y adjusts hours to allow Y staff and families to celebrate together over the holidays. 

CLOSING EARLY at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year's Eve (Dec. 31)

CLOSED on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year's Day (Jan. 1)

WINTER BREAK SCHEDULES available here