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The coronavirus epidemic has created incredible challenges for the world and, in turn, your Y, but it has also revealed the many ways we can overcome hardship on behalf of our community. Your Y has worked with local partners to provide free child care for first responders, medical professionals and essential workers; pivoted to online fitness programs to ensure the health and wellness of our members; and reached out to every member to ensure their needs are met.
None of this work would be possible without the generosity of our donors. We are tremendously grateful for your support during these uncertain times. Because of you, your Y is able to step up in critical ways during a time none of us could have anticipated.
We are humbled to announce that not only did you meet the match inspired by Don & Ulli Weaver, Jim Northrup and your Y's Board of Directors, you exceeded it!
The goal was to raise $25,000 by the end of April to match the $25,000 upfront donation, raising a total of $50,000 to support the Y's work during the coronavirus closure. Our community responded by donating $39,526 from 216 donors for a total of $64,526! This is incredibly meaningful for those families and individuals depending on your Y during this crisis.
But our work is not over. Your Y will continue to be impacted as the country slowly returns to work. It will take time for people to return to their usual activities, including visits to the Y. Summer camp registrations will be impacted as we anticipate higher adult-to-child ratios and increased need for financial assistance as families work to get back on their feet.
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No matter what, the Y will be here providing services and assistance to those who need it most thanks to the support from our donors, members, foundations, community partners, and volunteers--- not to mention the fantastic staff that makes it all possible!
If you're interested in supporting your community during this crisis through the work taking place at your Y, our fundraising efforts continue HERE.
Members Delighted by Y Caravan
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Chief Development Officer Danielle Uhlhorn loved celebrating with members.
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It may have rained on your Y's 133rd Birthday last Wednesday, but that didn't stop Y staff from spreading smiles and laughter around town.
With balloons, music and some colorful Youth Development buses, your Y celebrated its long, established service to this community in the safest, most socially distant way possible!
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"I saw the Y parade yesterday, in front of my house: honking and waving and decked out with balloons. Lifted my spirits amazingly and made me proud, once again, of our amazing Y team! Who knew that 2 buses, a truck, some balloons and a few smiling faces could mean so much.
Brilliant. Thank you."
Onward together, Tom
First Responders, Medical Professionals and Essential Workers Felt the Y Gratitude
On our 133rd birthday last week, Y staff also delivered 400+ special 'Y' cookies donated by Market of Choice to our community's frontline workers who have been so selfless in their protection of our community and have worked tirelessly in the face of danger.
It was a multi-day process to deliver our gratitude across Lane County--- to those working in fire stations, at PeaceHealth's Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend, emergency child care sites, the Eugene Police Department, Lane County Public Health, urgent care centers and the city's Emergency Operations Center--- but the result was priceless: our community feeling the love.
PeaceHealth wrote: "Many thanks to our friends at the Y--- not only for this kind gesture, but for collaborating with other community partners to meet the need for emergency child care for our caregivers and other essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's wishing the Y a very happy 133rd birthday--- and many more!"
UO Acrobatic Athlete Lexi Cross Invites Kids to Roll for the Y Kids' Challenge!
UO star athlete Lexi Cross knows how to fly through the air! As a four-year letterwinner on the acrobatics and tumbling squad for the University of Oregon, Lexi can twist, roll and turn multiple times and ways as she jumps off the ground.
She is a natural athlete
---
having participated in a variety of sports including basketball, tennis, soccer, gymnastics and competitive cheerleading.
In an interview in 2018 with the University of Oregon, Lexi said, "I've learned that adversity will come no matter who you are or what you're doing. First, you have to let it go, and second, it's not always a negative thing. It's always something that can make you stronger for the better."
Lexi is now the Associate Director of Development for the University of Oregon's Women in Flight program, which raises awareness and financial support to achieve and maintain excellence across all Oregon women's programs.
This week, the UO acrobatic athlete and Eugene native partnered with your Y for the second week of the Y Kids' Challenge. Thank you, Lexi!
Lexi's challenge to our Y kids this week is rolling! Can you do a front roll or a back roll? We want to see it! Lexi came up with a fun new roll called the Ninja Roll! Check out Lexi's video. What creative new roll can you come up with?
To participate, kids must take a video of themselves showcasing their rolling skills by Sunday night and post it to Facebook (with parent permission, of course). Y staff will review videos and select a winner each week!
Be sure to tag
@EugeneFamilyYMCA
and use the hashtag #YKidsChallenge to be considered to win. The winner will be announced in next week's ENews update.
Stay tuned for the weekly Y Kids' Challenge. More local sports celebrities are lined up to invite our community's kids to participate in these fun activities to keep them moving, motivated and socially connected.
A+ for Juggling! Y Kids' Challenge Juggling Winners Announced
It can take months to master juggling! We're excited to announce that the winners of the Week 1 juggling challenge are Cooper and Chase Fryback! These brothers showcased some awesome juggling talent and have won great Y prizes.
Thank you to all who participated this week--- we'd love to see you participate in our Week 2 challenge!
Your Y Has Made Finding Virtual Classes a Breeze!
Y member Gail says, "I have my barcode and am energized to go Y-zooming! I LOVE the Y YouTube choices and the way you set them up, time and how quickly you all were "on-it" for our health and wellness. You didn't miss a beat in my opinion. So we didn't miss a workout!"
United Way Donates to Help Your Y Provide Critical Services
Your Y was recently awarded $2,500 from United Way of Lane County's Community Response Fund to support our COVID-19 relief efforts. This generous grant will help us continue to provide emergency childcare, outreach to address social isolation and online fitness classes to encourage health and wellness.
We are grateful to United Way for recognizing the ways your Y is empowering our community during this challenging time, and for their support in helping us provide these critical services. Thank you, United Way!
Y Spring Sports Missing Our Families
Your Y's sports staff are missing the hustle and bustle of Spring Sports. With the cancellation of our Spring Sports programs, Y sports staff have been reaching out to all Y Spring Sports families to give them options for their kids' spring registration fees. Parents are able to receive a credit on their YMCA account, get a refund or donate registration fees to the YMCA youth sports financial assistance fund.
"Some people have donated all or a portion of their refund back to the Y," says Robbie Petetit, Youth Sports Director. "Several others have written that they would love to donate, but they are not working and can use the money for their family. It's been incredible how nice people have been. We let all of the families know we miss them and can't wait until we can get together again."
Consider Donating Toys for Emergency Childcare
Do you have extra toys laying around the house that your kiddos have outgrown? Donate them to the Y! Your Y's Emergency Childcare Program could use more of the following items:
Youth Development Offers Stay-At-Home Ideas through Enrichment Videos
Your Y is here to support you and your family while you are home with kiddos!
Visit the Y
YouTube channel
with a specific Youth Development Playlist to check out a variety of kid-friendly crafts and activities to do at home with minimal supplies. Learn how to make homemade playdough, fold a paper crane and wind down with a story-time reading from Y teacher Amelia.
I Stand With My Y Store
It's not too late to grab your
'I Stand With My Y' gear!
Your Y has partnered with local print shop, Threadbare, to create a limited-time line of Y gear. 50 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Y to support the Y's free emergency child care programs, outreach to address social isolation and online fitness classes to encourage health and wellness.
Show your support and get comfy before the store closes on Sunday, May 3! Shop HERE.
Stall Street Journal Special Edition No. 3
Download the latest copy of our Stall Street Journal
here
! In it, you'll find jokes, fun facts and a little inspiration to help get you through your week!
A Note From Your Y Staff
Kim Miller, your Y's Director of Health and Wellness and Healthy Living, misses her classes, her wellness coaching and her daily interactions with members in the lobby.
"Hello friends! I hope you are staying healthy, safe and finding joy in your days. My favorite part of each week has become teaching Boot Camp on Zoom. I miss you all so much and miss moving, sweating and laughing with my Y family, so the Zoom workouts help fill that void. The boys are growing like crazy and adapting to their new normal as best they can. Until I can see you again in person or virtually, stay well, keep moving and spread kindness where you can."
Y Zoom Class Bloopers!
Your Y understands that working from home can be difficult at times. And sometimes hilarious things happen, especially when teaching movement classes! Check out Y staff member Colleen attempting to lead a live Zoom pilates class with some furry interruptions.
U of O Study Looking to Support Families in Our Community
The University of Oregon is partnering with WellMama and other research organizations to improve support for parents in our community. They are inviting women who are currently pregnant or have given birth in the past 6 months to complete a survey that will give them the opportunity to share their voice and experience related to COVID-19. The goal of the survey is to gain a better understanding of how COVID-19 has impacted prenatal and postnatal care. The results will reveal to them how to support our local families in pertinent ways.
Learn more
about the study.
Calling All High School Seniors
Your Y is grieving along with high school seniors whose 13 years of education should have culminated in a traditional graduation. While we can't replace your Prom, Senior Skip Day or other senior landmarks, we do want to showcase and celebrate those seniors in a special Y way!
Any local seniors who learned to swim at your Y, attended Y preschool or summer camps, played Y sports or connected with Y staff in a special way are invited to e-mail their senior photo and their photo as a young Y child to [email protected] for use in our newsletters, social media and Web site.
We can't wait to celebrate our seniors with a special tribute!
Y in the News
KMTR reported on your Y's 133rd Birthday celebration: Giving back to our frontline workers. "We are inspired to see the community rallying around so many different organizations right now because they understand that the health of our community is really about coming together and ensuring that we are stronger coming out of this," said Brian Steffen, CEO of the Eugene Family YMCA.
KEZI
9 News reported on our 133rd Birthday from the Eugene Police Department. "This day was made a little less tough by the YMCA as they celebrate 133 years in our community. And they wanted to celebrate by bringing first responders cookies, which is really cool to have them bring them for staff," said Lt. Doug Mozan of the Eugene Police Department.
Thank you, Register-Guard, for highlighting the 42 nonprofit programs--- including your Y--- that received funding from United Way of Lane County to address food insecurity, housing and COVID-19-related issues in the area.
Check out tomorrow's Eugene Weekly for a story about virtual fitness classes and an interview with your Y's own Kim Miller, Director of Health and Wellness and Healthy Living.
Community Resources
- Communicating with children about COVID-19 and answering their questions
- Engaging in self-care
- Maintaining daily routines
- Creating a family plan
- Creating an interesting home environment
- Encouraging positive behavior
- Helping children to tolerate the uncertainty of this time
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