A MESSAGE FROM THE BRANCH DIRECTOR

 Greetings!

 Consider the following:  A young family comes through our YMCA doors seeking child care, but cannot afford our services.  What are they going to do?  The answer:  Apply for a YMCA scholarship.  Each year, we raise over $60,000 for our scholarship program to ensure that no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.  We are on pace to raise over $60,000 again this year.

 As of this writing, the Vermilion Family YMCA has raised over $12,000 in 2013 toward our scholarship program.  These gifts have primarily come from our staff and board members.  These are people who truly believe in the YMCA’s mission, and want to make an impact on our community.  Now it is your turn to help. 

 Help us by donating to our cause.  The money we raise in the Vermilion Y stays in the community.  A $100 donation will help a child gain access to two youth sports programs.  A $250 donation helps an older adult on a fixed income for a one year membership, and a $1,000 donation puts a child through our 10-week summer day camp.  No matter how large or small the donation, every little bit helps to make an impact.

Our annual campaign is currently running and will continue through the end of April. 

Please consider a donation to the Y during this time.  If you decide that right now is not a good time, we can still use your help to spread stories about our good deeds.  To make a donation, please visit our YMCA or go online at www.clevelandymca.org.  We appreciate your help.

Tim Goebel
 

STAFF PROFILE:  JACK CRITELLI, JR.

Jack Critelli, Jr. is currently a wellness coach for the Vermilion Family YMCA and has worked here for about a year.  He started working for the Y because he likes to help people with their fitness goals and to gain insight about how to exercise properly.  He continues to work at the Y because of helping others.

Outside of the Y, Jack has a full time job with the City of Lorain Utilities Department.  He is also President of the United Steelworkers Union Local 6621.  In this role, he gets to help people in a different capacity.  This is more of a knowledge and decision-making role versus coming to the Y and being physical on the wellness floor.

Heis married to Susan, and has two boys; Jack III, 20, and Joe, 13.  His advice for someone brand new to working out is to take it slow.  The hardest part is getting to the Y. 

MEMBER PROFILE:  MEET JOHN HILL

John Hill is a member of our facility and a great person for our community.

Originally from Michigan, his wife, Carolyn, hails from Vermilion.  John comes to the Y because he feels good when he leaves. 

John does some amazing work in the community.  He is a member of Rotary Club, and through many Rotary partnerships, he got involved with a “Pure Water for the World” project.

He regularly travels to Haiti (since 1998) to help the international struggle against securing safe food, water, and shelter.  He is also a board member of Child Care International.  This is a passion of his, and he makes it a priority to make an impact on a global scale.

He also specializes in another amazing feat:  hiking the Appellation Trail.  He has traversed a total of 1,450 miles of the trail since 2006, and does this by carrying his own food, water, and shelter in his backpack…no hotels allowed.  The longest hike he has been on was 1,100 miles in 2010.

INTRODUCING THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM

Diabetes is a serious health condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and blindness. Prediabetes is a potentially reversible condition, and 79 million people in the United States are estimated to have it. If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes, or believe you may be at risk for developing the disease, the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program can help you develop a healthier lifestyle and work with you to reduce the risks this condition can pose to your health.

Based on effective efforts researched by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program will help you learn about and adopt the healthy eating and physical activity habits that have been proven to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Through the 12 month lifestyle change program you will receive support and encouragement from both a trained lifestyle coach and fellow classmates as you develop a plan for improving and maintaining your overall well-being. 

For more information, email us or visit us online.