YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

Thank you to volunteers from Amway who came out to YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin this week. They helped us clear out the underbrush along the path to the Point, stained tables, power washed, cleaned windows, and most excitingly, built us six brand new giant Adirondack chairs that will be placed on the Point for a new small group fire pit area. We love our volunteers and appreciate everything they did!

Please say hello to the final 8 emerging leaders! ?? The Y's Emerging Leaders Resource Network is a community that exists to deepen the commitment, connection and passion that next generation leaders have for the Y movement.

Please say hello to 10 more of our emerging leaders! ?? The Y's Emerging Leaders Resource Network is a community that exists to deepen the commitment, connection and passion that next generation leaders have for the Y movement.

Hurry, golfers! Time is running out to register for the YMCA Golf Outing on August 12th at Blythefield Country Club! Only 11 FOURSOMES LEFT! Don’t miss your chance for a fantastic day on the green while supporting a great cause. Secure your spot NOW before it’s too late! Register today by contacting?[email protected]?or online at?https://lnkd.in/gPhA8fxT.

We are grateful to first lady Jill Biden for visiting YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin a few weeks ago during Camp Corral, a program offering free camp experiences to children of injured, ill and fallen military heroes. During her time at camp, Dr. Biden also highlighted the Administration's program to combat hunger through summer nutrition programs and toured our kitchen to learn more about our work. Thank you, Dr. Biden, for your time and support. We hope to welcome you back soon! Photos by: Zachary Rickel

Over the next three Fridays we’ll be sharing 28 emerging leaders throughout our association. We're so proud of all of these staff members and feel lucky that they've chosen to be a part of our association. The Y's Emerging Leaders Resource Network is a community that exists to deepen the commitment, connection and passion that next generation leaders have for the Y movement. Please say hello to our first 10 emerging leaders! ??

Please join us in giving our new Chief Advancement Officer, Sara Mooney, a warm welcome! ?? Sara's background in development and communications will create a long-lasting impact throughout our association and we're excited to see her shine. ?

I’m incredibly thankful for all the preceptors that helped me along the way to become a dietitian. Now I can be a preceptor to some amazing dietetic interns! I am grateful to have had Ashlee by my side to conquer this food demonstration. I presented on Blue Zones, and we created a fun and fresh salad recipe to give out to the participants. I strongly believe in healthy food demonstrations, as involving the senses of taste, smell and touch can bridge the gap between someone thinking about adopting a healthier lifestyle, to then doing it. Plus, who doesn’t love a free sample??? Thank you Valley Truck Parts for having us! Ashlee is from Grand Valley University and is here for ten weeks at the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids #registereddietitian #communitynutrition #cooking #internship

May is ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ??????????, and we are celebrating the history of Asian Pacific Islanders within the YMCA movement. Did you know that the first Chinese American YMCA was founded in San Francisco in 1911? To this day, the Chinatown YMCA plays a pivotal role in the community. Slide through this post to learn more: ???????? ???????????????????? was a gold medal Olympic swimmer who trained at the Central Y, setting world records for the 400 and 500 relay races in 1916. Following his Olympic career retirement, Kahanamoku traveled and conducted swimming exhibitions—it was during this time that he popularized the sport of surfing in the United States, which previously had only been known in Hawaii. Born in 1914, ???????? ?????????????????? worked for the YMCA full time for 39 years—from 1941 through 1980—except for his time in a government internment camp during WWII. While in this camp, Hoshiyama created YMCA-based programs to help address the social, educational and recreational needs of the Japanese Americans held in the camp. He was also instrumental in revitalizing the YMCA student movement in the 1970s, and a scholarship in his name provides professional development for Y staff of Asian Pacific Islander heritage to this day. #APAHeritageMonth