YMCA’s America on the Move Week ContinuesWASHINGTON, DC -- More than 1,500 YMCAs nationwide this week are participating in America On the Move Week with the YMCA. The campaign, which is a partnership of the America On the Move Foundation and the YMCA of the USA, was created to educate and motivate people to make two small daily changes -- taking 2,000 more steps and eating 100 fewer calories -- which research shows can prevent the average annual weight gain of one to two pounds per year. ... South Dakota Y Bookkeeper Charged with Theft and ForgeryBy: By Jennipher Shaver LEAD, SD -- A former bookkeeper at the Northern Hills Family YMCA in Lead, SD, was sentenced to seven years in a state penitentiary for grand theft and forgery. The bookkeeper, Shelley Stevenson of Rapid City, SD, allegedly issued paychecks to herself, her daughters and her husband and increased her wages by $3.80 an hour without approval of the Y board. ... Ys Increase Programming to Address Obesity in Adults and ChildrenCHICAGO -- YMCAs across the country have increased programs to address weight gain and obesity among youth and adults, according to a report by the YMCA of the USA that studied changes in programming from 2005 to 2006. ... JCC Receptionist Allegedly Stole Members’ Credit Card NumbersEAST HILLS, NY -- After a six-month investigation, a Nassau County (NY) district attorney alleges that a 22-year-old former receptionist at the Sid Jacobsen Jewish Community Center in East Hills, NY, stole the credit card information of 18 JCC members and racked up more than $15,000 in bills from high-end department stores over the course of three months. If convicted, Elizabeth Young faces a maximum of seven years in prison. ... Minimum Wage Increase and Higher Energy Costs Affect Erie YERIE, PA -- The new Pennsylvania minimum wage and higher energy costs are affecting the YMCA of Greater Erie (PA). In fact, due to the increased expenses, the Y will no longer offer free swimming lessons to its members starting this fall, local Erie, PA, television station WHPTV reported. On July 1, Pennsylvania's minimum wage rose from $6.25 to $7.15. ... Des Moines Y Broadens Family Membership DefinitionDES MOINES -- The Greater Des Moines YMCA will sign a conciliatory agreement with Sandi and M Patton-Imani to broaden the Y’s definition of family to include cohabiting adults, according to the Des Moines Register. However, a representative from the Y told Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro that, as of Aug. 10, no agreement had been signed. ... West Cook YMCA’s Purchase PostponedOAK PARK, IL -- The West Cook YMCA’s purchase of 7.7 acres in Forest Park, IL, for $4.3 million was recently postponed. According to the West Cook YMCA’s Web site, the Y hopes to create a $19 million, 65,000-square-foot facility that will include two indoor swimming pools, an indoor track, basketball and volleyball courts, multipurpose meeting rooms for dance and fitness classes, a cardio and weight training center for adults, and a family activity center with interactive equipment and educational materials for youth and families. ... Mukilteo YMCA Breaks Ground on ExpansionEVERETT, WA -- More than 500 people celebrated as the Mukilteo Family YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Snohomish County in Mukilteo, WA, broke ground July 11 on its 14,000-square-foot expansion. ... JCC Maccabi Games to Celebrate 25th AnniversaryNEW YORK -- Nearly 5,000 coaches and Jewish athletes from across the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Israel, the United Kingdom and Venezuela will convene at three sites in August to take part in the 25th anniversary JCC Maccabi Games, an Olympic-style athletic competition. Host communities include Houston (Aug. 5-10), Baltimore (Aug. 5-9) and Orange County, CA (Aug. 12-17). ... Scam Involves YMCA's Name, Could Affect Fund-raisingSOUTHINGTON, CT -- Two teens used YMCA fund-raising as a ruse in a scam and could face fraud charges if caught, according to WFSB 3, a television station in Hartford, CT. ... New Jersey Governor Signs Sales Tax Exemption BillTRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine signed a bill today that would exempt the initiation fees, membership fees and dues charged by nonprofit health and fitness clubs from the state’s 7 percent sales tax. ... Lesbian Couple Ready to Take Des Moines Y to CourtDES MOINES, IA -- Nearly five years after a Des Moines lesbian couple’s YMCA family membership was revoked and a city human rights commission ruled that the membership policy could be illegal, the issue is back in the news. The couple recently picked up support from a Des Moines city councilwoman who said the controversy could jeopardize a $102,000 YMCA grant scheduled to be awarded next month, according to the Des Moines Register. ... YMCA of Greater St. Louis Receives $250,000 in Tax Credits for ExpansionST. LOUIS -- The YMCA of Greater St. Louis will use $250,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) to expand its Four Rivers Area Family Facility in Washington, MO. ... Y Activates Fort Wayne KidsFORT WAYNE, IN -- The YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne in Indiana and other local organizations helped begin Activate Fort Wayne, a new initiative financed by a $10,000 grant from the national YMCA to fight childhood obesity, according to The Journal Gazette. The Y, Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN, and the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department will help teach 10,000 local kids about nutrition and exercise through free programs this summer. ... Fundraising Campaign Begins for Oklahoma YENID, OK -- The Denny Price Family YMCA in Enid, OK, began a fundraising campaign to finance a renovation to expand the cardio and weightlifting areas as well as the development of a teen fitness area, along with new construction of a nursery and administrative offices, according to The Enid News & Eagle. ... Nearby Centers, Discount Programs Encourage ParticipationEAGAN, MN – According to a study by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, people who use fitness center discount programs are more likely to live close to a fitness center (63.3 percent of those surveyed live within two miles of a participating fitness center), and nearly half of fitness discount users (43 percent surveyed) say they joined a fitness center because of the discount.... Idaho Y Buys For-Profit Fitness CenterTWIN FALLS, ID – In a deal announced Monday, the YMCA of Twin Falls (ID) will purchase Twin Falls Fitness Center under the condition that the Y continues to operate it as a fitness center, The Times-News reported.... GA YMCA Hosts Soldier Send-Off PartyHINESVILLE, GA -- The Liberty County/Armed Services Branch YMCA in Liberty Hinesville, GA, hosted a send-off party for local soldiers who have been called back to Iraq. The soldiers, part of the Third Infantry Division's First Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, spent time with their families playing games and activities that the Y had organized for the adults and children, according to a report by WTOC-TV. ... JCC Association Earns Top RatingNEW YORK -- For the second consecutive year, Charity Navigator recognized the JCC Association for its fundraising practices. The continental umbrella organization for the JCC Movement earned the group’s highest four-star rating for fiscal 2005, which was the most recent data available. Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest independent evaluator and assesses 5,000 charitable organizations annually to determine how much each spends to raise money and what percentage of the dollars raised are allocated to programs and services. ... YMCAs Get Interactive on Healthy Kids DayWASHINGTON, DC -- On Saturday, an estimated 550,000 children and families visited nearly 1,700 YMCAs nationwide for the 16th Annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day, the nation’s largest health day for children. In preparation for the event, Nintendo donated 100 Wii party packs to YMCA chapters nationally. ... Study: YMCAs Kids Get More Activity than Average U.S. ChildCHICAGO -- Children enrolled in YMCA programs not only have very positive attitudes about physical activity, but they also are more physically active than the average U.S. child, according to the results of a national poll targeting 6- to 12-year-old children conducted by YMCA of the USA.... Eastern Lycoming Y Hits Building Speed Bump– The Eastern Lycoming YMCA in Williamsport, PA, needs to raise about $1.5 million after bids for its new facility came in more than $2 million above the architect’s original estimate, according to The Williamsport Sun-Gazette... NJ JCCs Outsource FitnessJCC MetroWest branch in New Jersey is outsourcing its health and fitness centers and membership functions to the Manhattan-based fitness management company Plus One, according to the New Jersey Jewish News.... YMCA of Central Maryland Plans to Double SizeThe YMCA of Central Maryland will conduct a major realignment of the organization, including plans to double the size of the organization during the next 10 years, rebrand the YMCA’s logo ... California Introduces Tax Credit BillSACRAMENTO, CA – A bill that is pending in the California Assembly would give businesses a tax credit to improve the fitness of their employees. The credit would be equal to 10 percent of what businesses spend each year on fitness improvement.... |
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