At the Y, we've always known that positive change only comes about when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. Founded on November 16, 1852, by a small group of concerned and committed young men, the YMCA of Greater New Orleans (YGNO) is the 5th oldest Y in the country. YGNO has a legacy of providing critical assistance to the communities we serve, even during defining moments of our country's history: the Civil War, the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878, and Hurricane Katrina. We honor that history by living our nonprofit, charitable mission daily—to provide programs that create a healthy mind, body, and spirit for all. Through our three areas of focus, Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility, we are committed to making sure every child, adult, family and senior citizen within the Metro New Orleans area has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. YMCA of Greater New Orleans (YGNO) as an organization welcomes everyone, regardless of age, ability ethnicity, or creed. From quality childcare to teen leadership development, from family programs to programs for seniors, we open our doors to all members of our communities.Now, our 5 branches serve as wellness centers, family centers, and community centers in Belle Chasse, Lower Plaquemines (Port Sulphur and Buras), East Jefferson and Covington. Each branch works to grow our youth into tomorrow's leaders through enrichment programs (Leaders Club), job training (Babysitting Certification) and healthy-living activities (youth sports, camps, and afterschool programs). Beyond our fitness centers, we operate Castle Kids Childcare with the Army Corps of Engineers. Our Diabetes Prevention Program continues to grow, adding new classes and coaches, expanding our healthcare partnerships and using innovative technology to improve program accessibility. YMCA's Car Seat Safety Outreach program, aids low-income members of the Hispanic community, and yearly serves 1,500 individuals and distributes 125 car safety/booster seats. YMCA Education Services (YES!) has received multiple awards for exceeding education benchmarks and recently established a popular workforce development program. We've also formed an Autism Task Force composed of community stakeholders to help us identify service gaps where we can offer programming to benefit those in our region living with developmental and physical disabilities. Annually, we give $1,000,000 in financial assistance to nearly 10,000 lower-income families, members, and program participants, including 600 children and youth. We serve over 40,000 people each year, encompassing 4,000 seniors and 12,000 children. The Y is so much more than just a place to exercise!