YMCA News RSS Feed

Y For Youth Video A Must See

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Healthy Heart

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:21:00 GMT

Blood pressure is a great indicator of heart health. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysms, and is the leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even moderate elevation of arterial
pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. Make sure your blood pressure is within the proper range - stop by on the 1st Monday of the month between 9-10AM for a free blood pressure screening with our volunteer nurses Ann De Journo and Judy Wong.

National Mentoring Month

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:02:00 GMT

Founded in 1992, Building Futures is the YMCA’s first and premier therapeutic mentoring program. We are now in 6 cities nationwide and expanding. Our unique approach helps at-risk youth overcome personal, social and family challenges through a positive adult-child relationship while also engaging parents in the process. Mentors meet with their mentees once each week for a minimum of 1 year to form a meaningful connection which changes the lives of everyone involved. In 2012 Building Futures will begin serving military families nationwide.

In 2011 Building Futures provided therapeutic mentoring to nearly 1,000 at-risk youth nationwide. As we celebrate changing the lives of so many, we look toward a new year of even greater potential by inviting more volunteers to join our caring and dynamic team. If you or someone you know has been wanting to make a difference, now is the time! Sign up to be a mentor with Building Futures Today! Men strongly urged to apply. For more info Contact Us! Phone: 415-561-0631 x102 | mentoring@ymcasf.net

90th Anniversary Silent Auction

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:49:00 GMT

2012 marks the 90th Anniversary of the Richmond District YMCA! We would like to reach out to our members and your friends and families who have memories or stories of their history with the Richmond District Y or with the Richmond in general. We will be putting together an amazing event incorporating the history of our 90 years in This community. We are also still looking for items for the silent auction - restaurant or store gift certificates, art, wine, certificates for services - all are welcome items for the auction! So please help us make this an event to remember! To donate items to the silent auction please contact Raquel Espana @ respana@ymcasf.org or drop them off at the front desk. If you have stories about the Y or the Richmond District history contact Josh Leonard @ jleonard@ymcasf.org.

Auction website

Annual Giving Campaign

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:04:00 GMT

Every year around this time, we are reminded of the idea of giving. The YMCA has a very important mission in our community and in order for us to advance our mission we also need the support of our community. On November 15th we will be hosting our campaign kick off reception event from 6-7:30PM. We would like to invite you all to join us to learn more about our Annual Support Campaign and what it means to our community. There are many ways to get involved and also many ways to give that do not require a monetary donation. Please come out, bring a friend or relative and find our how you can effect change in your community.

Argonne Clubhouse

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:02:00 GMT

The Richmond District YMCA is reaching out to get even more Richmond District children, adults, and families engaged in a healthy lifestyle! As you may have heard, we have partnered with SF Rec and Park to provide youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programming out of Argonne Clubhouse this year!

In order to keep this exciting programming as accessible to the community as possible, we will be using a new drop-in punch card system for those who would like to participate. Our enrichment programming at Argonne is a great way to introduce your neighbors, family, and friends to what the YMCA has to offer.

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity learn, grow, and get healthy in the midst of their community and their daily lives. Programming at Argonne Clubhouse helps us to better fulfill our promise to strengthening the foundations of our community.

To get involved or find out more visit http://ymcasf.org/argonne or better yet, come visit us at the clubhouse! (18th Ave between Geary and Anza)

Membership Policy Changes

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Dear Richmond District YMCA Members:

This fall, we will be upgrading our software system to best support our community programs and services in healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility. The new system, “DAXKO,” will allow you to create online profiles, update information online, register more easily in-person and online, and will provide increased security for your personal information. In order to prepare for this operational transition, and in an effort to streamline our policies (across all 14 branches of the YMCA of San Francisco), we will be making changes that may affect your membership. Please see below for an overview of policy changes within the YMCA of San Francisco. Our new DAXKO system will “go live” on October 25, 2011.
During this time, we’ll be sure to keep you posted with any updates. But to help make this transition as smooth as possible for you and your family, there are a few things you can do as well.

Before October 2nd, we suggest you:

1. Ensure we have your most current email and mailing address on file (this is critical in
providing us a vehicle for important member updates and alerts)
2. Review the following policy changes
3. Contact us with any questions you have

We are looking forward to the enhanced functionality of this new system, and to the increased level of service it will allow us to provide to you. It is our sincerest hope that this transition is smooth and seamless for you as a member; however we appreciate your patience during the months of October and November as our staff members learn the new system. Please feel free to talk with us before, during, and after this transition if you have any questions or feedback.
Thanks for supporting the Richmond District YMCA!

Sincerely,
Josh Leonard
Executive Director

YMCA of San Francisco
Membership Policy Changes
September 23, 2011

YOUR ONLINE PROFILE

Our new online profile management will launch for members in late fall. In addition to registering for programs, this will allow you to update contact information, pay balances or update payment method anytime, anywhere. We’ll notify you as soon as it is available.

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Current online registration profiles will be removed from our website on September 22, 2011 in order to prepare for our new online registration system. The new system will be available starting after October 25, 2011. In the interim, you may register for programs at the front desk or by requesting and returning registration forms via e-mail.

MEMBERSHIP HOLDS

Membership may be placed on hold for medical reasons only. Medical membership holds are free of charge and require a doctor’s note. Non-medical membership holds will no longer be available as of
October 25, 2011.

GUEST PASS POLICY

As of January 1st, 2012 YMCA members may bring in up to two guests at a time, free of charge. Guests of members will be entered into our system, invited to take a tour of the facility, and if interested, asked to join. Guests may visit the YMCA of San Francisco once. Guests who are visiting for an extended
period will be offered a variety of short-term membership packages.

MEMBERSHIP REFUND POLICY

Effective September 23, 2011, the YMCA of San Francisco will refund the unused portion of annual dues paid, excluding the 30 days notice to cancel upon receipt of written notice. Monthly bank drafts will
remain continuous until 30 days written cancellation notice prior to bank draft date is given to the
Membership Department.

PROGRAM REFUND POLICY

Effective September 23, 2011, no credits, refunds, or transfers are allowed within 14 days of the
program for which you are registering. If you wish to make a change or cancel your registration prior to the 14 day deadline, you may choose one of the following:
• A transfer to another YMCA program if space is available (minus the non-refundable deposit)
• A credit voucher for future use to any YMCA program (minus a $5 processing fee per person and
the non-refundable deposit)
• A check or credit card refund (minus a $10 processing fee per person and the non-refundable
deposit). Check refunds can only be issued for amounts over $20. Please allow two weeks for
processing. Child Care, Swim Lessons, and Swim Team require 30 days’ notice from draft date.

My Y Story Tiffany Kyu

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:26:00 GMT

I was fourteen when I first stepped foot at the Y. I joined an after school program called FLEX, learning about health and wellness through exercise, nutrition, and life-skill workshops. I can still remember the Friday break dancing class, monthly cooking workshops, and random afternoons of Wii tennis. I also remember the friends I made, whom I still play basketball and go bowling with to this very day! This program meant more to me than just the classes; FLEX has become a part of shaping who I am today over the past seven years. During my first summer at FLEX, volunteering and helping out with community activities such as the Nike marathon and Healthy kids day became another reason for coming to the Y. Three years later, a job opened up with FLEX that I applied and nervously interviewed (with Josh and Crissie) for. I was hired as a FLEX fitness trainer helping teens learn about fitness just as I had in the program. My start of teaching group exercise began here by leading circuit training and core classes for teens. Having that experience allowed me a chance to teach group exercise with adults and it has been a privilege and an accomplishment working with both age groups. Soon after, I was given an opportunity to work with membership services and introduce to the community what the Y has to offer. Nowadays, you may see me teaching Bodyworks or working at the front desk. Seven years ago, I came as a member of the FLEX program.

I will be leaving for UC Davis this fall to major in Exercise Biology and pursue a career in physical therapy. I am grateful for every opportunity I had to gain experience and grow at the Y. These years will always be an important part of me, and it has been a pleasure working with this community and helping so many amazing people. I am now able to confidently move towards a new place in my life. I will be back at the desk during school breaks so see you later!

Strengthening Community

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:35:00 GMT

The San Francisco Food Bank is the critical link between food and people. They provide food to close to 200,000 people each week through 400+ nonprofit partners. In 1998 the Richmond District YMCA chose to become one of these partners. Every Wednesday we open our doors to distribute groceries to Richmond District immigrant residents in need. The Food Bank program is run mostly by volunteers from our Senior program, led by staff member Maria Santos. Maria has been part of our Y for 12 years and has kept the Food Bank going strong. In 2009 we received a commendation for distribution of over 1 million pounds of groceries! Over the years we have helped hundreds of low income immigrant families get much needed groceries to maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit. Here is what Maria has to say about her experience as the Food Bank Coordinator: “Organizing the Food Bank program has been a challenging yet rewarding experience. It allows me to see first hand the positive impact of the YMCA on our community”