Southeast Ventura County YMCA was recognized for innovation and excellence during the pandemic!
We are so proud of the work we have done over the last year and half. Please read this wonderful nomination letter and why we were the award recipient. Thank you, Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club, for this honor.
NOMINATION FOR COMMUNITY LEADER and HERO
I would like to nominate two people who have not only sustained an organization but weathered the Pandemic by reinventing an entire organization.
I nominate:
RONNIE STONE, President and CEO, Southeast Ventura County YMCA
MEGAN GLYNN, Chief Development Officer, Southeast Ventura County YMCA
They have worked in tandem from March 2020 when all of the YMCA facilities closed, and the organization had to rethink their purpose and function. No longer were they able to offer the fitness facilities that the public depended upon or were they able to offer the child and after school care that parents depended upon. They had to rethink membership which provided operation capitol and with no facilities membership dropped by 75%. Without membership and without programs, they had to lay off over 300 full and part-time employees.
This could have been devastating, however, determined and focused and with the support of their Boards, they worked with a small handful of staff to reinvent the facilities as well as the purpose.
They opened the facilities to childcare and had over 300 students participated with on-site support. These students were able to access online classes, receive support, be in a safe environment and feel cared for. Parents were thrilled and relieved.
Since fitness facilities were not open (for more than a year) they invented online classes that were free to the community until the levels of restriction changed. They offered over 130 classes for every level of participation including classes specifically designed for seniors that had over 50 attendees on a regular basis. Weekly over 1500 people attended one or more classes.
They designed after school enrichment that was virtual to provide for students of all ages and engaged interesting and unique programs to support those left at home for virtual school. These were well attended and received rave reviews.
In addition, and while the pandemic was still at high levels, they collaborated with two local school districts to keep the signature summer program called Find My Genius for low performing students. Over 114 students from two school districts attended this five-week program and gained 3 months in Reading and Math. The program received the endorsement of 100% of the educators involved and the lead teacher received the award as Teacher Leader of the year from the national organization.
Since schools were not offering any physical education, the Y created an online program for elementary students focused on activity-oriented activities and physical activity that was fun. The five-week program had students attend after school hours and filled the requirement that schools were not able to fulfill during virtual learning time.
They organized a summer camp program for 479 campers that allowed students to get out, safely engage with other children and learn about the summer things that are traditional for youth of all ages. Summer camp was well attended and provided an outlet for kids to participate in something that seemed normal in a very abnormal world.
Needless to say, this was all done with ongoing and ever-changing restrictions and requirements by the CDC and the county public health. Keeping morale of employees high, keeping concerns of members in check, keeping the critiques of users in perspective and keeping their own sanity in balance was not easy and is truly admirable.
These two individuals have been able to keep a vital organization focused on how to serve the community and be a resource that positively contributes to the quality of life. They have been recognized for leadership and ingenuity among Ys throughout the nation and have been recognized locally for always being ready to find a way to meet local needs.
I would like to recognize these two individuals for their outstanding leadership and their ability to repurpose their mission to serve children, families, seniors and other organizations in the area. They have done an amazing job!
