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Previous Press Room Releases |
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Fall 2008 - Urban Services YMCA Youth Recognized as Bay Area Leader We at Urban Services YMCA are overwhelmed with joy to report that our very own Serena Collins (OMI Safe Haven Participant & Just Us Girls Group leader) has been selected by the Northern California Grantmakers Summer Youth Project as a 2008 "Kid Who Cares".
A "Kid Who Cares" is someone who is unselfish, curious, and compassionate; a community builder who gives something back and shows special concern for peers, family, neighborhood or school. There will be a celebration, breakfast, and awards ceremony for all of the honorees throughout the Bay Area on Thursday, August 14th from 10:00 am-11:45 am at the East Bay Community Foundation. Please spread the word of this great news to others and if you’d like to learn more please, contact Terrell Henderson, OMI Safe Haven Director, at 415-571-7166.
Summer 2008 - Urban Services YMCA Staff Tapped as PBS Experts
In an effort to reduce the social stigma that prevents many people from seeking professional help, PBS is promoting a new documentary called DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows. Two of our staff, Wesley "Chip" Rich, LMFT, Executive Director and Evelyn Daskalakis, LMFT, Director of Mental Health Programs for Urban Services YMCA will be participating in a panel discussion on families and depression following the screening of highlights from the upcoming PBS documentary airing May 21. Summer 2008 - Urban Services YMCA's Annual Wine Event and Silent Auction Thanks to everyone who made it out to our 6th Annual Wine Event and Silent Auction! The night was a huge success and good times were had by all. If you have any photos from the night, send them our way. Spring 2008 - OMI Safe Haven Youth Wins Essay Contest Click here to read the winning article in The Bayview Newspaper by our very own Ms. Tanea Lunsford, youth participant at the OMI Safe Haven. Tanea is a Just Us Girls Group leader in our program, actively involved in the YMCA's Youth and Government, works at CHALK, and maintains a 3.8 GPA. Whew, she's busy. Congrats Tanea and congrats to the OMI Safe Haven. Spring 2008 - A Star Is Born Through Charitable Involvement You may think you know what to expect from the Urban Services YMCA Silent Auction that takes place every spring: some great prizes and some good wine—all for a worthy cause. At least that’s what Paul Mackinaw expected when a friend asked him to attend the annual event on May 18, 2007. Now, Mackinaw will be on televisions nationwide! San Francisco-based Esurance, the direct-to-consumer online auto insurance company, first began sponsoring the Urban Services YMCA spring fund-raising event a few years ago. In 2007, the company decided to provide the unique opportunity to be a voice in one of Esurance’s animated commercials as an item for the silent auction bid. The Esurance spots featuring Mackinaw, “Paul Gets Animated” and “Paul Saves Some Green,” will debut nationally after Christmas and in January. For behind-the-scenes information about Mackinaw’s experience making these latest commercials and to view them, visit www.esurance.com/paul. Be sure to stay tuned for more information on this year’s Urban Services YMCA event in May. Who knows? You may be the next top bidder who gets to star on TV—benefiting a worthy cause and supporting a San Francisco company that gives back to our community. Winter 2008 - Happy Holidays from Urban Services YMCA! Click here to view our Holiday Card Winter 2008 - Triple A Sponsors Malcolm X Academy - Sponge Bob Sited! Tuesday, December 11, 2007, was a day to remember at Malcolm X Academy in Bayview Hunters Point. With the help of staff at Triple A, 123 children had a holiday event beyond anything that they could have imagined. Triple A volunteers served the children pizza and then along with Santa, presented gifts in their classrooms. The generous giving thrilled these children with an indescribable feeling that brought many of the volunteers to tears before the day was through. After lunch, they were delighted to see Sponge Bob Squarepants come into the playground and the screaming and laughter was heard all the way to Oakland. For many of the children, the gift they got from Triple A will be their only gift this holiday. Volunteer Mimi Vu noticed two of the smaller children climb to the top of the climbing bars and look around as if trying to find something. When she asked them what they were looking for they whispered, "The Reindeers." Winter 2007 - Urban Services YMCA Supports Working Families I'm sure you all have seen the recent headlines talking about the high cost of living in the Bay Area. "A new report says in California feeding and housing a family of four with no frills requires a salary well above $50,000 dollars a year." Urban Services YMCA has been on the forefront of supporting working families and the news media is finally taking notice. Click on this link to watch video of a recent ABC 7 news segment on our OMI Family Resource Center. Fall 2007 - Channel 7’s “View from the Bay” Highlights our Food Pantry To help raise awareness for the ABC 7 Summer Food Drive, “View from the Bay” featured our OMI Family Resource Center's Food Pantry. Click here to see the clip online. Ms. Helen Birch, Director of the OMI Family Resource Center, is interviewed extensively in the clip, which focuses on the weekly fresh food pantry that we run in conjunction with the Food Bank. The Food Pantry is a program that provides nutritious, healthy foods to youth and families living in the OMI neighborhood. Summer 2007 - Urban Beat Newsletter It's been some time since the last edition of Urban Beat, the official newsletter of Urban Services YMCA, but we're back and even better than ever. Click here to see the latest edition of Urban Beat, the official newsletter of Urban Services YMCA. And here are some past issues: Summer 2007 - JCPenney Awards $11,000 Grant to Urban Services YMCA For the third year in a row, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a charitable organization committed to providing children in need with access to life-enriching afterschool programs, has awarded a $11,000 grant to Urban Services YMCA to support our afterschool program at Malcolm X Academy. These awarded funds will be used to bring in additional staff to lower the student to teacher ratio and provide targeted academic assistance in the form of small groups and one on one tutoring. If you would like to learn more about our afterschool program at Malcolm X Academy, please contact Andrea Jones, Director of Community Programs, at 415-292-3026. Summer 2007 - The Safety Network’s March for Peace On Wednesday, June 20th, over 200 residents and community leaders of San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood marched through the streets demanding an end to gang violence. The march was organized by Ms. Shanell Williams our Safety Network Community Organizer. Please click here to read more about the event. In addition, you can click here to read about the event in the San Francisco Chronicle. Summer 2007 - Y Be Fit Track and Field Day Y Be Fit recently organized a Track and Field Day at Kezar Stadium. Click here to see some photos from the event. Summer 2007 - Urban Services Receives eBay Foundation Grant The eBay Foundation recently awarded a CHAMPION A CHARITY grant of $2,500 to Urban Service YMCA. The grant was made possible as a result of Ms. Shelley Scipione, an eBay Inc. employee, who “championed” funding for our organization. Funds will support our advanced afterschool enrichment programming throughout San Francisco with an emphasis on programs located in Bayview Hunters Point, the OMI/Excelsior, and the Western Addition. eBay Foundation’s CHAMPION A CHARITY program encourages employees to become involved with and advocate for nonprofit organizations that to improve the quality of life for all. A competitive program through which grant decisions are made by an employee committee, eBay Foundation CHAMPION A CHARITY grants are only made to organizations recommended for funding by eBay employees. Spring 2007 - Bowl-A-Thon for a Good Cause The OMI/Excelsior Beacon Center is hosting a bowl-a-thon fundraiser on Friday, June 1. You remember bowling, right? You think you can bowl a perfect game? Grab your shoes and hit the lanes to help us raise money for our community-based programs. Spring 2007 - Wine Event a Huge Success! On May 18th, with over 150 guests in attendance, Urban Services YMCAs 5th Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction was a huge success! Thanks to our generous supporters, Urban Services was able to raise $20,000 for our community-based programs! This is excellent and we're very appreciative of our staff, volunteers, and donors. A very special thanks are in order for Esurance.com who have generously sponsored our event three years in a row. We could not have pulled this off without their support. Esurance provides online auto insurance quotes where you can get insurance rate comparisons, and buy your auto insurance policy instantly. Spring 2007 - Grand Opening Makes History Thank you to everyone who braved the cold morning weather to attend the Western Addition Family Resource Center’s Grand Opening this past Saturday, April 14th. The event was a huge success with youth performances, free food, and moving speeches from Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and YMCA of San Francisco CEO Chuck Collins. Click here to see some photos from the event and click here to see the news segment from Channel 2. Thanks again to all of our in-kind sponsors and community supporters. We couldn’t have done this without your help. To learn more about the Western Addition Family Resource Center, please contact them directly at 415-202-9770. Spring 2007 - Save the Date!!! Join us for Urban Services YMCA's 5th Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction. Friday, May 18th, 2007 at the Caldwell Snyder Gallery, 341 Sutter Street, San Francisco. Book tickets now at: www.GoUrban.org or call 415-292-3021 Winter 2006 - Urban Services YMCA's "Who Cares?" Campaign Every year Urban Services YMCA raises funds to provide critically needed programs to thousands of youth and their families in the Bay Area. To support these efforts, Urban Services YMCA's Board of Managers has set out to exceed all previous fundraising efforts. In these challenging times, your support is needed now more than ever. Please consider making a personally significant contribution to Urban Services YMCA so we can continue building a world of opportunity for all. You can donate online by clicking here or by contacting Manuel Rodriguez at 415-292-3021 for more information. Fall 2006 - Building Futures Mentoring Fog Fest On October 14, Urban Services YMCA and the Chinatown YMCA celebrated their annual Building Futures Mentoring Program Fogfest event at Marx Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Click here to see some photos from the event. Over 65 participants including mentors, mentees, and their parents gathered for an exciting day of barbeque, potato sack races, three-legged races, egg tosses, tug of war, and the breaking of a piñata full of treats and prizes. It was a great opportunity for all program participants to have fun as a group and enjoy the great weather. If you'd like to learn more about the program and how to become a mentor to a child, please contact Dana Smith, Building Futures Coordinator, at 415-292-3031. Fall 2006 - OMI Family Resource Center Open House Located in San Francisco's OMI Neighborhood, the OMI Family Resource Center (OMI FRC) is the community's one-stop shop for assistance and services. As a program of Urban Services YMCA, the OMI FRC works to help families help themselves. On Friday, October 13, the center hosted an open house to show off their new location on 156 Broad Street (the old location is being renovated). The day celebrated their many accomplishments and all enjoyed good food and fun people. Click here to see some photos from the open house event. Also, click here to see Helen Birch's opening speech (Helen Birch is the Director of the OMI FRC). Finally, as an added bonus, click here to see the OMI FRC staff surprise Helen with a well-deserved gift. If you're in their neighborhood, drop by and check out their new offices. Summer 2006 - Our Mentors Help Youth Climb Mountains! On September 16, 2006, seven youth and their mentors from the Building Futures Mentoring Program went to rock climb at Mission Cliffs. Click here to see some photos from the event.
When the group first walked into Mission Cliffs, many felt overwhelmed with the idea of climbing the extremely high walls. Some youth even refused to climb! However, through the patient staff at Mission Cliffs who taught the youth the fundamentals of climbing, the young people and their mentors slowly became confident in their climbing abilities. Soon enough, everyone in the group was courageously volunteering to try more difficult levels. In the end, all of the children were smiling and feeling accomplished from conquering their fears. None of the youth wanted to stop climbing and they all asked when they could come back.
Moments like these are what Urban Services YMCA stands for. If you or someone you know is interested in mentoring a young person, please contact Dana Smith, Building Futures Mentoring Coordinator, at 415-292-3031. Summer 2006 - Urban Services Featured on Esurance Website Our good friends at Esurance have added Urban Services YMCA to their website's community giving page. Check out the link here and support our longtime Wine Event and Silent Auction sponsor. Summer 2006 - Urban Services YMCA Visits South Africa This past July, the YMCA of San Francisco sent a small delegation to the 16th Annual World Council of YMCAs in South Africa. Our very own Takija Gardner, OMI Safe Haven Director, was selected to attend this conference, and she just came back with a ton of pictures to share. Click here to see some photos from her trip. Takija and the rest of the YMCA of San Francisco Delegation were greeted with warm smiles and open arms. They learned how other YMCA's approached programming for youth and families and were involved in numerous workshops regarding globalization, HIV/AIDS, and economic inequalities. Look for a full article about Takija's trip in our upcoming newsletter, and remember to welcome Takija back when you see her. Spring 2006 - Wine Event and Silent Auction a Huge Success! On behalf of Urban Services YMCA's Board of Managers, staff and volunteers, thank you to all of our event attendees for coming out on May 12 and supporting the work of our organization. The food, wine and auction items all helped make the night enjoyable for everyone. Through the support of Esurance, and our esteemed donors and guests, we were able to raise almost $13,000 for our community-based programs. If you missed this year's event, you can always make a contribution to Urban Services YMCA either online, through email, or by picking up the phone and giving us a call. Spring 2006 - Youth Organize Community Event to Stop the Violence On April 22, 2006, the Youth Empowerment Team at the OMI Safe Haven organized a large scale community event to bring people together and to make an impact in stopping the violence in their neighborhood. Their “Stop the Violence Event, the Remix”, took place at the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center and drew over 350 attendees. Local organizations managed booths focusing on gang prevention, health awareness and other topics. Non-violent entertainment was the highlight of the day, with performances ranging from rapping, to stepping by local fraternities, to youth-led fashion shows. The event achieved its goal of providing a safe and non-violent environment for the OMI/Excelsior community to enjoy fun, food and entertainment. Click here to see some photos from the event, and if you would like to learn more, please contact Takija Gardner, OMI Safe Haven Director, at 415-587-3217. Spring 2006 - Y Be Fit Day Promotes Healthy Living On April 22, 2006 over 250 students and their families joined Urban Services YMCA’s Physical Education Program (PEP) at Dolores Park in San Francisco to celebrate active, healthy living. The day’s events focused on educating youth and families on healthy lifestyles through physical activities and nutrition education. There was a portable rock climbing wall, yoga, sit and reach activities and parachute games. You can click here to see some photos of from the event. A very special thanks to our Event Partners for supporting our community, and if you would like to learn more about our PEP Program, please contact Jennifer Martinez, PEP Director, at 415-292-3027. Winter 2005 - Urban Services YMCA Launches its 2006 Community Support Campaign “School Closures Due to Unsafe Conditions and "Record Breaking Homicide Rates in Communities Urban Services YMCA Calls Home” These are some of the headlines greeting us almost daily as we open our morning newspapers. With schools closing, and community playgrounds turning into battlefields, it is easy to wonder “Where does it end and what can I do?” With a contribution to Urban Services YMCA, you are investing in a brighter future for today’s youth. For many of the youth and families we serve, it is only through your generous donations that hope for a brighter future remains. Please consider us as you review your many requests for support this year. You can make a contribution online by clicking here and applying your gift to Urban Services YMCA. Or contact Manuel Rodriguez for more information. Summer 2005 - Urban Services YMCA's 3rd Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction earns an A+ Thank you to Esurance, and all of our guests and sponsors who made our 3rd Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction a great success. With the warm evening and bustling sidewalk traffic as a backdrop, over 150 supporters of Urban Services YMCA gathered on Friday, May 20th at the Simmons Gallery to celebrate the many accomplishments of our successful organization. If you missed this year's event, click here for pictures, but plan on being there next year to witness firsthand what the buzz is all about. Spring 2005 - Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice looks to Urban Services YMCA to implement Citywide Prevention Project Urban Services YMCA has been selected by the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice to lead San Francisco's Citywide Prevention Project. The staff at Urban Services YMCA worked diligently to submit a strong proposal on behalf of the entire city to the California Board of Corrections in Sacramento. Our proposed project will effectively coordinate San Francisco's juvenile delinquency prevention efforts by unifying youth development best practices among the city's eight Beacon Center Case Managers and four Neighborhood Safe Havens. Click here to read San Francisco's 2005 Delinquency Prevention Plan. Summer 2004 - Nick
Edwards Chosen as Board Chair Summer 2003 - Urban Services YMCA has Moved Come see us in our new home!
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