First Coast YMCA serves its communities with help from Publix Charities

YMCAs have a rich history of empowering our youth through education and sports and ensuring our seniors keep moving. It’s no surprise then that the First Coast YMCA does all that and more.

“The YMCA is one of the leading nonprofits committed to strengthening the community by empowering young people, improving the health and well-being of people of all ages, and inspiring action in and across communities,” said Eleanor Blair, associate vice president of strategic communications and marketing.

First Coast YMCA operates fourteen YMCAs in Northeast Florida, including Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. It also operates a public charter elementary school, YMCA Tiger Academy in North Jacksonville, and YMCA Camp Immokalee, a summer resident camp in Keystone Heights, Florida.

The organization is guided by its core values : caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. “The YMCA is dedicated to giving people of all ages, backgrounds, and all walks of life the opportunity to improve their lives, nurture their families, and strengthen their community, together,” Blair said.  To do so, the YMCA works to understand the issues at hand and evaluate evolving trends to foresee the future needs of the people it serves.

“For children, the YMCA offers holistic programming that enhances, protects, and nurtures the unique development journey of every child and teen,” Blair said. “Through our summer camp and before- and after-school programs, the Y focuses on providing resources. We’ve been making a difference on the First Coast since 1908.  We measure success by our positive impact on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.”

Publix Super Markets Charities has been a proud donor to the YMCA’s events and programs throughout the years. Most recently, a Publix Charities grant funded three areas of impact:

• Summer Kickoff, a special event held with the Jacksonville Jaguars and other community partners to encourage children and families to be active outdoors and participate in fun games and activities throughout the summer.

• The Johnson Family YMCA 75^th Anniversary Celebration, a Northwest Jacksonville–area event to celebrate the longevity of the Johnson Family YMCA and the impact it has had on the community it serves.

• YMCA Drivers of Change Golf Invitational, a corporate golf event that provides participants an opportunity to strengthen in the North Jacksonville communities they serve. Proceeds benefit the Tiger Academy charter school and the Johnson Family YMCA Teen Program.