The Clinton County Family YMCA and Center Township announced they have partnered to create a new initiative called “Aspire at the Y”, which was announced Saturday morning at the YMCA.
“If you listen to what the community asks for it’s to give our youth more opportunities,” said Center Township Trustee Kevin Evans. “What a better opportunity than if you live in Center Township to come out, get off your couch, get away from phone or iPad or laptop, whatever it is and come into a place where your kid is active. That is what we heard and we are answering the call. Now, it’s up them to show that what they said is exactly what they meant.”
The details of the partnership were announced in between youth basketball games in front of about 60 to 70 people. It is hoped through this partnership that everyone involved can work to combat childhood obesity, build confidence and show children what they can achieve by their participation in youth sports and swim lessons.
The biggest thing about this is it gives youths in Center Township to come to the YMCA and participate in youth activities for free.
“I anticipate it’s going to impact children 700 times,” said Clinton County Family YMCA Chief Executive Officer Tristen Comegys. “That is the number of children in Center Township that are in elementary school. Since this partnership is opened up to them, it is my hope that all 700 will participate. But, if not, that opens up an opportunity for other kids to participate as much as they want.”
Comegys said this agreement is important to the YMCA.
“I think will be pretty significant because we’ve seen such a decline in the number of kids who are participating in programs like this,” said Comegys. “When you add the word ‘free’ and ‘complimentary’ to something, it really gets people talking. The fact that Center Township is willing to invest in something so significant is really impactful for us.”
Also, this agreement is for all sports.
“The agreement with Center Township means that we can heavily invest in our kids and in our program here at the ‘Y’ and make it better than it already is in terms of training coaches, investing in equipment, just having more bodies on the court or on the field to interact with one another,” said Comegys.
Evans said it is imperative that something like this needed to be done.
“We believe that investing in the youths in our community is really going to benefit our future,” said Evans. “Just being able to get kids active, working together, learning what it means to be on a team, being social really will build our community in a way that makes us better. .That’s our focus with this.”