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The Y Urges Healthier Habits for Kids during Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:00:00 GMT

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the YMCA of Greater Houston is reminding parents about the importance of incorporating regular physical activity and healthier eating habits into their children’s lives.

Childhood obesity rates have soared over the last few decades. Nationally, one in three children is obese or overweight, while 15-20% of children in Texas have also been affected by this epidemic, according to the Center for Disease Control. More alarming, obesity puts children at risk for chronic diseases often seen in adults, such as high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes. This health crisis sheds light on the need to provide children and their parents with the resources and the support they need, emphasizing that small steps can lead to big results to reverse the trend.

One key to fighting childhood obesity is prevention. Regular physical activity – 60 minutes a day for children – and nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains can lower children’s chances of becoming obese or overweight and developing chronic diseases. It’s important to note that 60 minutes of physical activity can be achieved through a number of activities throughout the entire day – it doesn’t have to be done all at once. As a leading nonprofit strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y believes that getting kids more active and allowing them to play is an important factor in improving their health.

The YMCA of Greater Houston offers programs such as MEND, Salsa, Sabor Y Salud, youth sports and group exercise classes for the whole family. These programs have helped children and their families by teaching important skills and allowing them to gain knowledge to help feel more fit, healthier, and happier for the rest of their lives.

“At the YMCA of Greater Houston we know that many families struggle to find the time and resources to eat healthier and set aside time for physical activity every day,” said Gina Peterson, Association Healthy Living Director,. “So we tailor our programs to meet the needs of families in the community to help make the healthier choice an easier choice.”

To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Houston’s childhood obesity and healthy living programs, please call 713-659-5566 or visit us at www.ymcahouston.org.

1-Sep-11 2:00 PM

School is Out-- Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:00:00 GMT

The case of a child returning home from school while his or her parents are still at work is becoming more of a common occurrence. Studies from the Census Bureau estimate that as many as ten million youth are left home alone every afternoon, every day of the week.

Why have these statistics increased so drastically in recent years? Experts suggest that the rising number of single-parent families, plus a strong rise in dual-income families (where both the mother and father of a family are employed) are the main contributing factors to why children are left unaccompanied after the school day ends.

The truth for these parents is that supporting their family often means being out of the house at work, resulting in a growing number of children left alone for several hours each day. Unfortunately, children who are left unsupervised for regular periods of time are more susceptible to crime, violence, drugs, loneliness and boredom, according to Dr. Scot Wortley, a Professor at the University of Toronto and author of Roots of Youth Violence.

As many would expect, parents in this situation want nothing more than to reverse this statistic. Luckily, a positive solution is the growing use of local after school programs. A study from the University of Chicago shows that after school programs reduce the initiation of drug use as well as the likelihood of skipping school by 50 percent. A separate study by UCLA explains that children who attend an after school program are 30 percent less likely to participate in criminal activities than peers who do not.

In addition, the benefits of after school programs extend beyond simply keeping children out of trouble; they serve to reinforce the skills taught in the classroom as well as many necessary social skills. Elementary students attending an after school program reported to having higher aspirations of finishing school and attending college. Also, 20 percent of these children were less likely to dropout as compared to their peers who stay home alone, according to Afterschool Alliance. Further benefits of after school care included an improvement in students’ test scores, maturity in social relationships and better physical fitness from activities they would not have participated in otherwise.

Most importantly, after school programs have the potential to change the way youth go about their daily lives. Better social skills from relationships built in these programs positively affect a child’s mind set, both during the school day and at home. After school programs not only build on what the child learns in the classroom, but also creatively expand the children’s social and physical skills—those which come from outside their textbooks. Ultimately, the youth of today should be as well-equipped for their future as possible. Let’s work to ensure our children’s critical developmental stage is full of creativity, opportunity and growth.

For more information on YMCA After School, visit http://www.ymcahouston.org/youth-development/afterschool/.

16-Aug-11 3:00 PM

Pasadena Family Fights Childhood Obesity

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:15:00 GMT

A Pasadena family is taking steps at the San Jacinto Family YMCA to ensure that childhood obesity does not affect their family. Click here to watch the video.

24-Mar-10 9:15 AM

Definition of a Volunteer

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Helping students learn the ins and outs of government is what Wendy Baldwin spends her free time doing.

Baldwin’s nearly decade-long work with the YMCA’s Youth and Government program earned her the South Montgomery County YMCA Volunteer of the Year award.

“I’m flattered, but I know there are a lot of people who put in a lot of hours,” said Baldwin, an Oak Ridge High School social studies teacher. “I think I really do very little compared to all these other people.

“It’s embarrassing to get this award when it’s all the kids. That’s the reward, when you see the click in their eyes,” she said.

South Montgomery County YMCA Executive Director Mark Cochran presented Baldwin the award during the Nov. 12 Greater Houston YMCA awards ceremony.

“She is wonderful,” Cochran said. “She is the true definition of a volunteer. She gives of her time. The award is so deserving.”

This weekend, Baldwin is taking some of her Youth and Government participants to Austin for a state conference to put what Baldwin has taught them into practice.

“I’m a firm believer in grass roots efforts,” Baldwin said about the program. “I’m going to work with these kids and some of them may go into politics.

“I know they will never forget the experience. They are also educating other kids on politics.”

The YMCA’s Youth and Government program provides opportunities for youth to study and debate public issues, experience the judicial branch of state government, write legislation and participate in a youth legislature, or experience creating a news broadcast or newspaper, according to www.ymcatexasyg.org.

25-Jan-10 9:00 AM

FBI Searching for Human Trafficking Suspect

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON - The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information that leads to the arrest of a human trafficking suspect known as 'El Gallo.'

Gerardo 'El Gallo' Salazar is the alleged leader of a group that smuggled young men and young women into Houston and Mexico. He has been identified as "the most wanted human trafficking fugitive" in a statement from the FBI in Houston.

Five other people have already pleaded guity and served jail sentences for taking part in the trafficking operation.

In a news conference on Tuesday, FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard C. Powers announced the reward increase from $5,000 to $15,000 for Salazar's capture and also presented an award to Constance Rossiter, YMCA International Trafficked Person's Assistance Program Director, to honor the organization's efforts in helping victims of human smuggling.

President Barack Obama has proclaimed that January 2010 be recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Houston is one of the five most dangerous U.S. cities for human trafficking and smuggling. A national hotline has been established to report human trafficking. Thirty percent of the calls to that hotline have come from the Houston area.

Most of the thousands of people smuggled and trafficked in the U.S. every year are women and children, especially young girls.

"It all comes down to greed. These are money making organizations who want to make money off the backs of these trafficking victims who are treated, not as human beings, but as commodities," says Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Gallagher.

The Houston-based Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance has rescued almost 200 victims since it was formed in 2004. Most victims of trafficking are severely abused, forced into prostitution and held against their will. Smuggling and trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business.

Click here to watch the news piece online.

15-Jan-10 1:00 PM

For war refugee, living is a ‘miracle'

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Marwan Hamza, once an energetic translator for U.S. troops in Iraq, sat slumped in a wheelchair in the lobby of a nursing home in southeast Houston, his eyes downcast on a worn, leopard-print rug.

Dario Lipovac, who befriended Hamza when he first arrived in Houston as a refugee in January, sat next to Hamza's mother, trying to reassure her.

“That he's alive is a miracle,” Lipovac said, “a big, big miracle.”

A little more than two months ago, Hamza was in a coma, breathing with a ventilator. He had broken bones in his face and what doctors at Memorial Hermann Hospital diagnosed as a traumatic brain injury. On top of that, he was suffering from kidney failure and had a creeping infection in one arm that forced doctors to amputate above the elbow.

Lipovac, director of refugee resettlement for YMCA International in Houston, visited Hamza at the hospital shortly after his Aug. 26 wreck, and later described him as being “as dead as you can be without actually being dead.”

• • • •

Hamza was a translator for U.S. troops for years after the Bagdad invasion. Threats eventually forced him to flee to Ankara, Turkey, before coming to the U.S. as a refugee.

Lipovac picked up Hamza from the airport in January and found himself delighted with Hamza's nearly flawless English and easy smile.

Hamza, then 22, became a fixture in the local Iraqi community, which has grown significantly since 2007, when the State Department stepped up refugee admissions and funneled hundreds of new arrivals into Houston. Hamza volunteered to translate for refugees and couldn't pass up the opportunity to help anyone, Lipovac said.

As soon as he was issued a Social Security card, Hamza hustled to get a job, applying to be a forklift driver, a busboy — anything that would let him save enough to buy a car and then start sending money home to his family in Iraq.

He eventually seemed on track to build a successful life in Houston, Lipovac said. But all of that momentum stopped suddenly on the night of his car accident.

Lipovac and Jeff Watkins, the director of Houston's YMCA International Services, lobbied frantically to bring Hamza's family to the U.S. on a temporary visa, fearing he would pass away without any relatives here to say goodbye.

With the help of U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, they secured a visa within a week for Hamza's mother, Nahlah Qasim Radhi Hamza.

She left her husband and their younger children, ages 18, 13 and 10, behind in Baghdad and boarded a plane for Houston, arriving on Sept. 11 to find her eldest son still deep in a coma.

• • • •

Radhi Hamza, while well-received in Houston, was unable to work under the terms of her temporary visa. The landlord of a west Houston apartment complex, however, offered her free rent for six months, and she established a daily routine of taking a bus to the hospital and sitting by her son's bedside all day.

About 40 days after the accident, Hamza opened his eyes, his mother said. He still had a tube in his throat and couldn't speak, but she said he recognized her.

Over the next few days, she realized he thought he was still in Baghdad and remembered only pieces of the past that landed him in Houston.

He had no memory of the accident or of big stretches of his life in Baghdad, but he recognized many of his hospital visitors and was able to talk.

“I was very, very grateful,” his mother said.

Hamza eventually was transferred from the hospital to a longer-term care facility in Montrose, and then another one in far southeast Houston.

His mother now changes buses three times each day to visit him and has started looking for a nursing home closer to her apartment that accepts Medicaid and would care for Hamza.

She is planning to apply for asylum to bring her husband and Hamza's siblings to the U.S., saying the separation is getting increasingly difficult and she's having troubling caring for her eldest son on her own.

Hamza's recovery is expected to take a long time, his mother said. He is still in a wheelchair and has shooting pains in both shoulders, but he can stand for brief periods. He also is working to rebuild his speech and responded to many questions in English with brief answers, mostly one or two words, though his Arabic is fast and fluent.

In his wheelchair at the nursing home, Hamza said he wanted to go “home.” Asked if that meant Iraq, Hamza quickly said no.

He looked to his mother, who explained that his home is in Houston — with her.

27-Dec-09 10:00 AM

Robinson's shoe gaffe pays off for Houston kids

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON -- Dunta Robinson's shoe escapade has turned into a $25,000 boost for a facility that will serve underprivileged children.

The Houston Texans cornerback was fined that amount for wearing shoes during the season opener that carried a message directed at general manager Rick Smith: It said, "pay me Rick."

Robinson was upset he and the Texans were unable to reach a long-term contract and skipped training camp before signing.

After writing letters to Smith, owner Bob McNair and coach Gary Kubiak, Robinson was allowed to donate the fine this week toward the construction of a Houston Texans YMCA that will benefit kids in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods.

Before delivering the check, Robinson did arts and crafts with a group of children in a housing development in Houston's Third Ward, a neighborhood that will be served by the YMCA. Dozens of boys and girls from elementary and junior high school giggled and smiled as they decorated wooden Christmas ornaments with Robinson and his fiancee.

"It's a great way to make a negative situation into a positive," Robinson said. "It couldn't have worked out any better than to come down here and give back to this community and see all these kids smile. These people work really hard to keep these kids on the right track so you just want to make it a little easier on them."

Robinson was a first-round pick of the Texans in 2004 and has started each game this season. He lobbied to have his money given to a cause that serves children after spending much of his childhood in facilities such as the one that his money will help fund.

"Maybe you didn't have that father figure, maybe you didn't have that big brother figure and you come into these type of situations and you get to see grown ups helping and giving to kids that aren't even theirs you just want to help out a little bit," he said. "I definitely grew up in the same situation and I know what it did for myself, so I can only imagine what these kids are going through right now."

The Houston Texans YMCA is scheduled to be completed in 2010, and fundraisers are about halfway to the goal of $10 million so the building can open debt free.

"Every little bit helps for us to continue to serve the community," Texans YMCA executive director Priscilla Graham said. "YMCA has had a presence in this community for over 50 years, so this will help us continue the legacy and continue to serve in our community."

Robinson apologized for his shoe message the day after it happened. He is happy to put the stunt behind him by giving the money to charity.

"Even negatives can turn into one of the biggest blessings," he said. "This makes me feel good. Just coming here and seeing these kids having the time of their lives is a great feeling. I couldn't have asked for that money to go to any better situation."

25-Dec-09 10:00 AM

Huntsville YMCA honors volunteer

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Brooke Addams of Huntsville was recently recognized as the 2009 Volunteer of the Year at the YMCA of Greater Houston’s Annual Celebration at Rice University’s Faculty Club.

She joined 36 others, each representing an individual YMCA center, camp or special program.

Addams was honored by the Huntsville Family YMCA.

She was honored as an outstanding volunteer for her generosity of spirit, hard work and compassion for others.

Addams and the others were greeted with a standing ovation by the audience after being awarded a solid bronze sculpture custom-made by Katy artist David Mattiza.

Addams has served on the Huntsville YMCA Board, coaches and volunteers her time to spread the YMCA mission.

Addams and her family participate in many programs year-round.

Volunteers help the staff create moments of accomplishment, moments of joy, and moments of learning for children and families.

“We are fortunate to have the support of our volunteers,” said YMCA President and CEO Clark Baker. “They each contribute to the growth of our organization and add to the YMCA experience. They help us help others.”

Baker said that on a daily basis, the YMCA of Greater Houston depends on its volunteers to help carry out its mission.

“By donating their time, talent and treasure, they help create magic moments daily for individuals, children and families,” he said. “Volunteers also instill the YMCA core values of responsibility, respect, caring, honesty, and faith in everyone they touch.

“Volunteers help the YMCA build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.”

For more information about volunteer opportunities at the YMCA, visit www.ymcahouston.org.

8-Dec-09 11:00 AM

Houston Texans and Rooms To Go donate bedroom furniture to YMCA kids

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Three lucky students from the Houston Texans YMCA received bedroom makeovers thanks to the Houston Texans football team and Rooms To Go. Check out KHOU's coverage of Tuesday's reveal by clicking here.

2-Dec-09 3:00 PM

Charity Navigator Puts YMCA in Top 10 Charities

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

The YMCA of Greater Houston has achieved Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-star rating in 2009 for the ninth consecutive year. This is the highest rating given by the organization and shows that the YMCA exceeds industry standards and outperforms most nonprofits. The Association has been ranked eighth in the Top 10 Charities with the Most Consecutive 4-Star Ratings. Click here to read more about this honor.

30-Nov-09 1:00 PM

Danell Fields Named YMCA Volunteer Of The Year

Ann Herlocher - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Every year the Lake Houston Family YMCA recognizes an outstanding volunteer for his/her generosity of spirit, hard work and compassion for others.

Danell Fields was presented with her award at the YMCA of Greater Houston’s Annual Celebration on Thursday, November 12. She joined 40 others, each representing an individual YMCA center, camp or special program. Fields and the others were greeted with applause by the audience after being presented their award while a video of their accomplishments and dedication to our YMCA was shown.

Fields was chosen for this award for her dedication to the Lake Houston Family YMCA and the East Montgomery County YMCA extension. She was instrumental in the success of the first annual YMCA Dancing for Partners event which raised over $24,000 for YMCA scholarships. Additionally she has served for the past three years on the Capital Campaign, was a former Board member and assisted in developing relationships in the East Montgomery County communities.

Jenna Dhayer, Executive Director of the Lake Houston Family YMCA, says “Danell is the epitome of what a YMCA volunteer represents. Her endless hours of support to our YMCA are instrumental to our success and we can not thank her enough for her continued dedication.”

Volunteers help YMCA staff create moments of accomplishment, moments of joy and moments of learning for children and families. By donating their time, talent and treasure, they help create a warm and supportive environment for individuals, children and families. Volunteers also instill the YMCA core values of responsibility, respect, caring, honesty, and faith in everyone they touch and help the YMCA continue to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

18-Nov-09 11:00 AM

YMCA kicks off Operation Backback

Jamie Clark - noemail@ymcahouston.org — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:45:00 GMT

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston Independent School District Thursday helped the YMCA kick off the city's largest school supply drive.

The YMCA's Fifth Annual Operation Backpack aims to collect school supplies for more than 35,000 Houston-area children. Day campers at Cossaboom Family YMCA filled backpacks with school supplies and placed them in donation bins.

Project coordinators want students to start the new school year as prepared to learn as possible.

"Operation Backpack is about getting our young children and students ready for the first day of school. and in a school district there is not a more important day in the year than the first day of school," said Dr. Abe Saavedra, HISD Superintendent.

Each Houston-area YMCA has partnered with a local church to serve as school supply collection sites. More than 60 parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston also joined the Operation.

Courtesy of Channel 13; ABC News on Thursday, July 9, 2009 | 4:42 PM

9-Jul-09 4:45 PM