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GAME-CHANGING MODELS:FOOD AND SPORTS INNOVATIONS THAT BUILD COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY

Y-USA, La Crosse Area Family Y, & Y of Greater Oklahoma City

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  • ANTI-HUNGER
    • Stacey McDaniel, YMCA of the USA
    • Jennie Melde, La Crosse Area Family YMCA�
  • SPORTS
    • Meredith Griffin, YMCA of the USA
    • Paul Urquhart, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City

LEARN WITH US:

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Y’S INNOVATION PROCESS

Uncover the general opportunity or need

Learn, empathize, and explore the opportunity or need

Synthesize learnings into key insights

Ideate, or generate ideas, and create and test prototypes

Experiment to develop solution

Launch solution

Continue to collect data and assess to inform improvements

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ANTI-HUNGER

YMCA OF THE USA

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ANTI-HUNGER INITIATIVES�YMCA OF THE USA

Did you know 1 in 5 kids face hunger in the USA? Through USDA reimbursed meal programs, Ys are meeting this need serving over 58M healthy meals and snacks a year in a financially viable business model.

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YEAR-ROUND FOOD PROGRAMS�YMCA OF THE USA

A year-round meal program serving 100 kids equates to $120,870 in reimbursement ($16,371 administrative allotment).

500 kids = $603,350 ($81,855 admin).

MEALS

Rates per Meal

SFSP (2026)*Self-Prep

CACFP (26-27)

Breakfast

$3.20

$2.54

Lunch/Dinner

$5.60

$4.76

Snack

$1.33

$1.30

Dow Bay Area Y, MI

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INNOVATION TO SCALE�YMCA OF THE USA

An innovative program who scales beyond their walls in a rural community, could maximize their reach. For example, a Y expanding to serve 2,500 kids equates to over $1.2M in reimbursement ($120K admin) for just the 8-week summer!

Blue Water Area Y, MI Y of Southwest Florida Y of Southeastern North Carolina Y of Memphis & Mid-South, TN

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HOW MIGHT WE EXPAND ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD?

Food lockers for after hour pantry access, farms for education and food production, pantries in partnership with towns, mobile meal programs for a Y without walls, turning a sports concession stand into a complimentary meal stand for 2 hours daily…..and MORE!!!!

Mystic Valley Y, MA Y of the North, MN Hockomock Area Y, MA Montgomery Y, AL Indiana County Y, PA

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ANTI-HUNGER

LA CROSSE AREA FAMILY YMCA

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ANTI-HUNGER INITIATIVES�LA CROSSE AREA FAMILY YMCA

Partners/Relationships Create Connected Communities  

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ENGAGEMENT, OUTCOMES, CAPACITY

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ANTI-HUNGER RESOURCES & SUPPORT FROM Y-USA

Y-USA Food Program Support

Stacey McDaniel

Director of Strategy & Quality Practices, Anti-Hunger

800 872 9622 ext. 2865  

stacey.mcdaniel@ymca.net

YMCA of the USA

*Register for the Anti-Hunger Peer Community Calls the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 12pm CDT!

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SPORTS

YMCA OF THE USA

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SPORTS�YMCA OF THE USA

  • Builds connection and community
  • Enjoyed across age groups and generations
  • Easy point of entry
  • Not expensive
  • Holistic benefits: physical, social, cognitive, emotional

Our sports strategy is to foster holistic development and strengthen community through sports for all.

Pickleball...

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ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY

  • 1,636 YMCAs offered Pickleball programming in 2025 – 20% increase since 2022.

  • 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025 – 22.8% increase in one year and 171.8% increase over 3 years.

  • 7.5 million Americans play at least 8 times a year – increase from 1.4 million in 2020.

  • Average age is 35. Largest participation in ages 18-34.

  • 2,300 new locations / 82,000 new courts nationwide in 2025

  • Estimated $850-$900 million investment in courts needed to meet demand.

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SPORTS

YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY

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INNOVATION THROUGH PICKLEBALL

  • Increase connections and sense of community
  • Meet interest and demand for pickleball courts, programming
  • Earlywine Branch YMCA located in community park – center point for community activities
  • Lack of accessible courts nearby
  • Use YMCA/park space to build covered courts
  • Thurman family donation – passion for the Y, pickleball, community

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ENGAGEMENT & OUTCOMES

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ENGAGEMENT & OUTCOMES

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ENGAGEMENT & OUTCOMES

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SPORTS RESOURCES & SUPPORT FROM Y-USA

Meredith Griffin

Director, Strategy & Quality Practices – Sports

YMCA of the USA

Pickleball Directors Training

November 10-11

Bonita Springs YMCA – Bonita Springs, FL

(Week of the YMCA National Pickleball Tournament!)

Register in YMCA Learning Hub

YMCA National Pickleball Tournament

November 13-15

U.S. Open National Pickleball Center - Naples, FL

Information/Registration Posted in Link

Sports Peer Community Calls

Sports Service Delivery Requests

Sports Bi-Monthly Newsletter

Sports Community in Link

  • Pickleball Toolkit
  • Y Sports Program Model Toolkit

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QUESTIONS

YMCA of the USA

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SIX LEVERS OF CONNECTION​

ELEVATE CONNECTION​

Use shared language and stories to strengthen

purpose and connection.​

PRACTICE CONNECTION SKILLS​

Develop the skills and reinforce the culture that make meaningful connection possible.​

EMBED CONNECTION EVERYWHERE​

Design and deliver experiences that create connection.​

CREATE CONNECTED SPACES​

Build physical and digital environments that spark interaction and create access and belonging for all. ​

INVITE CONTRIBUTION ​

Provide opportunities for people to share their time, talents, and voices to create change.​

SUPPORT WELL-BEING​

Foster experiences that elevate health and well-being and help all people thrive. ​

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THANK YOU

Anti-Hunger

  • Stacey McDaniel, YMCA of the USA
  • Jennie Melde, La Crosse Area Family YMCA

Sports

  • Meredith Griffin, YMCA of the USA
  • Paul Urquhart, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City

YMCA of the USA