Bay County YMCA

If you are like most people in Bay County, you know that Panama City is like most cities in America. We have a mall, restaurants, schools, movie theatres, and parks. What you may not have been aware of however is that Panama City is among more than 2,400 cities in America that is home to a YMCA, and one of only 16 in Florida. Now that you have the Village People singing in your head, let’s get back to the story. The YMCA is more than a song that you dance to with no shame at weddings. It is quite possible the most important organization in our community today. “We want to bring families together, bottom line,” Ron Sharpe, executive director, states. That is exactly what the Bay County YMCA is doing with programs that include youth and adult soccer programs, tennis, summer day camp, and cheerleading. A new fitness center provides a close family atmosphere with exercise programs such as cardio and strength training, jazzercise classes, free weights, yoga, and Pilates. Bay County YMCA’s commitment to the community and family goes beyond maintaining health and goes to helping the community’s well being. The YMCA works with elementary children form Panama City in an after-school literacy program. Currently, Bay County has the only YMCA in Florida that offers such a program. The main motivation of the reading program is to prepare first and second graders for the FCAT tests they will face in third grade and beyond. Mentors are needed to help with this program. Ideally, the YMCA would like a one on one basis for the children but currently have sixteen children to each mentor. One of YMCA’s success stories is they have worked with the Bay County school board to bring a swimming program to the middle schools of Bay County. In conjunction with A.C. Mosley High School and Frank Brown Park, middle school children will now have the opportunity to have the experience needed to compete in high school and beyond. Imagine your child swimming in the Olympics, thanks to the people at your YMCA. Bay County YMCA is conveniently located in downtown Panama City where over 2,000 people work daily and where an additional 9,000 people work in a 3 mile radius. Ron Sharpe expresses that he is always open to any suggestion that the community may have on how to improve the center. One idea that is up for submission is a program that is called Stroller Fit, which is designed specifically for the needs of moms with stroller age children. It can take you from quickly shedding the postpartum weight left from your infant to having a body that can easily keep up with the wildest 3-year-old. YMCA is a not for profit organization and depends largely on corporate sponsors such as Comcast, Coke, and Regions Bank to name a few. Donations are happily accepted and greatly appreciated to help sustain this very worthy cause. For more information on your YMCA, contact Ron Sharpe at (850) 747-9622 or visit their website: http://www.baycountyymca.com