Our History
The Sarasota Family Young Men's Christian Association, Inc. (YMCA) is a charitable nonprofit organization, qualifying under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Tax Code. The YMCA is in good standing with the national organization, the YMCA of the USA. The YMCA of the USA exists solely to serve its member associations, currently totaling 2,575 nationwide and in over 120 countries around the world. The national office, in Chicago, offers assistance in programming, management, training, and legal services.
The YMCA was founded in London, England, on June 6, 1844, by George Williams in response to unhealthy social conditions arising in big cities at the end of the Industrial Revolution. The first YMCA in the United States was founded on December 29, 1851, in Boston by Thomas Sullivan, a retired sea captain. The Sarasota Family YMCA was founded in 1945 by local leaders and currently has a budget of over $39,000,000 and over 680 employees. The mission statement of the YMCA is "We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities". Our local YMCA's history is as follows:
1945
Frank G. Berlin, Sr., president of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, was the founder of the Sarasota Family Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Berlin recruited other leaders of the Sarasota Community to accomplish the objective of providing activities and programs that promote family life. By November 1, the YMCA office at 310 S. Orange Ave., was completed and the work of the YMCA began.
1946
The YMCA held a summer program sponsored by the City of Sarasota. Other programs included marble matches, a gun club, model airplane clubs, boxing, bicycling, Jack Stones, checkers and a pet show.
1960
The Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Branch was established for health enhancement and youth sports and activities. With the construction of the Selby Pool, Sarasota County had its first indoor swimming pool.
1971
The Stinnett Gymnasium was completed, providing 7,600 square feet of air conditioned space for activities ranging from basketball to women’s fitness classes.
1980
The YMCA added six indoor, air conditioned state-of-the-art racquetball and handball courts.
1981
The YMCA Foundation of Sarasota, Inc. was organized for the purpose of supporting and advancing the activities of the Sarasota Family YMCA.
1982
Tennis courts, the Aquatics Center, and the jogging track were added to the Berlin Branch.
1983
The Berlin Branch added the Sudakoff Gymnastic Center, and 8,000-square-foot specialized gymnastic facility.
1987
The Child Care Center was opened at the Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Branch to serve children including infants to school age children.
1989
A second child care center was established at the City Center building on Main Street in response to the demand for quality childcare in downtown Sarasota.
1990
Health enhancement was added to the City Center building in response to demand.
1990
The Black Achievers Program was introduced to Sarasota in an effort to reach out to minority middle and high school age children.
1991
The YMCA Youth Shelter, a 20-bed residential facility for runaways, truants, and ungovernable youth, ages 10 through 17, began in 1991 through community efforts and governmental funding.
1991
The YMCA initiated the Prevention/Outreach, a program that provides basic outreach services to communicate and connect with the community in regards to the availability of our youth services, as well as prevention activities for early intervention.
1992
The YMCA introduced the HIPPY Program (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), a home-based program for the educational enrichment of preschool children and for the promotion of increased awareness by their parents of their own strength and potential as home educators.
1993
The YMCA became a Florida Community Child Care Coordinating Agency for the Subsidized Child Care Program. YMCA Children's Services/Early Childhood Development served three counties in District 8A: Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto. This was a program designed to provide parents access to the child care necessary to allow them to work, leave welfare, remain off welfare, and to ensure that abused and neglected children are in a safe, appropriate environment with no recurrence of abuse or neglect. The program serves children at-risk of abuse and neglect, children of Work and Gain Economic Self-Sufficiency (WAGES), as well as low-income families. The program is now called School Readiness and is managed through Coalitions in each of the counties served.
1993
The YMCA expanded troubled youth programming by adding the Triad Alternative Program (Triad), an alternative school for expelled, suspended, and court-ordered students, which uses a "whole student" approach to teaching.
1993
The Sarasota Family YMCA worked with a committee of volunteers from Hardee County on a feasibility study regarding introducing a YMCA in their community. As a result of this study, the Hardee County Family YMCA was opened in 1993 and the facility was recently expanded to accommodate its community's demand.
1994
The YMCA added the Transitional Living Program, which serves older, homeless youth ages 16-21 by providing shelter, life skills training, and support services for a smooth transition to self-sufficiency and to prevent long-term dependency on social services.
1994
YMCA Children's Services was awarded the contract to offer Child Care Resource and Referral for Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. Child Care Resource and Referral is a program designed to serve parents and children by educating parents about quality childcare and referring them to quality childcare in their area. The YMCA was also awarded a one-year contract for Infant and Toddler Development. This program was designed to develop, through education and no-cost loans of equipment or small cash loans, high quality and toddler family day-care homes in the Newtown area of Sarasota.
1994
The YMCA expanded its family programs once again in the Evalyn Sadlier Jones Branch with David Tichenor as architect and Kellogg and Kimsey as contractors. The YMCA collaborated with Sarasota County Parks and Recreation to provide tennis, outdoor basketball courts and a fitness train on grounds adjacent to the facility.
1994
YMCA Children’s Services/Early Childhood Development was awarded a planning grant from the Department of Education to develop collaboration among early childhood service providers in order to maximize funding, develop a network of services, reduce duplication of services, and to fill in the gaps in services.
1994
A planning grant was awarded for DeSoto County, and the YMCA again was the lead agency in developing this child care collaboration.
1995
A major non-residential service expansion occurred with the addition of YMCA Family Management services. Family Management Services consists of family consultants located throughout the county serving Children in Need of Services and Families in Need of Services (CINS/FINS). The major goal of this special counseling program is prevention of behaviors leading to running away, being ungovernable, or being truant.
1995
A coalition of ten agencies was formed to respond to a Sarasota County Grants-in-Aid RFP developed by the Children and Youth Services Advisory Council (CAYSAC) and directed at providing services to adolescents. The mission of this coalition of youth and adults is to provide innovative programs that offer positive alternatives to using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The name of the program is Coummunity Youth Development.
1995
Project Safe Place, an outreach service that addresses every school student in the Sarasota County School system and has over 100 identified local sites to connect runaway and homeless youth with the Youth Shelter, was introduced to the community.
1996
The Sarasota Family YMCA formed YMCA Children, Youth & Family Services, Inc. in support of its social service programs. YMCA Children, Youth & Family Services, Inc. received its 501 (c)(3) status and formed a volunteer board of directors.
1996
The YMCA opened a 16-bed delinquency, rehabilitation program called Character House. The YMCA Character House is a residential juvenile justice commitment facility for female offenders who have been categorized as low and moderate risk to public safety (commitment levels four and six). The most unique aspects of Character House are the acceptance of pregnant teens and the housing of their newborn children in order for bonding to occur while parenting skills are taught. The program expanded to 20 beds in early 2000.
1996
The Homeless Youth Education program was introduced to provide and coordinate educational services for homeless youth in Sarasota County and to work closely with the YMCA Youth Shelter, Salvation Army, SPARCC, and other homeless shelters in Sarasota County. It also provides community awareness on the plight of homeless youth and in-service training for school personnel who work with homeless youth.
1997
The YMCA became the lead agency of a coalition of 12 community agencies in the privatization of Child Welfare/Foster Care and related services in Sarasota County. The mission of the Foster Care program is to provide comprehensive services to children and families needing foster care or at risk of needing foster care through a collaborative effort that unites resources; holds all parties accountable to specific standards of care; evaluates performance and distribution of resources based on specific and measurable outcomes; holds permanency of the child's living arrangement and the continuity of relationships for the child as the primary goals; and provides these services through an inclusive and informative relationship with the community and state. The services provided include foster parent recruitment, training and licensure; adoptions; foster care; protective supervision; and voluntary family services.
1997
Truancy Intervention Program (TIP) was initiated as a partnership with the Sarasota County School system, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the YMCA to address the problem of truancy. The Program's strong intervention keeps youth in school by focusing on solutions to each child's problems.
1997
The Sarasota Middle Alternative Resource Team (SMART) program was developed to provide a school within a school for disruptive students at the Sarasota Middle School. The primary goal of this program is to modify behaviors and remediation learning problems in order to re-integrate students back into the middle school program or to pass into a high school program. The SMART program has been renamed Character Schools.
1997
The Adventure Based Challenge Program (ABC) was added as an action-oriented, experiential program designed to teach problem solving while improving the self-concept of the participant. Through group activities conducted in a challenging outdoor environment, the participant learns to accept personal responsibility, expand communication skills, and develop confidence.
1997
The YMCA opened the Kalish House, a group home for male foster care adolescents up to the age of 18 with six residential long-term beds and two emergency shelter short-term beds. Kalish is designed as a behavioral change program. This program addresses behaviors that are counter-productive to success in social, academic, and job skills.
1998
The City Center health enhancement center relocated to Main Plaza to accommodate membership growth.
1998
The Toddler Shelter/Grammy's House was opened to serve as an emergency shelter for toddlers in the foster care system. This shelter has been realigned to serve toddlers to pre-teens. This was also the beginning of the Community Coalition for Children. Corporations, churches and individuals donate money, resources, and time as they serve as children's advocates.
1998
Funding was obtained to establish the Greater Newtown Street Outreach, which provided education and prevention services to runaway, homeless and street youth who have been subjected to or are at risk of sexual exploitation or abuse.
1999
They YMCA, along with eight collaborative partners, expanded Foster Care privatization into Manatee County.
1999
Renaissance Ranch opened to serve girls in foster care. This residential program is a consistent, highly structured program aimed at behavioral change, life management skill building, and positive values development.
1999
The Triad Alernative Program (Triad), an alternative school for expelled, suspended, and court-ordered students, expanded into South Sarasota County.
2000
The Even Start Family Literacy Program was introduced with a goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities available to low-income families with limited educational experiences.
2000
The Gold Seal Accreditation program began with a goal of guiding child care providers to achieve nationally recognized accreditation standards, which improves their quality of care.
2000
The Aquatics Center opened its 50-meter pool, 1 and 3 meter diving boards, and Water Park. The Water Park offers fountains, water cannons, and a pair of two-story slides. The Sharks Swim Team utilizes the facility for practice and swim meets and benefits from its fitness equipment. The YMCA members and the community enjoy the Water Park, aquatic classes, and lap swimming.
2000
The Administrative offices, the Early Childhood Development Branch and the YMCA Foundation moved their offices to the newly constructed Kane Plaza. The move to Kane Plaza allows the YMCA to deliver services more effectively and efficiently, ensuring our ability to reach more individuals and families. This move also opened space in residential programs, previously utilized for office space, to provide more beds for homeless teens in the Transitional Living Program, and girls and their infants in Character House.
2000
The Lazarus Training Center was opened to provide training for staff, volunteers, and foster care parents and partner agencies.
2000
The Gold Seal Accreditation program began with a goal of improving the quality of early childhood education in Sarasota County by guiding child care providers through a quality improvement process. Using nationally recognized accreditation standards, CDA training for teachers and on-site technical assistance, all components of a program are assessed and improved. An additional focus was added in 2001 to provide support and training to teachers working with children with special needs and challenging behaviors to identify delays or social-emotional issues and provide early intervention services.
2001
The YMCA After School Program expanded its services into more elementary schools, bringing the number of schools served to 10.
2001
The YMCA, along with collaborative partners, expanded Foster Care privatization into DeSoto County, completing the tri-county judicial circuit.
2001
The YMCA Character House expanded its program from 16 to 20 beds.
2002
The Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Branch opened the doors to its new 80,000-square-foot facility.
2003
The Bari Brooks Teen Center opened to provide a safe environment for teens and families.
2003
The YMCA Achievers Program expanded from Black Achievers to serve Hispanic Achievers.
2003
The Main Plaza Branch was dedicated as the Babe Weiller YMCA Branch in honor of Babe Weiller, a supporter of the YMCA and a member of the YMCA Foundation Board of Trustees.
2003
YMCA Children, Youth & Family Services, Inc. merged with the parent company, Sarasota Family Young Men’s Christian Association, Inc., allowing for administrative cost savings.
2004
The Boards of the School Readiness Coalitions in Sarsota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties made the decision to provide services themselves and the YMCA discontinued its School Readiness services on June 30, 2004.
2004
The Kalish House was expanded to add four additional beds, going from eight to 12 beds, for boys in Foster Care.
2004
Construction began on the expansion of Bowman Ranch, formerly known as Renaissance Ranch, going from eight to 20 beds for girls in Foster Care.
2004
The YMCA expanded its support of children and families in Child Welfare/Foster Care to Pasco and Pinellas Counties.
2005
The Josephine Lofino Splash Park opened featuring a covered picnic pavilion and two areas of water splash play. Toddlers and small children are sprinkled, buckets fill and spill, animals project water sprays and umbrellas rain from above.
2005
Construction was completed on the expansion of Bowman Ranch, formerly known as Renaissance Ranch, going from 8 beds to 20 beds for girls in Foster Care.
2005
The Josephine Lofino Splash Pool, an addition to the C. J. Lofino Family Complex, opened.
2006
Y Reads, an after-school mentoring and literacy program for first and second grades, was introduced to students from two elementary schools – Fruitville Elementary and Emma E. Booker Elementary.
2006
Operation Graduation (OG) began in January of 2006. OG is committed to helping children ages three to 18 to reach their dreams through education. The programs are run from a new site in the Newtown area of Sarasota. The first component is an after school program and YMCA READS! program for 1st and 2nd graders.
2006
The Welch Family Teen Center was opened in Spring 2006. This state-of-the-art teen center was a tremendous addition to the YMCA family of safe, drug-free facilities for teens and youth. The center features a youth fitness center, a homework and tutoring area, and a mixture of High-Tec and traditional games.
2007
Campus Kids Preschool located at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus opened in January 2007. This preschool was designed to accommodate students, faculty and staff of the University of South Florida, MCC and New College needing flexible child care to match their class schedules. Enrollment also opened to the general public.
2008
The YMCA transitioned Child Welfare/Foster Care in Pasco and Pinellas Counties to a community agency.
2008
The YMCA is participating in a collaboration with the Sarasota City Parks and Recreation to develop a community center in the Newtown area.
2009
Upon the retirement of Carl Weinrich who led the Sarasota Family YMCA for 34 years, we welcomed our newest president and CEO, Paul B. Smith in September.
2010
The former Independent Living facility Kalish House, was renamed the Kalish House Youth and Young Adult Resource Center. This facility is for foster care youth ages 13 - 18 and young adults who have transitioned out of foster care. Staff at the facility help motivate these young people, teach job skills, provide educationa nd promote self confidence and self esteem.
The Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Center
A Graduating HIPPY Class
The CJ Lofino Family Complex
