EVERETT, Wash., April 16, 2004 – The YMCA of Snohomish County today announced that its
Marysville and Southeast family branches have each been selected to receive the 2004 IMPACTPLUS Regional Retreat and Technology Package Grant Award. Through a competitive application process, 12 YMCAs were selected from 24 different states to participate in the project.
IMPACTPLUS is a 3-year project aimed at helping young people use technology to leverage their participation in civic life (i.e. become civically engaged). The project gives participating YMCAs the opportunity to educate and train their teen-related staff, youth volunteers, and community partners in 21st Century skills like media, technology, video production, collaboration, effective writing and critical thinking, and then use those skills along with a technology package (including a laptop computer, printer, scanner, digital camera, digital video camera, all peripherals, and funds to support high speed internet access) to conduct a web-based resource mapping project in their community.
Delegates from the Marysville and Southeast YMCA’s will attend the retreat in San Jose, CA, May 16 – 18, 2004. After the full YMCA team completes participation in the retreat, a technology package will be shipped to each participating YMCA. The package includes a laptop computer, printer, scanner, digital camera, digital video camera, all peripherals, and funds to support high speed internet access (required for the web-based resource mapping project) – valued at $5,000. Youth from participating YMCAs will complete a web-based community resource map within 60 days of regional retreat participation.
The Marysville Family YMCA IMPACTPLUS Team includes: Wendy Bart, executive director; Benji Travis, teen coordinator; Doug Buell, community volunteer; and teen volunteers Arthur Bongat and Kent Baylon. The Southeast Family YMCA IMPACTPLUS Team includes: Cory Wilson-Hoss, teen services director; Will Wampler, youth programs coordinator; Andy Siguenza, community volunteer; and teen volunteers Jessica Shackelford and Alissa Marshall.
The IMPACTPLUS project is generously funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Time Warner Foundation, the Best Buy Children’s Foundation and the YMCA of the USA.
About YMCA of Snohomish County
For more than 100 years, the YMCA of Snohomish County has involved top community leaders and highly-trained professional staff to provide hundreds of different programs for people of all ages, especially children, youth and families. Each YMCA facility is a “hub” in the community providing safe environments, caring role models, and positive, productive activities. Today more than 56,684 people of all ages, races, faiths and economic backgrounds participate annually in activities at our six branch operations: Everett, Marysville, Mukilteo, Southeast/Silver Firs, Monroe and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Activity areas include Youth Sports, Family Events, Swimming, Total Health, Summer Camp, Teen Programs, (Middle School After School, Late Night, Youth in Government, Earth Service Corps), and Child Care (33 sites in 7 school districts throughout the County). The YMCA is committed to building strong kids, strong families and strong communities and is united in sharing the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
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