NEWS
By Bryan Mahoney | April 29, 2014
The girl opened her mouth wide, eyes wider and plunged backward into the unknown. Angelina Clark, 9, tumbled over the large, round cushion and ended upside-down. The YMCA volunteer at the other side ensured her safe landing. Her mom was elsewhere, likely hearing about how best to help her daughter avoid tooth decay or how they can keep her risk of developing allergies low. This was the yin and yang of the Burbank Y's annual Kids Day event, which helps parents mentor, teach and raise healthy children while also providing the means for those children to plunge headlong into the high-energy activities of youth.
NEWS
By Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com | April 29, 2014
The Burbank YMCA, in collaboration with the city and Nickelodeon, is hosting a three-day hackathon - called Game+Hack 2014 - this weekend for computer programmers with ideas for mobile applications. From May 2 to 4, participants will be teamed up with mentors from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, DreamWorks, Sony and Warner Bros. to build creative mobile applications in four categories - youth development, healthy living, social responsibility and open creativity, according to Burbank YMCA officials.
THE818NOW
By Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com | January 11, 2014
The Burbank Community YMCA is slated to unveil next week its $1-million renovation, which includes upgrades to its aquatics center, pool and gym. On Wednesday, the public can join the center in celebrating 90 years in Burbank, along with the renovations. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated to take place at 1:45 p.m. at the Y, which is located at 321 E. Magnolia Blvd. Two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Cathy Ferguson, along with Burbank Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy, will host the event.
COMMUNITY
By David Laurell | December 3, 2013
According to the American Caloric Control Council (yes, there really is such a thing), the average American consumes more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day. While, for many, the only exercise they get to work off that feast is clicking the remote back and forth between football games, for more than 2,300 members and supporters of the Burbank Community YMCA, some serious preemptive calorie burning took place this past Thanksgiving...
COMMUNITY
By Joyce Rudolph and By Joyce Rudolph | March 12, 2013
The Burbank Community YMCA launched the Community Campaign phase of its “Strong Today, Stronger Tomorrow” Capital Campaign on Thursday, March 7, at the Colony Theatre. The goal is to raise funds to enhance the facility and programs at the Y, officials said. “I'm excited that our volunteers are confident in our ability to meet this aggressive goal of raising $300,000,” said JC Holt, chief executive officer. “The benefits to the Burbank community are much greater than the dollars raised.
COMMUNITY
By Joyce Rudolph | January 15, 2013
Harlem Globetrotters teammates Herbert Lang, aka “Flight Time,” and Nate “Big Easy” Lofton generated a lot of excitement in December when they stopped by the Burbank Community YMCA to shoot a breast cancer awareness video and entertain some of the kids from the Child Development Center with their basketball skills. In fact, the YMCA and basketball have a storied history, said Susan Sebastian, senior director of membership and communication, who adds that the sport was invented at a YMCA more than 120 years ago. On a gloomy December morning, a young physical education teacher named James Naismith had a few weeks to come up with a new game to attract the football and rugby-loving-class of future of YMCA directors.
COMMUNITY
By Joyce Rudolph | November 20, 2012
Family Service Agency supporters recognized City Manager Mike Flad for his commitment to the city he grew up in and his sense of humor during the annual Imagine a City Gala held at Providence High School on Nov. 3. Flad has taken a job as city manager of South Gate and the Family Service gala was a chance for friends to wish him the best in the future. He received the agency's Mary Alice O'Connor Vision Award named for a beloved volunteer who gave 66 years of her life to supporting many organizations in town.
NEWS
By Jeff Tully | June 9, 2012
A group of Burbank Community YMCA members is crying foul over decisions to curtail full-contact karate and boxing, while at the same time refusing to loosen policies to allow underprivileged, at-risk youth to participate without being members. The claims, aired publicly in recent weeks in letters to the City Council and other groups, have been targeted at Chief Executive JC Holt and the nonprofit's board of directors, who have chalked the complaints up to a small band of disgruntled people affiliated with a select set of programs within the YMCA.
COMMUNITY
By Joyce Rudolph | May 1, 2012
Glendale YMCA officials are hosting a blood drive in commemoration of the Armenian genocide. Organizers say it's a way to bring the community together while continuing a tradition of saving lives. The blood drive will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Glendale YMCA's Youth Fitness Center, 130 N. Louise St. Walk-ins are welcome, but for appointments, call (818) 240-4130, ext. 34 or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code ANCGlendale. To give blood, one must be at least 16 years old and weigh 110 pounds.