YMCA

The Red Cross says 54% of adults can’t swim well enough to save themselves. Amanda DeVoe used to be part of that statistic, but now, she officially knows how to swim.

By most accounts, Sage Goodall is a typical 11-year-old boy. He has a ton of energy, a sense of humor and a big personality. But none of that compares to the size of his heart. As it turns out, it’s a heart measured in stuffed animals — 5,951 stuffed animals to be exact.

The First Coast YMCA is helping a group of Ukrainian children have a fun-filled summer and feel more at ease settling into their new home.

In the wake of the most devastating public-health emergency in a century and the resulting economic uncertainty, Americans provided more charitable dollars to United Way Worldwide than any other nonprofit focused on direct aid, followed by the Salvation Army and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, according to new rankings by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

President Donald Trump, a man who is famously particular about his appearance, is fully embracing doing a dad dance to the Village People's “YMCA” as the finale to his rallies in the campaign's closing stretch. Trump's rally dance has become a rare moment of levity in an otherwise miserable campaign year marked by a deadly pandemic, an economic recession and racial turmoil. Then order 'Dancing with The Don’ and let President Trump teach you all the hottest moves!" Dancing.”“YMCA,” widely considered a gay anthem, is a relatively new addition to Trump's rally playlist. Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller agreed to reveal the secret to an AP reporter “only if we first get a clip of you singing YMCA.”AP's Jill Colvin declined.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The coronavirus pandemic didnt stop one group from celebrating one of its members. First Coast YMCA staffers werent able to throw James Heyward a birthday party, so they did the next best thing: creating a video filled with birthday wishes. Heyward turned 100 years on Aug. 27. He has been part of the Y for 16 years. He said he enjoys doing the cardio and strength machines.

The nations 14,000 camps are now facing tough choices as summer approaches and campers begin to wonder if they will be bunked up or hunkered down. The American Camp Association partnered with the YMCA to come up with camp guidelines. According to their guidelines, camps should keep children in smaller groups. The CDC has also released recommendations for camps to consider before they open their doors. The CEO of the YMCA said there will be many choices for parents, but it will not be a typical summer.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Starting Friday and throughout the month of November, all First Coast YMCA branches will be open and accessible for free to all military families for Military Family Month. YMCA said Military Family Month is a way for the "Y" to give back to military families in our communities with a focus on fun, health and wellness. Guests must check in at the front desk of their local Y branch and sign a waiver in order to participate. Jacksonville is home to the third largest military population in the nation, with over 40,000 active duty personnel, 6,000 active reserves and 170,000 veterans. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

A local female power lifter is heading to Chicago for a major national competition. "They kept loading the bar and kept loading the bar and I just kept pulling and kept pulling," O'kray said. "I have power lifted with them four other times, and I was able to wear my skirt," O'kray said. In a series of emails to the USA Powerlifting Technical Committee, the YMCA pleaded on O'kray's behalf. The upcoming 2019 USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals meet is governed by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF).

Chuck Steinfurth and Candace Burrows with First Coast YMCA join us to talk about the importance of afterschool programs.