Huntsville, Madison County non-profits announce partnership
Jerry Courtney, Heart of the Valley CEO, addresses a new partnership between the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama on July 17. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)
By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer
HUNTSVILLE – Announcing a new strategic alliance at the United Way of Madison County in Huntsville on July 17, United Way CEO Clay Vandiver said the intent of the partnership is simple.
“What we’re trying to do is transform lives,” Vandiver said.
The collaboration directly involves the Heart of the Valley YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama. The two entities formally announced mutual affiliation of P.A.C.E. (Positive Attitude Changes Everything), a leadership camp for some 35 students attending Huntsville Junior High School.
“Together, we have the answers,” Heart of the Valley CEO Jerry Courtney said at the announcement. “We’re built as conveners.”
Courtney and Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama president Patrick Wynn also outlined six key areas of focus during the partnership between the two organizations: aquatics safety/swim lessons, childcare services, summer camp/outdoor activities, healthy family initiative, P.A.C.E. and “closing the achievement gap.”
The entities also announced positive collaborations between the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Huntsville City Schools in achieving their mission of serving those in need. Courtney said they soon plan to start identifying neighborhoods that need serving in Madison County.
“This partnership will allow our influence to become more prevalent in North Alabama, and create a blueprint for future collaborative efforts,” Wynn stated in a press release handed out at the press conference.
The Heart of the Valley YMCA system, which includes the Hogan Family YMCA in Madison, served 35,204 people in 2014, including over 16,000 youths. Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama currently serves more than 5,000 youths among 10 centers in Madison, Limestone and Jackson counties.
