Look no further! Join YPO members on June 30th from noon to 1pm at the Heartland Partnership (located at 100 SW Water St., Peoria, IL 61602) for YPO's Community Connection's Get Connected.

Get Connected will feature Beth Gilbert, Development Director of the Greater Peoria Family YMCA and Tracy Graham, Executive Director of Crittenton Centers. For the past 160 years the Greater Peoria Family YMCA has been a community based service organization dedicated to building the mind, body and spirit for members of the Peoria area community. By offering value-based programs emphasizing education, health and recreation for individuals regardless of sex, race or socio-economic status the YMCA hopes to increase the quality of Peoria. Beth Gilbert will be discussing the numerous ways to get involved with the Greater Peoria Family YMCA.

Crittenton Centers has been serving Peoria and all of central Illinois since 1892. Originally conceived as a maternity home for unwed mothers, the agency has evolved into a multi-service, million dollar not-for-profit (501c3) child welfare organization. They serve a diverse population of children, adolescents, young adults and parents. The mission is to nurture and protect children through early childhood programs and programs to prevent child abuse and neglect. Their core programs are Crisis Nursery, Child Development Center and Family Services. They primarily serve the tri-county area of Peoria , Tazewell and Woodford Counties .

There is extensive volunteer participation within the agency. Volunteers assist with a large variety of projects and needs such as: serving on special events committees, working with the children/infants in the Crisis Nursery or Child Development Center , one time group projects (cleaning, landscaping, etc.), receptionist related tasks, marketing/communications projects, etc. Some of the volunteers are regular, ongoing volunteers and some may assist one time. One staff member is devoted to volunteers and special events to manage our program. Tracy Graham will be describing some upcoming volunteer opportunities at Crittenton Centers.