With $1.5 Million Donation From Bayer, Gateway Region YMCA Marks Expansion, Renovation and Renaming of Its North St. Louis, Mo. Facility With Groundbreaking Ceremony

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A groundbreaking and dedication ceremony held in St. Louis signaled the start of $2.5 million in renovations for the newly renamed Bayer YMCA. Construction on the facility, formerly known as the Monsanto YMCA, is being supported with a $1.5 million grant from Bayer and an anonymous donor gift of $1 million.

When completed, the Bayer YMCA, located in the North St. Louis area of the city, will include an expanded Early Childhood Education Center, expanded health and wellness services, the addition of a new STEM & Teen Technology Center and community kitchen.

"As a continuation of our longstanding partnership with Bayer, we are thrilled to begin what are substantial upgrades planned with the mindset of addressing some of the most critical challenges facing north city," said Tim Helm, president and CEO of the Gateway Region YMCA. "Bayer continues to play a leading role in making a positive difference in the St. Louis region. We are so grateful for Bayer's ongoing support and generosity in working with the Y to provide programs and services in response to the needs of the community."

The Bayer YMCA has a historic past. After several attempts, it was founded in 1912 as the Afro-American Young Men's Christian Home Association. In 1964, it's Junior Kindergarten program, which was initiated as part of the White House's program on early education, became a model for the national Head Start program.

"This YMCA branch is a beacon for the North St. Louis community. Over the years, it has provided much needed services to combat violence, health disparities and develop educational opportunities outside of the classroom," said Al Mitchell, Vice President of Corporate Engagement for Bayer. "Bayer believes health and education are great equalizers for the obstacles many families may face. Our hope is that this investment will continue the great work this branch has demonstrated since our initial commitment in 1981."

Specifically, the Bayer YMCA renovations will include the following:

• Expanded Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC). Youth of all ages continue to struggle to find safe, constructive places in the community. The ECEC, after-school activities, and improved summer camp programs will provide more opportunities and exposure to STEM activities in a safe and nurturing environment.
• Expanded health and wellness services. According to the CDC, the national median prevalence of individuals diagnosed with diabetes is 10 percent, for St. Louis, the number is slightly higher at 13.5 percent. An expanded fitness area and new fitness programs will allow more individuals to take part in the Y's Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Diabetes Prevention and other chronic disease prevention programs to meet growing community needs.
• New Bayer STEM & Technology Center. A state-of-the-art technology center that will be able to offer a variety of STEM activities, including robotics and coding classes, STEM camps and family STEM nights. This addition will also allow for increased enrollment in the Learning Labs program, which allow students who are underperforming in reading or math to improve.
• New STEM Focused Community Kitchen. According to the CDC, rates for overweight and obese residents over age 16 in the City of St. Louis is 61 percent. A modernized STEM Focused Community Kitchen and expanded community garden will provide more education and food outreach in a community recognized as a "food desert" and in need of healthy eating resources.
• New family changing room. These facilities will provide a safe and constructive environment for families with young children, and ensure the Y continues to be a place for all.

Today's announcement is the first of four significant announcements planned by the Gateway Region YMCA in the coming months. During 2019, Bayer and Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of the company, has awarded over $16 million to various non-profit organizations within the St. Louis region.

About the Gateway Region YMCA

The Gateway Region Y is a nonprofit organization, featuring 24 traditional Y branches in Missouri and Illinois, along with the Campus Y student leadership facility at Washington University, and the Community Development YMCA. This also includes YMCA Camp Lakewood and Trout Lodge in Potosi, Missouri. The Carondelet Park Rec Complex and O'Fallon Park Rec Complex are owned by the City of St. Louis and operated by the Y. The Y is committed to serving people of all abilities. For those who qualify, the Y offers financial assistance, so everyone has the opportunity to participate in Y programs, regardless of ability to pay. The Y is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. 

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2018, the Group employed around 117,800 people and had sales of 39.6 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.6 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

SOURCE Bayer

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