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Weight loss challenge kicks off Cup
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
When the Central YMCA was thinking of adding its Boardman facility a few years ago, a study of its members revealed three programs that drive renewals: Camp Fitch, youth sports leagues and the annual Community Cup competition.
Now in its 24th year, this year’s Cup theme is “Work Together, Succeed Together.” While the ceremonies won’t officially start until Aug. 9, its annual weight loss competition will get the corporate athletic challenge started on May 6.
“This is the fifth year for our weight loss program and while 50 teams of six competed last year, we’re expecting even more participants this year,” said Community Cup director Jennifer Quinlan. “Humility of Mary Health Partners enrolled 20 teams last year alone and while we do lose a few teams over the course of a year, we also expect to gain a few as well.”
Seventeen events are planned this year along with an opening night pep rally.
“The last year we had a pep rally was 1997 so we want to get back to kicking everything off with plenty of spirit while getting the community involved that opening night,” said Quinlan, who has worked with the Cup for 10 years, including six as director. “I am anxiously awaiting opening ceremonies.”
YMCA chief executive officer Tim Hilk said team captains are a key to the Cup’s success.
“The Community Cup is about creating community and companies and captains are the key,” said Hilk, a former YSU swimmer. “Employees like Jennifer [Quinlan] and Tom Grantonic are great at motivating their captains. This community wants networking and neighborhoods in their life — a sense of community, a sense of belonging and a sense of friendship which remains so very unique and important to all of us here in the Mahoning Valley.”
Other opening-day ceremonies include a torch lighting, kickoff ceremony and banner competition. A bocce competition will take place the following day at Cassese’s MVR.
The competition will then take two weeks off, resuming Aug. 23 with basketball and swimming. On August 24, a morning golf scramble and afternoon bowling competition are scheduled. On Aug. 25, the Central YMCA’s community and upper gyms will host its annual volleyball competition.
The competition will close on Sept. 7 with a 10K relay, time prediction walk, time prediction bike, obstacle course and tug-of-war.
“We started this because we saw other Y’s in our region doing a similar competition,” said Central YMCA director Mike Shaffer. “It’s also a great way for the YMCA to network and for corporations, it’s a three-month wellness program. Because of the Community Cup we’ve seen companies develop a permanent company wellness program that has had a long standing impact on their employees’ wellness.”
The Cup has three divisions — red, white and blue — that are based on company size and past performance.
Last year, Humility of Mary Health Partners won the red division for the second consecutive year. Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield captured the white division for the second time in three years while Farmers National Bank won its initial blue division competition.