"The whole point is to show the fun involved in being active," Y Executive Director John Kind says. "Get kids hooked on being active, good health is bound to follow."

So from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, the Y is opening its doors and encouraging families to show up for good times that include The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, The Minnesota Sea Life Aquarium (formerly Underwater Adventures at the Mall of America), Greater Mankato Bike & Walk Advocates and all the great features of the Y. 

"Hopefully we'll be introducing some families to what the Y has to offer, and they'll make a choice to get involved in programs that encourage healthy youth," Kind says.

Healthy Kids Day is a national Y event that focuses on the importance of activity in a child's life. With childhood obesity at epidemic levels, the Y is taking more and more steps to get families to be active -- for fun and for good health.

The local celebration includes a healthy lunch amid all the fun and games. Cost is $6 per family for members, $11 per family for non-members. For a complete list of activities and times, visit the Healthy Kids Day page on the Y's Web site.

Pennies from Penney's add up in April

What does this mean to you? A reason to go clothes-shopping crazy.  

Here are the basics: From April 13 to April 26, customers paying for their merchandise at the JCPenney store in the River Hills Mall will be asked to round up their purchase to the next whole dollar amount. The change that would otherwise go to the customer would instead go toward scholarships for the Y's After School Adventures program.

So we're encouraging friends of the Y to patronize JCPenney during that time period and say yes to rounding up. The money will be used to provide access to ASA, the Y's signature after-school program that engages kids in arts, sports, crafts, field trips and more.

Angie's pops Charter for 35+ Championship

Congratulations to Angie's Kettlecorn's 35+ basketball team, which defeated Charter in the March 30^th showdown at the Y.  

Enjoying bragging rights for the next year are: Captain Scot Johnson, Travis Helling, John Beaty, Mike Melvin, Ryan Ellwein, Brian Eroa, Craig Frericks, Dave Ahlstrom, Sean McClinton and Matt Johnson.

Look for complete league standings here.

The Brother/Sister program receives two gifts from friends in finance

Cheryl Hamond, Brady Smith and Y Executive Director John Kind 

You could say the Brother/Sister program received a huge tax break this year thanks to H & R Block.

For the past several months, the local H & R Block office, owned by Valerie Smith, set aside $5 from each paid tax return and earmarked the money for the Y's Brother/Sister program. Recently, the office presented Program Coordinator Cheryl Hamond and Executive Director John Kind with a check for $1,200.

"It's because of what Brother Sister does for kids," says Brady Smith, Valerie's son and office development leader for the firm.  "Some kids might not have an older brother or sister in their life. This program gives them the opportunity to have that kind of friend, that kind of relationship."

Brent Pattison, a mentor with Brother/Sister and a financial manager with Northwestern Mutual, received honors from the company for achieving the most volunteer hours.  

Those honors translated into a $1,200 donation to the Y from the company.  

"I want to have impact in my community," says Pattison, a 23-year-old mentor with the Brother/Sister program.  

His volunteering consists of having great times with his 7-year-old pal Patrick. to hear Pattison describes it, the job doesn't sound all that job-like - he gets a charge being with Patrick regardless of whether it's walking dogs or taking in a Viking's pre-season game.

"I'll never forget the look on his face when he got his foam finger," Pattison recalls. "He slept with it for seven nights. I'm thinking a novelty item brings that much joy to a 7-year-old.  

"It's been a great experience."

Brent Pattison and Patrick