Jacksonville, Fla. – Two valued community resources on the First Coast are joining forces to promote health and wellness throughout the community. Shands Jacksonville and the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast have developed, W.A.Y.S., Wellness Alliance of YMCA and Shands Jacksonville.
The W.A.Y.S. program partnership will offer an on-site clinic located at the Claude J. Yates Family YMCA, 221 Riverside Avenue in Jacksonville. Services provided free to YMCA members will include educational seminars by University of Florida physicians and Shands Jacksonville staff, health assessments, health screenings, a health and wellness video and book library, free educational materials and referral resources.
The W.A.Y.S. kick-off event will be held at Yates YMCA on Monday, Nov. 5 from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. and will feature a health fair, free health screenings and light refreshments. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., Shands Jacksonville CEO Bob Norton, YMCA President Trigg Wilkes and City of Jacksonville Council President Matt Carlucci will formally announce the W.A.Y.S. partnership. The kick-off is open to all YMCA members and staff and Shands Jacksonville employees. Also, on Nov. 5, health screenings will be provided at each YMCA location throughout Jacksonville.
“Shands Jacksonville is proud to be a partner with the YMCA in the W.A.Y.S. program. Shands will support W.A.Y.S. through a myriad of clinical, educational and screening services offered to YMCA members at no charge. We look forward to a successful partnership that promotes health and wellness in the community,” Norton said.
“We are proud to announce the W.A.Y.S. partnership with Shands Jacksonville. The University of Florida faculty physicians and Shands health professionals will offer members outstanding care based on renowned expertise in cardiology, neurology, orthopedics and numerous other areas. This will be a substantial member benefit,” Wilkes said.