Cherokee Nation and Tulsa YMCA’s Joint Fitness Initiative

Cherokee Nation Partners with YMCA of Greater Tulsa for Health and Wellness Initiative

The Cherokee Nation, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has recently announced a fruitful partnership with the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. The goal? To create more health and wellness opportunities for Cherokee Nation citizens.

As per the Cherokee Nation’s announcement, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., along with other Cherokee Nation leaders, met with representatives from the YMCA of Greater Tulsa to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. This MOU falls under the Public Health and Wellness Fitness Partners Program, an initiative that has covered up to $175,000 in gym membership fees for citizens of the Cherokee Nation.

With the addition of the YMCA of Greater Tulsa, the Public Health and Wellness Fitness Partners Program now boasts five partners.

Community Collaboration for Wellness

Principal Chief Hoskin highlights the significance of this partnership as an avenue for Cherokee families to focus on their health and well-being. “This initiative demonstrates the power of community collaboration and ensures all our citizens, regardless of location, have access to resources that support their fitness and overall wellness goals,” said Hoskin.

Participating YMCA of Greater Tulsa Locations

The YMCA of Greater Tulsa locations participating in this beneficial program include:

• Owasso Family YMCA
• Tandy Family YMCA
• W.L. Hutcherson Family YMCA
• Daily Family YMCA
• Herman and Kate Kaiser YMCA
• R.C. Dickenson Family YMCA
• Anne and Henry Zarrow YMCA

The YMCA of Greater Tulsa has identified at least 350 Cherokee Nation citizens who are already using their facilities.

“We are so grateful to the Cherokee Nation for the opportunity to serve and provide access,” said YMCA of Greater Tulsa Chief Operations Officer Jeff Heeley. “We’re really proud to be able to offer programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. But we can’t do it without partners, so helping offset the cost and bringing access is what the YMCA gets to do.”

Pilot Program with Other Gyms

Apart from the YMCA of Greater Tulsa, other gyms piloting programs under this initiative include:

• Pryor Creek Recreation Center
• Grand Lake Family YMCA
• The Richard Kane YMCA of Bartlesville
• Muskogee Swim and Fitness Center

Nonprofit gyms in and around the Cherokee Nation interested in the Fitness Partners Program can gather more information by emailing PHWF@cherokee.org.

Joining the YMCA of Greater Tulsa

If you’re a Cherokee Nation citizen interested in joining the YMCA of Greater Tulsa or have any questions, you can visit their website for more details.