Greater Philadelphia Young Mens Christian Association

THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA YMCA WORKS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO HEALTHIER LIVES THROUGH THREE AREAS OF FOCUS: HEALTHY LIVING, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

HEALTHY LIVING: GREATER PHILADELPHIA YMCA IS ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING NONPROFITS STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THROUGHOUT THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA REGION, WE SERVE MORE THAN 180,000 MEMBERS AND 240,000 INDIVIDUALS A YEAR- REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME, OR BACKGROUND. OUR MISSION IS ALL ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE TO HEALTHIER LIVES - IN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. WHILE OUR PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES ARE ALWAYS BASED ON THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, EVERY GREATER PHILADELPHIA Y LOCATION HAS ONE THING IN COMMON: OUR PEOPLE. THE VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, MEMBERS AND DONORS OF THE Y ARE ALL UNITED BY A DEEP COMMITMENT TO BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND BEING A PLACE WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME. WITH THE HELP OF GENEROUS DONORS, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE THAN $6M IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ENABLING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO GET HEALTHY AND PROVIDE SAFE, TRUSTED CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE VALUES THAT DEFINE THE Y ARE CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. THE YMCA HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, BETTER HEALTH, AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. YMCA PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUMMER CAMP, OVERNIGHT CAMP, BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT, 7TH GRADE MEMBERSHIP INITIATIVE AND YOUTH SPORTS OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. AS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF CHILDCARE SERVICES IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, THE YMCA CARES FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,000 0-5 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN EACH DAY. THE YMCA OFFERS STATE-CERTIFIED AND KEYSTONE STAR-RANKED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AT OVER 115 LOCATIONS. SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS SERVE MORE THAN 6,100 CHILDREN, NEARLY 2,200 OF THEM RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND. FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS, THERE IS DRAGONFLY FOREST, A SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, 22Q, ASTHMA, HEMOPHILIA AND SICKLE CELL DISEASE TAKING PLACE EACH SUMMER AT THE YMCA OWNED CAMP SPEERS. THE 7TH GRADE MEMBERSHIP INITIATIVE GUARANTEES EVERY 7TH GRADE STUDENT A FREE ONE-YEAR MEMBERSHIP AT ANY GREATER PHILADELPHIA YMCA BRANCH. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS THE YMCA THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE, CULTIVATE AND CONNECT WITH YOUTH FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES LIVING IN UNDERSERVED AREAS AT A TIME THAT IS MOST CRUCIAL TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT. OVER 5,000 FREE MEMBERSHIPS TO 7TH GRADERS ARE AWARDED EACH YEAR. MOST RECENTLY, YMCA CREATED A TEEN TECHNOLOGY CENTER AT ITS COLUMBIA NORTH BRANCH.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA YMCA IS COMMITTED TO EQUITY AND JUSTICE. WE STRIVE TO ACHIEVE EQUAL ACCESS, RESOLVE INEQUITIES, AND REMOVE INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS THAT LIMIT THE ABILITY OF ALL PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE YMCA EMBRACES AND CHAMPIONS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THROUGH MEMBER ENGAGEMENT, EMPLOYEE RESOURCE NETWORKS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS. WE ACTIVELY INCORPORATE DIVERSITY INTO THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND GROWTH OF OUR YMCA. WE OFFER COLLEGE READINESS, CAREER READINESS, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS MODEL UN, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME, YOUTH & GOVERNMENT AND Y-ACHIEVERS. THE LATTER IS AN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT/CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE PURPOSED TO HELP YOUTH SET AND PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS. THE GOAL IS TO OFFER SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES TO BRIDGE THE TECHNOLOGICAL DIVIDE THAT STILL PERVADES OUR COMMUNITIES ALONG SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND RACIAL LINES AND TO CREATE A WELL-TRAINED AND TECH SAVVY WORKFORCE.