Greater Philadelphia Young Mens Christian Association

TO TRANSLATE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE YMCA'S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE INTO PROGRAMS THAT NURTURE CHILDREN, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOP HEALTHY SPIRITS, MINDS AND BODIES FOR ALL.

HEALTHY LIVING: GREATER PHILADELPHIA YMCA IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA, INCLUDING BURLINGTON AND CAMDEN COUNTIES IN NJ. WE BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH, AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. WE PROVIDES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO REACH ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, SUCH AS: LIVESTRONG TO PROVIDE PHYSICAL AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO CANCER SURVIVORS WITH A 12-WEEK PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET; SAFETY AROUND WATER, DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN AND ADULTS LEARN WATER SAFETY TO PREVENT ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 12; AND FIT360, A COMBINATION OF BASIC PRINCIPLES OF EXERCISE, POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND MIND FULLNESS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS TO ESTABLISH HEALTHIER PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL HABITS.

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 1,500 0-5 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN EACH DAY. THE YMCA OFFERS STATE-CERTIFIED AND KEYSTONE STAR-RANKED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AT OVER 90 LOCATIONS. SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS SERVE MORE THAN 5,000 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. 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. YMCA OFFERS COLLEGE READINESS, CAREER READINESS, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS MODEL UN, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME & Y-ACHIEVERS. THE LATTER IS AN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT/CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE PURPOSED TO HELP YOUTH SET AND PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS AND IMPACTS MORE THAN 1,000 TEENAGERS EACH YEAR. 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.