Greater Philadelphia YMCA

Each year at the NJ Wine & Food Classic, we take time to honor a member of the community who is dedicating time and energy to improving the area through volunteer work and philanthropic efforts. This year we are excited to celebrate Rob Worley, South Jersey Banker & YMCA Board Chair Emeritus! Click the link below to read more about Rob and his work in our area and to purchase tickets for this year's event.

Thank you to Amazon and their local fulfillment center for donating $15,000 as well as sports equipment and learning supplies to support the 3,600 youth in sports, arts, and child care programs at the Christian Street YMCA! “We are excited to partner with Amazon to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children, here at the Christian Street Y. As a health organization, we’ve seen that how you fare in school has a lot to do with how you will fare over your lifetime. Amazon’s investment here will go a long way.” - Shaun Elliott, Greater Philadelphia YMCA President & CEO We're also extending our thanks to City Ciuncil President Kenyatta Johnson for his constant support of our initiatives and for pledging an additional $5,000 as well.

Staff at our Camden, Christian Street, Columbia North, and West Philadelphia YMCAs are now trained Days for Girls International Ambassadors! Through this program, our team becomes community partners who are equipped with educational resources and physical supplies to support women throughout the region. Days for Girls is on a mission to increase access to menstrual supplies, shatter stigma through education, elevate menstrual health, and advocate for policy change.

Last week we welcomed 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist and USA Artistic Swim Team member, Megumi Field, to the Phoenixville YMCA for a Q&A and mini-clinic! 🥈🤩 Thank you, Megumi, for sharing your insights and words of wisdom with our young swimmers! Megumi began her Artistic Swimming career at the Phoenixville Y at age 5 before winning 2 medals at the Pan American Games in 2023, competing in the World Championships for 3 consecutive years, and winning 3 silver medals at the Junior Pan American Games in 2021. 👏

At the heart of our mission lies a commitment to connecting people to healthier lives. As we get ready for the Gobble Wobble 5k, one of our largest fundraisers of the year, our team is working hard to improve the overall event experience while bringing people together at four race sites in the Philadelphia area. Our Director of Digital Platforms, Vaughn Lawrence, has spearheaded initiatives that have taken this event experience to the next level using the wide array of offerings from RunSignup. Click the link below read how the Y is leveraging RunSignUp to create a world-class race experience.

For people to be successful, they need three things: training, support, and resources. It’s true in our businesses, and it’s true for every child in our communities. That’s why we’re so proud of the way our city branches partnered with other civic groups over the past 2 weeks to give kids a jump on the school year. From school supplies, to haircuts & manicures, to instruction on how to eat healthier and manage stress, our city branches came together to give kids the right start this Back to School season. Thank you to all the corporate sponsors and local groups who made this possible.

We're thrilled to congratulate Jonas Floyd for his recent promotion to Associate Executive Director at our Pottstown YMCA! Jonas has worked at the Y for almost 13 years; beginning as a camp counselor at the Columbia North Y and most recently serving as Sr. Director of Branch Operations at our Pottstown branch. We are so excited to welcome him into his new role leading the Pottstown Y community!

Today we welcomed Lt. Governor, Austin Davis, and local leaders for a roundtable discussion about the bipartisan state budget and its effects on child care costs and access, as well as the impact on working parents throughout the region. The Lt. Governor made time to stop by the Roxborough YMCA Early Learning Center to meet the students and see the hard work of our child care team. Thank you to our board members, partners, neighbors, and leaders for sharing your insight, including Greater Philadelphia YMCA CEO, Shaun Elliott, Independence Blue Cross President & CEO, Greg Deavens, William Penn Foundation Chair Emerita and ELIC Honorary Co-Chair, Dr. Janet Haas, and Schweiger Dermatology Group Chief Legal & Compliance Office and ELIC member, Kate Woods.

We’re incredibly proud to share that Cole Speilman, Joshua Bennett, and Caitlyn McKelvy from our Upper Perk YMCA have been honored by the American Red Cross for their heroic actions in saving a life. Their quick response and training made all the difference. Their bravery and commitment to our community exemplify the best of what we stand for. Congratulations to Cole, Joshua, and Caitlyn for this well-deserved recognition and for your lifesaving efforts!

We're welcoming Nicole Flynn as the new Executive Director at our Northeast Family Y! Nicole has been with the Y in a variety of roles and locations for over 17 years! She held positions at the Hatboro, Abington, and Willow Grove YMCAs before becoming the Association Director of Day Camp.