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The YMCA is strengthening the foundation of community with support from donors like you.
As a leading non-profit organization, the YMCA serves Reading & Berks County by building healthier families, empowering youth, and fostering inclusive communities. At the Y we ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income, or background has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, regardless of ability to pay. We work hard each day to make a difference in the lives of those in our community through programs that impact our local youth, families, and older adults.
When you give to the Y, you support critical programs and services for young people, adults and families who need them the most.
As the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities, the Y relies on the support of neighbors like you to enable us to fulfill our commitments. From ensuring that kids receive homework help through our afterschool program to teaching people life skills in programs such as water safety, transitional and permanent housing, and more, your contributions allow everyone to access the resources and support they need.
BE THE CHANGE
The Annual Giving Campaign ensures that everyone has equal access to the resources and tools they need to thrive.
In the Greater Reading & Berks County, the Y has five wellness facilities, two early learning centers for ages 0-5, school-age programs, summer camp, and playground programs, and hundreds of programs to empower youth. We build healthier families and foster inclusive communities. Our mission of serving as a cause-driven organization for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility drives these programs. Together, we strive to create a stronger community. Your donation helps ensure everyone– regardless of age, income or background– has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
MISSION MOMENTS
YOUR SUCCESSES
ARE OUR
WHY
We thrive by inspiring, empowering and motivating positive changes in our community. For the betterment of our community and everyone in it, you are our why. The personal victories of our members are our biggest inspiration.
Mission Moments are stories that exemplify the Y mission and have powerful underlying messages of hope, grit, determination, hard work, connection, and positive mindset.
At the Y, John George found purpose, belonging, and a new life.
“The members that come in, staff members and our clients in the SRO. It’s rewarding to me when I can provide guidance for others in recovery. When someone knows where I was and where I am now, it makes me feel good. The way I am going about myself now shows other people coming into the programs that things can be done if you put the effort into it.”
At the Y, Tanieya found her wings.
“The Y helped me grow and brought me out of my shell. I learned how to take care of me and my child and how to be self-sufficient. I learned a lot.”
At the Y, Jeff found small steps make a big difference.
[With his condition reaching toward the floor is too painful.] “One morning in my bedroom I knocked something down and I subconsciously bent down and picked it up and stood up – and I was like ‘What did I just do?!”
At the Y, Veyyes found a promising path forward.
“The Y gave me hope. I was feeling a little bit hopeless and I had no direction really and the Y just kind of gave me hope.”