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How to Become a Member of the YMCA
The YMCA is more than just a gym—it's a leading nonprofit committed to connecting people to their purpose, potential, and each other. The YMCA and wikiHow explains how a membership offers access to welcoming fitness facilities, a range of health and wellness programs, sports programs for kids and adults, licensed childcare services, camp programs, swim lessons, volunteer opportunities, and so much more.
May 9, 2025
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New Water Safety Campaign Will Make You Want To Put Your Phone Down This Summer
Summer will soon be upon us, and with warmer weather and kids finishing up school, many of us are heading to the pool or beach. With that in mind, and May being National Water Safety Month, the YMCA of the USA has launched a new campaign around water safety—and it’s targeted at parents.
April 29, 2025
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How the CDC’s Widespread Layoffs Cut Lifesaving Health Programs
The CDC has laid off hundreds of employees, affecting little known parts of the agency that help keep people alive.
April 5, 2025
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Partnering with the YMCA to Advance Age-Friendly Work
In this episode of Age-Friendly Public Health: The Podcast, host Dr. J Nadine Gracia, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health is joined by Katie Adamson, Vice President for Health Partnerships and Policy at YMCA of the USA to discuss the well-known and subtle ways YMCAs across the country support healthy aging.
April 1, 2025
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With Childcare, a Strategic Investment With Significant Returns
Access to affordable, quality childcare empowers families to plan for their financial future, strengthens businesses and our economy through greater workforce participation, and sets a strong foundation for our children’s development. Yet, the United States faces a persistent childcare crisis that creates barriers to these positive outcomes.
January 6, 2025
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How to Help Your Community: The Ultimate Guide to Volunteering
Volunteering helps you give back in countless different ways, and nowadays it’s easier than ever to get started. According to wikiHow and the Y, you can narrow down your choices by searching for organizations that match your passions and interests, and look for volunteer positions that seem like a good fit for your skills and capabilities.
December 17, 2024
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How to Be Useful and Help Contribute to Society
Regardless of where you live in the world, you’re a part of a society. As members of a society, we all have a responsibility to help others and improve the state of the community and world that we live in. You can do this on both small and large levels. Pay attention to the people around you, and try to find ways to address their needs. According to wikiHow and the Y, you can also do things that will benefit society in the long run, like investing in your education, supporting charities, giving blood, and protecting the environment.
December 13, 2024
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How to Live in Harmony with Others
Living with harmony with others is easier said than done, especially in a world filled with conflict, catastrophes, and differing opinions. You may struggle to feel in sync with people close to you and with society at large. According to wikiHow and the Y, you can start by connecting with friends, family, partners, and neighbors.
December 9, 2024
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Anticipating Turnover
“We build leaders at the Y, whether they stay at the Y or they move on the community. That is one thing near and dear to us, building leaders,” said Tina MacVeigh, executive vice president, chief learning and leadership development officer at the YMCA of the USA.
October 23, 2024
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A National Collaboration to Serve & Unite our Communities
At a time when our national narrative often is dominated by negativity and division, especially in the midst of an election cycle, how can our diverse democracy live up to the ideals of e pluribus unum — out of many, one?
October 23, 2024
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YMCA is Working Hard to Keep Families Fed after Hurricane Helene
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta has stepped in to help feed families and children.
October 9, 2024
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Virtual Diabetes Care Providers Score Legislative Win, Turn Focus to Full Passage
Tucked within bipartisan telehealth legislation that passed out of a House committee in September is the Prevent Diabetes Act, a bill that would expand Medicare coverage for virtual diabetes prevention programs. A cadre of groups under the banner of the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance (DAA) support the legislation, including YMCA of the USA.
October 7, 2024
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Cross Stands at South Carolina Chapel as 'Symbol of Hope' Despite Helene's Damage
President of YMCA of Greenville Sam Franklin and Judy Bauer, who canceled her wedding after the storm, joined 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss the significance of the cross still standing after the catastrophic hurricane.
October 4, 2024
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Henderson To Lead HR at YMCA of the USA
The NonProfit Times reports on YMCA of the USA's new SVP, Human Resources Officer, Darryl K Henderson, J.D.
September 5, 2024
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Ensuring Every Child Learns Lifesaving Water Skills
As summer winds down, Lindsay Mondick, Director of Aquatic Strategy, highlights the importance of water safety and calls for Congress to reinstate funding to the National Drowning Prevention Program.
August 22, 2024
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Nonprofit Mission: Avoiding Burnout
The role of nonprofit CEOs can be rewarding — and immensely challenging. In The Chronicle of Philanthropy survey, nearly two-thirds of nonprofit leaders said the country's polarization regarding politics, race, and culture is making their work more difficult. "I can't think of an issue that isn't affected by an increased polarization in America today," says Suzanne McCormick, president and CEO of ANA member YMCA of the USA. "The environment we're leading in has become more dynamic and often more challenging."
August 12, 2024
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Olympics or Not, Jimmy Wilkins Is Reaching New Heights
Once a pop-culture hallmark of skateboarding, vert ramps — and thus vert skaters — have gone underground, transforming the sport in the process. Before he finished his first year in San Diego, Wilkins...got a job working at the YMCA.
August 6, 2024
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The Programming and Design Behind Four "Wow Factor" YMCAs
With 2,650 YMCA locations serving 11 million community members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, there is naturally one Y’s facility design and programming approach to another. Given how different individual Ys can be, Athletic Business Magazine asked Y-USA to point them in the direction of established locations that exhibit an undeniable “wow factor.”
July 1, 2024
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What the YMCA Taught Me About Community, Civil Society, and Democracy
Interfaith America CEO Eboo Patel writes that his experience growing up with the YMCA helped him see the importance of creating community.
June 18, 2024
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US Drowning Death Rates Have Increased, Reversing Decades of Decline
After decades of decline, accidental drowning rates are rising in the US, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported. With Americans getting ready to hit swimming pools and beaches on Memorial Day weekend, a new study shows that many lack the skills they need to stay safe in the water.
May 14, 2024
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Here are Some of the Best Summer Jobs for Teens and the Pay
Teens around the country will soon be finishing school for the year and looking for ways they can pass their time during the summer. Camp counselor and lifeguard have made the list for potential summer jobs, both of which can be found at your local YMCA.
May 12, 2024
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2024 YMCA Masters Meet and National Diving Championships
The 2024 YMCA National Diving Championships and YMCA National Masters Meet took place May 9-12 at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatics Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
May 11, 2024
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YMCA Healthy Kids Day with Heidi Brasher
The YMCA is hosting its annual Healthy Kids Day to meet a serious national need for children and families. Heidi Brasher of the YMCA explains Healthy Kids Day 2024 and highlights some of the local events that celebrate kids’ mental and physical health, while teaching healthy habits for kids and families.
April 16, 2024
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Catholic Charities, Three Other Major Nonprofits 'Team Up' to Counter Polarization in US
For the Team Up Project, a new initiative to foster service and human connection, Catholic Charities partnered with Habitat for Humanity International, Interfaith America and YMCA of the USA.
March 6, 2024
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One Thing Congress Can Do to Help Working Families Today | Opinion
American children and families are at a crossroads, and without congressional action, access to child care will be in critical jeopardy across the country. In this opinion piece, YMCA of the USA President and CEO, Suzanne McCormick, encourages Congress to support the president's request of $16 billion in critical emergency funding to assist struggling childcare providers.
November 2, 2023
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Building a Pipeline
When the pandemic finally seeped out of our everyday lives and allowed us to get back to our routines, it left some things in its wake, including staffing challenges, which are still being felt across many industries. With health concerns lingering, Ys had one consistent advantage: a community-based culture. Many employees who had worked for a Y wanted to return to their ‘work family.’
November 2, 2023
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Making Safety a Youth Sports Priority
As groups get proactive on safety measures, participation rates are rising.
September 26, 2023
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Swimming while Black
Four experts discuss the racial disparities that affect swimming in America and DeMarco Morgan reveals his personal journey with learning to swim.
September 19, 2023
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It’s Fun to Study the YMCA
Springfield College students can minor in YMCA studies, one of the few programs in the country that prepares graduates for working at a specific organization.
September 11, 2023
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The Inside Story: The Price of Learning
It's back to school season in much of the northern hemisphere. What does it cost to get an education and is it even worth it?
Voice of America (segment starts at 5:00)
September 10, 2023
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Four Mindsets for Funding Economic Mobility in the Black Rural South
“You can’t get to economic mobility until you change the environment the boys are in,” explains Michael DeVaul, national executive director for the YMCA’s Boys and Young Men of Color, or BYMOC, strategy, speaking about the Black rural South. “Those environments should be aimed at elevating conversations about why shared values and culture are important. A great environment should nurture identity development, cultivate civic-engagement skills, and provide academic opportunities for BYMOC to practice and translate skills into careers beyond high school.”
August 24, 2023
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Champions of equality: Always push forward
As part of the US Open’s celebration of 50 years of equal prize money for men and women, USOpen.org is featuring a series of essays from successful women in a variety of fields, each offering personal perspectives on the importance of equality as well as individual insights into the challenges they’ve overcome in their respective career journeys. In this installment, Suzanne McCormick, president and CEO of the YMCA of the USA, addresses the critical importance of self-belief and self-motivation in defining your future.
August 16, 2023
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As Schools Turn to Tech for Mental Health Support, the Best Solution Might Be More Analog
A mention of the YMCA might conjure the echo of sneakers squeaking on a basketball court, but the network of nonprofit community centers has turned its attention to supporting youth mental health, too.
August 9, 2023
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Forbes 50 Over 50: 2023
In 2021, at 54, Suzanne McCormick became the first woman to lead YMCA USA. She oversees one of the largest charities in the nation: YMCA has $7.4 billion in revenue and more than 2,500 locations.
August 1, 2023
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Summer Camp Gains Importance for Kids who Survived a Pandemic
Kids' camp these days isn't just s'mores and swimming. It's multiplication tables and reading comprehension.
July 16, 2023
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BIPOC Kids at Disadvantage When It Comes to Swimming, Here's How to Change That
Summertime calls for time spent by the water, but it's important to keep everyone safe. The USA Swimming Foundation conducted a national study and found that BIPOC kids were at a disadvantage when it came to swimming. Here's how to help curb that, per a swimming pro.
July 14, 2023
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A Home for Wellness
Many of us have the best intentions when it comes to exercising more and making that part of our regular routine. But with tight schedules and full plates, the path from good intentions to actually breaking a sweat can be fraught with distractions.
January 6, 2023
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5 Lifelong Fitness Tips From a 96-Year-Old Swimmer Who Continues To Win Gold Medals
Judy Young is a force to be reckoned with in the pool. Just this year, she won seven first-place medals and set six age-group records in the seven events she competed in, including the 50-, 100- and 200-yard backstroke, and the 50-, 100-, 200-, and 500-yard freestyle.
December 9, 2022
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How YMCA’s Stacey McDaniel Is Helping To Address The Growing Challenge Of Food Insecurity
In many parts of the United States, there is a crisis of people having limited reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. As prices rise, this problem will likely become more acute. How can this problem be solved? Who are the leaders helping to address this crisis?
September 20, 2022
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Staying 'Water Wise' this Summer
The YMCA has created a water safety program for children with Autism spectrum disorder.
August 17, 2022
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An 18-Year-Old Lifeguard Helped Deliver a Baby on a YMCA Pool Deck
“You can’t really hesitate or wait for someone else to come,” said Natalie Lucas, 18. "You’re the lifeguard; you’re the lifesaver.”
August 1, 2022
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National Lifeguard Shortage Forces Pool Closures Across US
A national lifeguard shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing pools across the US to limit hours, reduce programs, or shut down entirely.
July 9, 2022
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Summer Staff Slump
Lack of Lifeguards: Up to one-third of the nation's public pools will not open this season due to the labor shortage.
June 17, 2022
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Not Enough Lifeguards
An ongoing issue is sparking creativity and experimentation in higher pay, training incentives, and new hiring practices.
April 1, 2022
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Nonprofits Struggling to Hire Staff Amid Labor Shortage
As the U.S. continues to face a labor shortage, nonprofits like the Y are struggling to continue to run programs and meet their communities' needs.
November 10, 2021
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Breaking Cycles: CEO Loria Yeadon Learns to Swim and So Can You
YMCA of Greater Seattle CEO Loria Yeadon was determined to swim when she came to the Y. Learn how the Y works to ensure all children and families can stay safe around water.
September 18, 2021
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Americans Over Age 57 Surveyed Feel They're More Independent Than Ever Because of Pandemic
Older Americans who plan to be vaccinated look forward to taking care of loved ones, returning to health clubs/community centers and attending social gatherings.
April 30, 2021
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Summer Camps Struggle to Stay Afloat During the Pandemic
While some camps have been forced to close, TODAY looks at why summer camps are so important to families and how donations may help them through COVID-19.
April 21, 2021
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What You Need to Know About Summer Camps this Year
As COVID continues to make headlines, many parents have questions about the safety of summer camp. Y-USA's COO Paul McEntire talks about how YMCAs across the country are working to keep kids safe this summer.
April 15, 2021
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Many YMCAs Have been Partially Reinvented by the Pandemic
Nonprofit Sector News highlights the work of the Y to support communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 19, 2021