Media Coverage

  • Don’t Scroll, Stay Safe: Summer Water Safety Tips Every Parent Needs

    If you’ve ever assumed that being near your child at the pool meant they were safe, this episode might just change the way you see water forever. Lindsay Mondick, Director of Aquatic Safety for the YMCA of the USA and a lifelong advocate for drowning prevention joins Dr. Mona on the Peds Doc Talk Podcast. They talk about what drowning really looks like (spoiler: it’s not like the movies), why so many tragic incidents happen with adults present, and how something as simple as putting your phone down can be the difference between life and death.

    The Peds Doc Talk

    July 9, 2025

  • 13 Pool and Water Safety Tips for the Summer

    Follow these water safety tips as you enjoy a cool swim in pools, creeks, lakes and other bodies of water this summer. From wearing the right color swimsuit to being aware of currents, these simple steps can help prevent water accidents and injuries.

    US News & World Report

    June 23, 2025

  • The Latest Reason to Send a Teen to Summer Camp? No Cellphones.

    Amid the screen-saturated landscape of modern childhood — in which 95 percent of American teens own or have access to a cellphone and nearly half say they are online “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center — opportunities to truly unplug from the digital realm can feel both scarce and sacred. One significant exception: summer camp, where screen-free policies are increasingly common and, in the case of overnight camps, apply around the clock for weeks or longer. 

    The Washington Post

    June 21, 2025

  • The Power of Play

    Did you know the YMCA actually invented basketball, volleyball, and racquetball? Today, the Y is still leading the way in youth sports and the many benefits that come with it. 

    Daytime

    June 18, 2025

  • Practicing Water Safety at Every Age

    Teaching your kids about water safety at a young age (and reinforcing it as they grow) helps prevent drowning and water-related incidents. Whether you’re heading to the lake, the pool, the beach, or even the bathtub, we’ve rounded up tips for teaching kids about water safety.

    PBS Kids

    May 28, 2025

  • Phones Down, Eyes Up with YMCA of the USA

    Responding to a text, answering an email, listening to a podcast, or making a grocery list—these tasks may seem quick and harmless, but those few seconds of distraction can add up. And distractions around water can lead to serious, even fatal, consequences. YMCA of the USA's Director of Aquatics Strategy, Lindsay Mondick, discusses the new PSA that urges parents and caregivers to take part in "Phones Down, Eyes Up," this summer.

    Coffee With America

    May 22, 2025

  • 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.

    wikiHow

    May 9, 2025

  • 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.

    DC Journal

    January 6, 2025

  • 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. 

    wikiHow

    December 17, 2024

  • 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.

    wikiHow

    December 13, 2024

  • 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.

    wikiHow

    December 9, 2024

  • 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.

    The NonProfit Times

    October 23, 2024

  • 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."

    ANA Magazine

    August 12, 2024

  • 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.”

    Athletic Business

    July 1, 2024

  • 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.

    CNN

    May 14, 2024

  • 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.

    Coffee with America

    April 16, 2024

  • 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.

    Newsweek

    November 2, 2023

  • 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.’

    Recreation Management

    November 2, 2023

  • 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.

    Good Morning America

    September 19, 2023

  • 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.

    Inside Higher Ed

    September 11, 2023

  • 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.”

    The Bridgespan Group

    August 24, 2023

  • 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.

    USOpen.org

    August 16, 2023

  • 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.

    Forbes

    August 1, 2023

  • 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. 

    Recreation Management

    January 6, 2023