RIVER CROSSING YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

AT THE Y, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY IS OUR PURPOSE. THE YMCA FOSTERS HEALTHY LIVING, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS PART OF OUR MISSION TO NOT ONLY OFFER THE COMMUNITY A PATH TO THESE GOALS BUT TO DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. OUR ASSOCIATION ENABLES US TO OFFER A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING AND MISSION DRIVEN WORK BENEFITTING THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. WE BRING VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS TOGETHER UNDER ONE PHILANTHROPIC UMBRELLA ALLOWING US TO INCREASE OUR RESOURCES WHILE FOCUSING ON THE EXPRESS NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY.OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN WELLNESS MEMBERSHIPS, AND MUCH-NEEDED CHILD CARE AND CAMP. THE GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITY ARE WHAT MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. WE SERVE OVER 100,000 MEMBERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AT 11 BRANCHES, 12 CHILD CARE CENTERS, 20 SUMMER CAMP LOCATIONS AND 44 SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE OVER $12MM OF COMMUNITY IMPACT ANNUALLY IN THE FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED AS WELL AS FREE PROGRAMMING FOR VETERANS, CANCER SURVIVORS, OLDER ADULTS AND MOREWE OFFER CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. WITH A FOCUS ON NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN, IMPROVING THE NATION'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK AND SUPPORT NEIGHBORS, THE Y ENABLES YOUTH TO BE HEALTHY, CONFIDENT, CONNECTED AND SECURE. WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SPACE, QUALITY LEARNING MATERIALS AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS FOR PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD IS ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING, BUT MANY CHILDREN FAMILIES, AND ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE AND HEALTHY FOOD. AT RIVER CROSSING YMCA, WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES AND ENSURING THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE NOURISHMENT THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. IN 2025, WE PROVIDE OVER 300,000 FREE MEALS AND SNACKS TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THE Y'S LIFE AFTER 21 PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ABILITIES FOCUSED ACTIVITIES THAT EMPOWER THEM TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND FORM MORE MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS AS THEY TAKE IMPORTANT STEPS TOWARD GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY.THE Y HAS BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITIES' MOST CRITICAL NEEDS FOR DECADES. WHETHER DEVELOPING SKILLS OR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, WELCOMING AND CONNECTING DIVERSE POPULATIONS OR ADVOCATING FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES, THE Y FOSTERS THE CARE AND RESPECT ALL PEOPLE NEED AND DESERVE. THROUGH THE Y, THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, LEADERS AND PARTNERS ARE EMPOWERING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE, TO BE HEALTHY, CONFIDENT, CONNECTED AND SECURE. THE Y IS PROUD TO HAVE COLLABORATIONS AND INFORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE MOVE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES FORWARD. THE Y HAS RESPONDED TO SOCIETY'S MOST PRESSING NEEDS BY DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE, COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS AND UNITING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND WORK FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE. THE Y'S ALLENTOWN WARMING STATION PROVIDES OVERNIGHT BEDS, WARM MEALS, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE TO UNHOUSED ADULTS DURING THE COLD MONTHS. THE WARMING STATION PROVIDES A LIFELINE FOR THOSE FACING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. EVERY YEAR, RIVER CROSSING YMCA IMPACTS THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO RELY ON THE Y FOR CRUCIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS, YMCA PATHWAY AND COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS OPEN OUR DOORS AT NO CHARGE TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED US THE MOST. FOR THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THIS MEANS BUILDING NEW SKILLS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AND CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING. FREE 7TH GRADE INITIATIVE PROVIDES 7TH GRADERS WITH A 12-MONTH MEMBERSHIP TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY HABITS AT A TIME WHEN YOUTH ARE EXPERIENCING MORE INDEPENDENCE. "SAFETY AROUND WATER" TEACHES LIFE-SAVING SAFETY AROUND WATER SKILLS TO CHILDREN AGES THREE TO FIVE YEARS OLD. EMPOWER U STRENGTHENS SELF-ESTEEM, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND OVERALL HEALTH OF TEEN GIRLS IN GRADES 7-10. YMCA PATHWAY AND COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS ALSO CHANGE THE LIVES OF ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFFER WELLNESS AND BELONGING TO THOSE RECOVERING FROM A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS. HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOCUSES ON ANYONE CONCERNED WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS HYPERTENSION, OBESITY, OR HEART DISEASE. THRIVE CANCER WELLNESS SUPPORTS CANCER SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH A 12-WEEK PROGRAM AND MEMBERSHIP FOCUSED ON EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR RECOVERING FROM CANCER TREATMENT. OUR VETERANS WELLNESS PROGRAM IS A WAY TO BRING MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER INTO THE Y TO EXPERIENCE WELLNESS PROGRAMS WHILE FOSTERING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR YMCA EXPANDED ITS REACH TO ADDRESS EVER EVOLVING CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS.