National Council of YMCAs of the USA

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: FOR NEARLY 175 YEARS, THE Y HAS RESPONDED TO OUR NATION'S MOST PRESSING SOCIAL NEEDS. AS THE COUNTRY CONTINUED TO RECOVER FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HUNGER REMAINS AN ISSUE FACING FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY-FROM RURAL TO SUBURBAN TO URBAN AREAS. IN THE LAST YEAR, YMCAs SERVED 3 MILLION YOUTH OVER 61 MILLION HEALTHY MEALS AND SNACKS AT MEALS SITES ACROSS THE NATION. NEW AMERICAN WELCOME CENTER YS CONTINUED THEIR WORK TO SUPPORT NEWCOMER IMMIGRANTS. MANY OF THESE YS SUPPORTED INCOMING UKRANIAN ARRIVALS BY PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES, COLLECTING ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, RAISING FUNDS, AND PROVIDING RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE. MORE THAN 200 Y ASSOCIATIONS ALSO HOSTED 2023 WELCOMING WEEK EVENTS AT MORE THAN 1,000 Y BRANCHES ACROSS 49 STATES TO PROMOTE BRIDGE-BUILDING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANT-RECEIVING COMMUNITIES.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: AT THE Y, WE BELIEVE AMERICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CHANGEMAKERS WITH THE SKILLS, COMMITMENT AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CREATE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN. WE ALSO BELIEVE SUCCESS DEPENDS ON OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO REACH AND INSPIRE THIS NEXT GENERATION TO BE GLOBALLY MINDED, CIVICALLY-ENGAGED PROBLEM SOLVERS. THE Y'S YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF TEENS NATIONWIDE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN EXPERIENTIAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PRACTICE DEMOCRACY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE Y PROVIDED THIS SUPPORT TO MILLIONS OF CHILDREN THROUGH ITS MANY YOUTH OFFERINGS, INCLUDING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE, HEAD START PROGRAMS, SPORTS, SWIM LESSONS AND MORE. THESE ACTIVITIES PROVIDED A HEALTHY OUTLET FOR CHILDREN TO GAIN NEW SKILLS, DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, EXERCISE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND CONNECT WITH POSITIVE ROLE MODELS.