Ballmer Group Advances the YMCA's Vision to Advance Equity and Justice for All Through Whole Person Health

Ballmer Group has made a three-year leadership commitment to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for over $5M to advance Vision 2025 and the vital work of the Y Social Impact Center. This gift helps advance equity and justice for all through Whole Person Health and supports youth facing homelessness and needing behavioral health support so all youth in our region have opportunities to develop their full potential in spirit, mind, and body. This watershed contribution will bolster the Y’s ability to engage communities and elevate youth development programming and social services where needed most.  

Underscoring Ballmer Group’s support, Andi Smith, Ballmer Group’s Executive Director for Washington state, said, “We need to make sure that our kids, families, and communities are strong in the wake of a pandemic that sent physical and mental health tumbling – especially for young people in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) and other communities that were disproportionately affected. We believe that strengthening communities is foundational to building economic opportunity, and that’s why we are so moved by Vision 2025’s bold plan. We are excited to support the Y Social Impact Center using trauma-informed approaches to help youth, families, and communities thrive.” 

“Gifts at the Y aren’t just game-changing. They’re life-changing. Ballmer Group understands this and is opening doors to vital programs and services for youth, young adults, and their families, building caring and connection needed now more than ever. This philanthropy will help countless youth brimming with potential who are, are too often underserved and marginalized. When these young people are seen, encouraged, and equipped to grow, they will pay Ballmer Group’s generosity forward for the rest of their lives. It’s a beautiful, lasting legacy the Y can only foster with community support. We are beyond grateful to everyone at Ballmer Group for their endorsement of our work and investment in our youth and their future,” shared YMCA of Greater Seattle President & CEO Loria Yeadon. Ballmer Group joins Casey Family Programs, Premera, Microsoft, and Schultz Family Foundation as contributing supporters of the Y’s Vision 2025.  

More About YMCA of Greater Seattle 
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Y provides crucial programs and services to more than 120,299 people every year in the Greater Seattle area. With the help of generous donors, we are able to provide more than 450 youth experiencing homelessness with safe, stable housing every night, over 400,000 meals served across King County annually, and more than $11 million in financial assistance to ensure everyone has a chance to succeed and belong at the Y.
 
More About Ballmer Group 
Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities. We focus on multiple impact areas and systems that can impact economic mobility - such as early learning, K-12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice - and we support leaders and organizations that focus on undoing systemic racism and the barriers it has created. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder – we have a presence and invest deeply in southeast Michigan, Washington state, and Los Angeles County. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers. Learn more at www.ballmergroup.org.