Celebrating 2024: YMCA Milestones that Strengthened our Impact on Community

Dear YMCA Community, 

As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with gratitude and pride for the strides we have made together. This year has been a testament to our unwavering commitment to equity and justice for all, youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility and impact. Our collective efforts have not only strengthened our community but also laid the foundation for a more inclusive and brighter future for all. We are inspired daily by the dedication and passion of our members, volunteers, and staff who work tirelessly to bring our mission to life. Together, we have achieved milestones worth celebrating, and we are confident that we will build on our momentum in 2025 and beyond. 

Equity and Justice for All 

Our journey towards equity and justice for all has seen significant progress: 

• Our Board of Directors and senior leaders collaborated to reflect on the vision statement and refined it to set our strategic direction for the future. 
• Advancing our Equity and Justice for all strategies, at our branches and centers of excellence to ensure we fulfill our mission, equity statement, and commitment to community. 
• Partnering with the Whitener Group, we are strengthening connections with local and regional tribal federations, honoring their history and the tribal names on our camp cabins while respecting their sovereignty and legacy as Washingtonians. 

Youth Development 

In 2024, we launched impactful programs and expanded our reach as a leading youth-serving agency in our community: 

• We provided safe and engaging summer experiences through Camp & Outdoor Leadership programs, serving 31,850 participants throughout the year, including 4,823 youth and teens this summer.  
• We also completed enhancements to our camp facilities, including upgrades and expansions to Camp Terry, Camp Kilworth, and two BOLD & GOLD campsites at Mineral Lake, as well as the Robinson Education Center and Olympic Bathroom at Camp Orkila, with estuary restoration commencing at Camp Colman. 
• Our new Early Education Center in Eastgate is ready to welcome families in need of licensed care.  
• Our Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) programs in Shoreline now serve all kindergarten through fifth grade schools in the area. We now serve more than 2,500 youth before and after school every day. 
• Our relaunch of Y Adventurers (formerly Y Guides) has fostered meaningful caregiver-child and community connections.  
• We are striving to improve health outcomes of youth leading up to the 2026 Men’s World Cup. More than 300 youth participated in Soccer for Success during its inaugural year, and 45 youth participate in a clinic with Seattle Reign players from the Black Women's Players Collective. 

Healthy Living 

In 2024, we expanded access to health programs: 

• The YMCA hired four case managers to support the new HealthierHere Community Hub, which connects individuals to resources in and outside the Y needed to address their social determinants of health in King County. Through the Community Hub and its precursor, WA CareConnect, the Y has already helped over # individuals and families to connect to essential resources like food, housing, and healthcare.  
• Our Actively Changing Together (ACT!) and Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring programs were introduced to new diverse communities across our region. ACT! Programming reached over 100 new families including new cohorts serving the African-American, Somali, and Ethiopian communities.  
• Partnerships with Apple Health and the Washington State Department of Health provided memberships and health programs to low-income families across the state. In partnership with Molina Apple Health, the YMCA enrolled nearly 100 Medicaid-covered adults in the Y’s Diabetes Prevention Program for the first time in our state and will expand the Diabetes Prevention Program to Medicaid-covered adults in 2025. Seventy percent of participants are improving health outcomes through weight loss.  
• We expanded our partnerships with health insurers, now serving more than 12,000 older adults through health insurance memberships. 

Social Impact 

The YMCA Social Impact Center supported thousands of lives this year: 

• We served 4,809 individuals through Housing, Foster Care, and Behavioral Health programs with 75% transitioning to safe and stable housing. 
• In partnership with Heritage University, we launched a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling degree to address the need for diverse practitioners with 50 students per year. 
• A new statewide hotline, Lifeline, offers a no-wrong-door access point for flex funding, transportation, food, shelter, and more, serves 100 youth ages 12-25 across 10 counties.  

Customer Experience, Operational Excellence, and Philanthropy

We expanded our mission and strengthened community in many ways: 

• More than 40,000 households are experiencing the Y’s mission in action through Y membership, with 26% receiving financial assistance, ensuring affordable access for all. 
• Five facility improvement weeks and a major pool and locker room renovation enhanced and modernized our facilities, with a focus on improving our members’ experience. 
• Our Ys collaborated with Swim Seattle to provide free swim lessons and hosted Safety Around Water groups in partnership with No More Under at no cost to youth as part of our commitment to ensuring water safety for all.  
• Hosted an incredible Changemakers event for our donors and partners, raising $400,000 to positively impact our community.

As we look ahead to 2025, we are confident that, with your engagement and support, we will continue building on this year’s momentum and accomplish even more. Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our mission. Together, we are making a difference and inspiring connection, belonging, and hope in our community. 

Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year. 

In community & gratitude, 

Loria Yeadon 

President & CEO 
YMCA of Greater Seattle