YMCA of Greater Seattle receives historic gift to support the advancement of Equity and Justice initiatives

Seattle, WA, December 15, 2020 – Today, MacKenzie Scott announced $4,158,500,000 in funding to support 384 organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC. The YMCA of Greater Seattle is proud and humbled to be included in this distinguished group of organizations, all committed to serving communities even during these unprecedented times. To select these organizations, the team sought suggestions and perspectives from field experts. The YMCA of Greater Seattle was recognized because of our long history of serving others and in particular, our focus on equity and justice. This gift validates the critical need for this work and encourages us to keep moving forward with even greater commitment and resolve towards becoming an anti-racist organization and building a more equitable and just community for our children.

This gift will enable us to advance the formation of the Y’s Equity and Justice Center of Excellence where we will learn together to weave the threads of equity into everything we do as we serve the most vulnerable among us and meet needs during this challenging time.   

“Our collective progress as a community is critical to disrupting oppressive systems and barriers that impede equity and justice. With this gift, we will join others in this work to transform the Y to be a producer of the next generation of equity and justice leaders. These leaders will be equipped and practiced in building inclusive and just communities centered on whole person health, resilient youth, families, and communities, and a healthy planet. We look forward to others joining us in this critical work for a better us,“ Loria Yeadon, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle said.

“These 384 carefully selected teams have dedicated their lives to helping others, working and volunteering and serving real people face-to-face at bedsides and tables, in prisons and courtrooms and classrooms, on streets and hospital wards and hotlines and frontlines of all types and sizes, day after day after day. They help by delivering vital services, and also through the profound encouragement felt each time a person is seen, valued, and trusted by another human being. This kind of encouragement has a special power when it comes from a stranger, and it works its magic on everyone.” From Mackenzie Scott on Medium. 

###

About the YMCA of Greater Seattle
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is the Northwest’s leading nonprofit organization strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Founded in 1876, the Y reaches more than 265,000 people of all backgrounds, abilities, and financial circumstances annually through 14 branches, two overnight camps, and more than 200 program sites throughout King and south Snohomish counties. We nurture more than 137,000 kids and teens to develop their gifts and give back to our community and engage thousands of volunteers who contribute hundreds of thousands of hours of service each year. Visit seattleymca.org.

For more information about the YMCA of Greater Seattle and our multigenerational response to the crisis in community caused by the dual pandemics of  COVID-19 and systemic racism, email alondawilliams@seattleymca.org.