2021 Community Impact Report
Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.
Advancing Equity and Justice For All
2021 was another year of challenge and escalating community needs, but once again we endured. We rose up together and showed up for each other and cared for our community despite the barriers before us. Thank you for walking alongside us in this journey. We cannot do it without you. In this impact report, you’ll learn more about the remarkable ways the Y helped our communities weather the storms of 2021 and emerge even stronger, inspired with optimism, and hope for the future.
Through Community Collaboration
Our volunteers, donors, and partners showed up in 2021 to help us recover and build back stronger from the challenges of 2020. With their support the Y continues to step up to meet community needs.
418 Sites Activated
418 sites activated across King, South Snohomish, and Pierce County to serve community.
1,080 Volunteer Hours
263 volunteers contributed 1,080 hours of service each year.
25,327 People Served
25,327 people were served through Y programs designed to advance equity and justice through Whole Person Health.
$8,079,351 Raised
$8,079,351 million raised by 884 donors, funds which were invested back into the community to benefit kids and families.
"I want to express my appreciation for the webinar event ’Engaging Our Immigrant and Newcomer Communities.' I come from the private sector in human resources and while I take pride in my desire to be informed on social issues that impact our city and communities, I was surprised at how much I didn’t know about this group. Thank you for taking the time to include a rich group of panelists with different perspectives and unique solutions to address these very real needs."
~ Y Community Conversations Participant
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Through Commitment
The Y made concentrated and deliberate investments in re-evaluating and re-thinking our programs, services, and training with a focus on reaching those who are most often pushed to the margins and bringing them to the center of our work, today and tomorrow.
Center of Excellence Established
Hired and welcomed inaugural leadership for the Y’s Equity and Justice Center of Excellence, which spurs innovation through strategic leadership in all equity and justice initiatives.
100+ Global Boxes Provided
Established the Global Engagement Boxes program, in collaboration with DELTA Airlines and global partners in Nicaragua and Mexico, to provide more than 100 families and youth in the Highline and Auburn school districts with educational kits.
1,500 People Engaged
Engaged more than 1,500 people through our Y Community Conversation series, a learning series with a focus on timely discussions addressing social justice, racial equity, current events, and community issues.
5,000+ Served at Welcome Center
Supported more than 5,000 children, young adults, and families with food and mental health resources through the Y’s New American Welcome Center.
"Having a Y in your community is a big asset no matter where you live, but I think Seattle is extra blessed. The Y serves so many neighborhoods and populations. It takes a leadership role on issues like foster care and mental health. The YMCA provides the common space for people who need some help and those who have the ability to help, and it really encourages families to play together."
~ Connie Ballmer, 2021 A.K. Guy Award Recipient
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Through Mental Health and Housing
The Y expanded our services to meet community needs, reaching more youth and young adults than ever. The need for mental health and substance use services grew 43 percent last year.
3,041 People Provided Counseling
The Y served 3,041 people and in response to community needs, we increased the percentage of our mental health counselors who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQI+ to 45 percent.
1,933 Youth Accessed Services
1,933 young people accessed employment, education, and violence prevention services which were brought to Burien and West Seattle.
1,456 Provided Housing Support
Housing continued to be a major need for youth. The Y was able to serve 1,456 young people (up 61 percent over 2020), in finding housing or preventing eviction.
603 Foster Care Youth Supported
603 youth in foster care or transitioning out of foster care received support through Y programs (up 35 percent over 2020). The Y also licensed more than 70 families as foster parents, an increase of 50 percent over 2020.
"Before joining this program, I knew I wanted to attend college, but I didn’t have anyone or anything that could push me to help discover specifically what career path I wanted to take or how to get there. Being involved in this program allowed me to have the support and resources needed to get to where I wanted to be after high school."
~ Dawit, Y Scholar Participant
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Through Health Equity
Health disparities were on full display during the pandemic, particularly among our East African and African American neighbors. The Y hired Community Health Navigators from impacted communities to help address high health disparities in King and Snohomish County.
60 Youth Learned to Swim
We partnered with the 101 Club and Gabrielle’s Wings to serve 60 underserved youth.
80 Youth at Hockey Camp
A series of summer hockey camps, produced in partnership with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, introduced more than 80 BIPOC youth to the game.
3,000 People Served
Community Health Navigators reached more than 3,000 people with Covid-19 vaccines, cancer screening, and culturally and linguistically tailored health and wellness education and programs by bringing services to community beyond the walls of the Y.
5,400 Virtual Users
Through ever-changing Covid-19 protocols, we continued to serve 4,500 Y members through personal training; over 5,400 in virtual exercise classes, weekly virtual cooking classes, virtual active older adult community cafes; and 500 people through virtual chronic disease prevention classes.
"Kids ask me every day if today is the day we get to go to the pool. I am so grateful. I can’t tell you how much our students needed this."
~ Sarah Talbot, Lowell Elementary Principal
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Through Youth Development
The Y continued to meet the needs of children and families despite the challenges of the pandemic.
25 Virtual Classrooms
25 locations across ten school districts served with Y facilitated virtual classrooms during the midst of the pandemic when schools were closed, creating safe and creative spaces for youth to learn and thrive.
3rd Overnight Camp
A bold commitment to conservation, outdoor access, and fostering environmental stewards with the purchase of property on Mineral Lake in Lewis County, which will become a third camp for youth, families, and communities.
7,596 Youth Supported
7,596 youth supported with early education, before & afterschool child care, day camp, overnight camps, virtual enrichment classes, teen civic and environmental programs, and overnight leadership experiences.
409,950 Meals Served
409,950 meals served in collaboration with 45 partners across King County, including door-to-door delivery, produce boxes, backpack meals, community meals, pantry, mobile markets, frozen meals, and mobile meals.
"I had always considered myself able to purchase my own goods, but lately, as prices have risen and shortages are apparent, I have found myself falling behind. As statistics call it ‘living below the poverty line,’ whatever that means. My family and I are truly grateful."
~ Vera, Y Produce Box Recipient
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Equity and Justice for All.
We are forever grateful to our staff, members, donors, partners, and elected officials who stood by us this year to support equity and justice for all. This support manifests as an investment in the future we all want. One where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to reach their full potential in spirit, mind, and body.
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