YMCA of Greater Hartford

𝗔 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻' 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 ⚾ Last night we gathered at Dunkin' Donuts Park for our 2024 Annual Meeting—a heartfelt evening celebrating our mission, our people, and our future. We proudly honored 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗖. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘅 𝗝𝗿. 𝗬𝗠𝗖𝗔 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for her exceptional service, unwavering leadership, and lifelong commitment to strengthening community. With deep gratitude, we thanked 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 for his 10 years of visionary leadership as President & CEO. Harold's commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and support has left an indelible mark on our community. We also welcomed 𝗝𝗶𝗺 𝗢'𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲 as our new incoming President & CEO. Jim's journey—from a challenging childhood in the Bronx to leading the Greater Waterbury YMCA—embodies resilience and dedication. With over 35 years in the YMCA movement, Jim brings a deep commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. His leadership during the pandemic, including mobilizing emergency childcare for frontline workers, showcases his ability to respond to community needs with compassion and efficiency. To all who joined us—thank you for believing in the power of community. Together, we belong to something greater. #GHYMCA #BelongToSomethingGreater

Campaign Success: Member to Donor Fundraising Initiative We are excited to announce the successful completion of our Member to Donor campaign, which raised over $25,000 thanks to the generosity of 479 donors! Nearly half of these donors were first-time donors—an incredible show of new support that speaks to the power of our mission and the passion of our community. What impact do these gifts make? They help provide: - Scholarships for youth programs that build confidence and leadership. - Financial assistance for families to access essential services like childcare and wellness programs. - Support for community initiatives that promote healthy living and social responsibility. Pictured here: A stack of postcards headed to our new donors, sharing our sincere gratitude and recognition of their support. Every gift matters. Because of you, more children and families can thrive. Thank you for making a difference. 💙

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers! 🌟 We feel so lucky to have celebrated Read Across America Week not just once, but twice! Thanks to the incredible volunteers from Trinity Health Of New England, we extended the celebration for another amazing week in our early education classrooms. 📚💫 With warm smiles and engaging stories, these volunteers brought books to life, sparking curiosity and joy in our young learners. Their time and energy made a lasting impact — we read books about colors and animals of all kinds, played games, and laughed together. We're so grateful for their dedication to nurturing a love of reading and making special memories with our young learners. ❤️ Thank you, Trinity Health of New England, for helping us inspire the next generation of readers! Together, we’re building brighter futures, one story at a time. 📖✨ #GHYMCA #BelongToSomethingGreater #ReadAcrossAmerica #ThankYouVolunteers

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers! Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming incredible volunteers from across our community to help us celebrate Read Across America Week! Thanks to your time, energy, and love for reading, children in our early education programs enjoyed exciting stories, engaging conversations, and unforgettable moments. Your dedication truly made a difference — showing our young readers that books can unlock a world of imagination, curiosity, and learning. Thank you for being a part of this special week and for investing in the future of our youth. Together, we are building brighter futures, one page at a time. Hoffman Auto Group #ThankYouVolunteers #ReadAcrossAmerica #GHYMCA #BelongToSomethingGreater

🌟 Enhancing Accessibility at Wheeler YMCA! 🌟 We are proud to share that thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors—Main Street Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Dr. Bill Petit Jr., and Gail and Bill Millerick—Wheeler YMCA has made significant strides in creating a more inclusive fitness experience. Their collective donation of $8,000 has helped bring new adaptive fitness equipment to our facility, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to stay active and healthy. This investment has funded: ✅ A new adaptive fitness stepper, which features: - A swivel chair that rotates 90 degrees for easier transfers. - A removable seat, allowing individuals in wheelchairs to roll directly onto the machine. - Full-body engagement, enabling users to work both their arms and legs with natural, coordinated movement. ✅ A ramp addition to another piece of adaptive equipment, further improving wheelchair accessibility and expanding fitness opportunities for all. At the YMCA of Greater Hartford and Wheeler YMCA, we are deeply committed to inclusivity and ensuring that our facilities meet the diverse needs of our community. These improvements exemplify how philanthropy creates meaningful impact, breaking down barriers and making wellness accessible to all. A heartfelt thank you to our donors for making this possible! Your generosity is changing lives and strengthening our community.

✨ Kicking Off the 2025 Annual Campaign with Energy and Purpose! ✨ Last Thursday, we officially launched the YMCA of Greater Hartford’s 2025 Annual Campaign, and the energy in the room was nothing short of inspiring. We reflected on past successes, shared powerful stories of impact, and set our sights on how we can do even more to support our community this year. Moments like these remind us why we’re so passionate about the YMCA’s mission: strengthening the foundation of our communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. A highlight of the evening was the incredible meal provided by La Cocina Culinary Arts Training Program from the Chrysalis Center, Inc. This initiative not only delivers amazing food but also equips individuals with hands-on training in the culinary arts and hospitality industry, using fresh produce from their Urban Roots gardens. It’s a powerful example of how partnerships can create meaningful change and support workforce development. The night ended on a high note with a lively game of Y-themed Family Feud, reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and fun that fuels our work. #LetsDoMore #GHYMCA #BelongtoSomethingGreater

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 As we close the chapter on 2024, we reflect with gratitude on the incredible generosity of our donors, supporters, and partners. Together, you have made a lasting impact on our mission to strengthen individuals, families, and communities across Greater Hartford. 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 Thanks to your unwavering support, 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 $𝟵𝟳𝟳,𝟬𝟬𝟬—98% of our $1M goal for the Annual Campaign. A special recognition goes to the following branches for exceeding 100% of their goals: • 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 – 102% • 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 – 104% • 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 – 100% • 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 – 107% • 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸 – 120% • 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗲 – 109% 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Our 23rd annual tournament exceeded expectations, 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 $𝟭𝟴𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 (𝟭𝟭𝟯% 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹) 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽, where they developed confidence, made lasting friendships, and created lifelong memories. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 With $𝟭.𝟯𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 secured, we can continue to expand critical programs and services, reaching even more people in need. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 Our planned-giving program experienced growth this year, with $𝟭𝟮𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 and $𝟭𝟯𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀, ensuring a legacy of impact for generations to come. 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 Our community’s generosity also shone through in major gifts, with $𝟳𝟭𝟲,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱, providing essential support to drive our mission forward. These milestones reflect more than just numbers—they represent real lives impacted, opportunities created, and communities strengthened. Your contributions have empowered us to provide vital resources and experiences to those who need them most. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮, belief in our mission, and commitment to making a difference. Together, we are creating a brighter future for all. #GHYMCA #BelongtoSomethingGreater

Exciting update on our diaper bank initiative! Our YMCA of Greater Hartford Leadership Lab class continues to make incredible strides in their mission to establish a sustainable diaper bank at the East Hartford YMCA! Today, we received 22 cases of diapers through an emergency order from the Diaper Bank of Connecticut. This vital support will help us provide much-needed resources to local families. We’re also inspired by the generosity of our YMCA Quality Team, who met today and each brought a pack of diapers to donate. Their contributions and support demonstrate the collective commitment of our staff to serving our community. A huge thank-you to the Leadership Lab class for their innovation and dedication to this project—and to everyone who has contributed to making this dream a reality. Together, we’re creating a stronger, more caring community! #LeadershipInAction #CommunityImpact #DiaperBank #GHYMCA #BelongToSomethingGreater

🌟 Belonging to Something Greater means empowering our staff to reach new heights, investing in their growth, and equipping them with the tools they need to thrive as leaders. 🎉 CONGRATULATIONS to the inaugural cohort of the YMCA of Greater Hartford Leadership Lab! Your dedication, innovation, and hard work over the past 12 weeks have been truly inspiring. You embody the future of leadership, and we can't wait to see the incredible impact you’ll continue to make in our communities. Here’s to building stronger leaders today for a brighter tomorrow! 💪✨ #Leadership #Training #BelongToSomethingGreater #GHYMCA

𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐌𝐂𝐀 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Today, our YMCA of Greater Hartford team came together to make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. Across several sites, our staff rolled up their sleeves to spread kindness, lend a hand, and create connections. Here’s a look at what we’re accomplishing: Senior Leadership: Sorting and organizing a large food donation at the Chrysalis Center, Inc. in Hartford. Association Office, Glastonbury YMCA & Tri-Town YMCA: Helping clean, sort, and organize at the Friendship Soup Kitchen in East Hartford, preparing for tomorrow’s meal service. Association Offices: Assembling packets for the Hartford Marathon Foundation’s CLA Blue Back Mitten Run, benefiting the Susie Beris, MD Youth Running Program. Camp Woodstock: Organizing clothing donations at Bethlehem’s Closet in Southbridge, MA, sorting items by size and season. Hale YMCA: Volunteering at the Tommy Toy Fund in Dayville to help brighten the holidays for children. Indian Valley YMCA: Supporting furry friends at Pawsafe animal rescue. Farmington Valley YMCA: Prepping vegetables, making soup, decorating for Christmas, and preparing the pantry at WASTE NOT WANT NOT COMMUNITY KITCHEN INC in Granby. Wheeler YMCA: Hosting a food collection for the Plainville Community Food Pantry. It’s inspiring to see our teams in action, living out our mission and making a real difference. Thank you to everyone who is part of this day of service. How are you giving back this season? Share your story and help inspire others to get involved! #GHYMCA #BelongtoSomethingGreater #GivingBackTuesday #CommunityImpact