What Impact Does the Y Make?

What is the YMCA? What does the Y do? More importantly, what impact does “the Y” make? These are questions that I have asked myself over my 34-year YMCA career. And, often I have pondered how others—colleagues, volunteers, donors, and the public—would answer them. The problem is our organization is so vast and does so many things that it is hard to grasp what we do, why we do what we do, or more importantly, “the impact the Y makes.” Oftentimes people view us from their experience with the programs or facilities that they use when they come to the Y. However, the Y is much more than that. In short…we are a cause-driven charitable organization, a community of people dedicated to changing lives for the better.

Ever since I joined the Y as a young program director, back in 1974, I have been committed to helping people. Back then we said, “We’re in the people business.” More recently, our tagline has been, “We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.” While taglines and slogans are catchy they do not tell the whole story. The Y changes lives for the better! I see my Y work as more than a job. I feel it is a calling. Working for the Y allows me to earn a living, while witnessing my faith and serving youth, adults and families in our community. I get to work with volunteers, staff and donors and collaborate with others to change lives for the better.

The Y’s recently announced brand revitalization will aid the public’s perception of the Y as a cause-driven organization and help us serve more people in our community. Next time I’ll discuss the Y’s recently announced brand revitalization strategy.

I look forward to seeing you at “the Y!”