A Familiar Name with an Outstanding Mission

For hundreds of years, the YMCA has supported families and communities. Now more than ever, the Y is here for you!

By Jamie Aderski December 17, 2020 Partner Content

Say it with us: families need support! Fortunately for families, the YMCA of Metro Chicago is committed to its community and has your back. As a nonprofit organization, their mission is to develop strong children, families and communities across the city of Chicago and suburbs through academic readiness, character development, violence prevention, and healthy living—impressive, right?

Much more than a fitness center, the YMCA may be what you need to navigate our new normal. Read on for four reasons why the Y is precisely where you want to be!

Ready to join today? Use code FAM15 when you join and receive $15 off the first month of a family membership (valid through 12/15/20). Or bring in your family to try out the Y by purchasing a family day pass at their front desks ($15 includes 2 adults, unlimited children) or by calling their Member Services team at 773-905-5115.

Family Values

For hundreds of years, parents have relied on the YMCA as a partner in helping to raise confident, healthy and community-minded citizens. Not just sports and after-school programs, the Y’s goal is to help kids create a positive identity, develop transferable life skills, healthy habits, and build career readiness.

The YMCA is here to help parents reach their wellness goals, too! Parents have the opportunity to get their sweat on with tons of classes to choose from while their kids are taking part in a class of their own. During regular operating, they even offer free childcare on-site with Kids Zone, offering a safe environment and trusted sitter for an hour or two.

(Accessible) Activities for All

The YMCA offers a wide variety of programs for the whole family, including early childhood education and care for children ages six weeks to six years, before and after school programs, daytime and overnight summer camp, swim lessons and premium fitness classes, to name a few.

We all know that the flexibility to squeeze in a workout around your day is crucial to keeping up with your health goals. A YMCA of Metro Chicago membership gives members access to 13 YMCA membership centers across the Chicagoland area, which means no more excuses—you can do it!

Community-Minded

The YMCA is committed to creating an inclusive environment and meeting all of today’s families’ needs. Their equally passionate staff prides itself on establishing a sense of community at their centers. The love is mutual—many of their members and program participants end up volunteering with Y programs.

The Y has long been a stronghold in communities across the country and the world. All are welcome at the Y regardless of race, religion, orientation, ability or socioeconomic background. The YMCA believes a family should never be denied access to their services because of an inability to pay and offers financial assistance to those in need.

COVID Response

As they’ve done for decades, the YMCA has rallied purposefully behind the city and the region to support families during difficult times. Even while locations were shut down, the Y continued its commitment to the community by sheltering the city’s homeless and displaced citizens, providing emergency child care for essential workers, and distributing food, diapers, and other critical supplies to residents in need.

Exciting news: They’ve reopened their centers with extensive precautionary measures, and are offering remote learning support programs. For more information on their reopening policies and procedures, as well as “Know Before You Go” information, please visit their Reopening Resource Center.

Learn more about their COVID response and support the YMCA as they work to strengthen families during the pandemic and beyond here.

All photos courtesy of the YMCA of Metro Chicago.

—Jamie Aderski