Your Connection to Our Community
Each year, the YMCA of the Palms conducts an Annual Support Campaign to provide financial assistance and scholarships to the underprivileged and underserved children and families in our community. Annual Support Campaign contributions help the YMCA provide programs and services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
Child Connection
The YMCA organization is the nation’s largest provider of childcare services, serving over 500,000 each year. Locally, the YMCA of the Palms provides childcare, early childhood education and summer camp designed to nurture confidence and self-esteem with age-appropriate activities that help children grow emotionally, socially, cognitively and physically. Our Child Development Center is the second-largest provider of full-time childcare and early childhood education for underprivileged children in our community with over 56% of children receiving financial assistance. And the YMCA Summer Camp program serves over 3,000 children every summer, with an average of 41% receiving assistance.
Funds raised from the Annual Support Campaign ensure that all children have access to quality and affordable childcare and summer activity.
Teen Connection
YMCA Leader’s Club is a program designed to recognize exceptional teens in our community and help them develop outstanding leadership skills including human relations skills, volunteerism, values and overall individual well-being (physical, mental, spiritual). Each year, qualifying Leader’s Club teens are invited to attend Blue Ridge Leader’s School in North Carolina where they meet with other teen leaders from around the southeast and participate in leadership classes and activities.
Funds raised from the Annual Support Campaign make it possible for our teens to attend Leader’s School each year.
Family Connection
Nationally, the YMCA is the largest membership organization in the country. At the heart of community life, the mission-driven YMCA is “a place to belong” and to live the values that guide and unite our members: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. All are welcome at the YMCA, regardless of age, physical ability or income.
Funds raised from the Annual Support Campaign enable the YMCA to provide memberships to families who could not otherwise afford to join.
Neighborhood Connection
The YMCA of the Palms offers youth sports programs to give children the chance to belong to a team devoted to making a positive difference. Youth sports programs bring the community together through volunteer programs and coaching opportunities. Along with youth sports, the YMCA also partners with several human services organizations to provide additional and expanded programs and outreach services.
Funds raised from the Annual Support Campaign help to ensure that youth sports fees remain affordable and support outreach programs in the community.
Life Skill Connection
The YMCA of the Palms offers swimming lessons and other enrichment programs for children throughout the year. Annual funds raised help subsidize these programs and support YMCA Splash, a free week-long educational program that teaches children basic swimming and water safety skills intertwined with YMCA core character values - caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Spiritual Connection
The YMCA of the Palms’ mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The YMC follows this “code of conduct” and applies it to every aspect of the organization from childcare to senior programs to swimming lessons and summer camp. The YMCA promotes “doing what is right” and strives to consistently demonstrate attitudes and behaviors that reflect our core values.
