To Know Us is to Love Us!
We build stronger communities through healthy living.
Our mission is all about connecting people to healthier lives - in mind, body, and spirit. While our programs and facilities are always based on the unique needs and interests of our communities, every Greater Philadelphia Y location has one thing in common: our people. The volunteers, staff, members, and donors of the Y are all united by a deep commitment to building stronger communities and being a place where all are welcome.
Connecting you to a healthier life.
Throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region, we serve more than 200,000 members each year - regardless of age, income, or background.
Healthy Living
Discover YMCA fitness centers, community programs, and wellness facilities near you. Stay active, connect, and thrive.
Programs & Classes
In Y programs you can learn to swim, find your new favorite sports, practice your gymnastics routine, and so much more!
Child Care
Find high-quality child care and early education programs designed to support young learners and families.
The Y is a non-profit.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Y provides crucial programs and services to more than 200,000 people every year. With the help of generous donors, we are able to provide more than $46 million in financial assistance enabling members of our community to get healthy and provide safe, trusted care for their children.
The YMCA was founded in 1844 by 22-year-old George Williams to serve the young men who were flooding into industrial London looking for work. The idea found a home in the U.S. seven years later at the Old South Church in Boston.
Over the following decades, the Y spread around the world, becoming the birthplace of basketball and home to the world's first group swimming lessons. The Y sent volunteers to do relief work during and after both world wars. The Y proudly served as a safe meeting space for the organizers of the Civil Rights Movement. The last 170+ years have seen the Y's mission grow exponentially, and today the Y engages more than 10,000 communities across the U.S.
The values that define the Y.
The Y was built on a premise of Y For All, and we will strive to remain true to that foundation every day. We are committed to serving everyone within our communities. By connecting to each other, we can create a stronger us.
Honesty
We act with integrity, communicate openly, and build trust through transparency.
Respect
We believe in the potential and value of every person, regardless of background, beliefs, or identity.
Responsibility
We work together to strengthen our communities and create positive social impact.
Caring
We support one another, inspire change, and help our communities grow and heal.
How we serve the community.
Community Support
The Y offers a wide variety of free programs to meet the needs of the unique communities we are proud to serve. Across the Greater Philadelphia Area we provide wellness programs for cancer survivors, support for new mothers, and access to job readiness and networking for women.
Through our Camden Y we offer youth opportunities to learn to play new sports, youth civic engagement programs, and so much more.
Financial Assistance
We believe that everyone in our community should have the opportunity to benefit from Y programs and services.
Our Financial Assistance Program is central to our mission. When someone loses a job, when medical bills become overwhelming, or when access to facilities or childcare might be financially out of reach, that is when our communities need the support of the Y the most.
Child Safety
We are a KNOW. SEE. RESPOND. organization.
The Greater Philadelphia YMCA serves over 200,000 members. Half of those are under the age of 18. We are the largest provider of child care in Pennsylvania, and offer pre-school and school-age child care at our branches and off-site locations. A safe environment for children combined with quality programming is an important part of our focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Join Our Team at the Y
When you work for the Y, you’re making a positive impact in your community every day. We have a wide variety of opportunities for candidates of all backgrounds and experiences and we value a diverse and collaborative working environment.
