Published: 08/12/2026 - 8:00 AM
PHILADELPHIA, PA — August 12, 2026 — State Senator Joe Picozzi and Representative Martina White today joined leaders from the Greater Philadelphia YMCA to announce a $75,000 state grant that will fund a significant renovation of the women’s locker room at the Northeast Family YMCA. The grant, secured through Picozzi and White’s advocacy, and awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), will modernize one of the branch’s most heavily used spaces in a facility that has served the Greater Northeast Philadelphia community for more than five decades.
“The YMCA is a vital community hub for Northeast Philadelphia. It provides essential services like accredited childcare, senior wellness, and accessible health facilities, ensuring that our residents and families have year-round support and recreational spaces.”, said Senator Joe Picozzi, of the 5th Senatorial District. “I am proud to help bring necessary funding to contemporize the Northeast Philadelphia YMCA’s women’s locker room into a state-of-the-art facility to meet the deserving needs of my constituents. Ongoing investments like this ensure local families have quality resources for better physical and emotional health.”
“Many of our most prominent female athletes in the United States got their start at a local Y. It is fantastic this grant money can be used to provide a renovated, accessible space for girls and women as they hone their athletic talents and build community in the process”, said Rep. Martina White, of the 170th Legislative District.
The renovation will address aging infrastructure in the women’s locker room, improve ADA accessibility, and create a safer, more welcoming environment for women and girls of all ages. The project directly supports the branch’s broad programming mission: the Northeast Family YMCA currently serves approximately 12,000 people, including more than 600 children enrolled in swim lessons. The branch also houses an early learning center and hosts a range of community health initiatives, including two annual cohorts of the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program and maternal wellness programming.
The Northeast Family YMCA is located within a community of more than 131,000 residents, where 30 percent of households include a person with a disability and 13 percent of households fall below the poverty line. Swimming ranks as the most popular physical activity in the branch’s service area — above weightlifting, yoga, and aerobics — yet without functional, accessible facilities, that demand goes unmet. With the women’s locker room serving as a gateway to the branch’s pool and wellness spaces, the renovation is expected to meaningfully expand participation among residents who have historically faced barriers to access.
“This renovation will make a real difference for thousands of members and neighbors who walk through our doors every year,” said Joe Ferguson, President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. “We’re grateful for Senator Picozzi and Representative White’s commitment to this community, and for their recognition that investing in facilities like the Northeast Family YMCA is investing in the people who depend on them.”
The branch’s deep community roots are reflected across its programs. Its Recital Dance program is celebrating its 53rd consecutive year, led by the same director since its founding — a testament to the long-term relationships the Y has built in Northeast Philadelphia. In a recent demonstration of that community connection, the branch welcomed more than 300 residents and local organizations to its annual Healthy Kids Day.