YMCA of Central Massachusetts

Description

The YMCA of Central Massachusetts, a nonprofit human service organization, is committed to strengthening the foundations of community through Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility with children, teens, adults, and seniors in Central Massachusetts. The YMCA of Central Massachusetts offers programs that promote their three areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

History

The Y’s history runs deep and has impacted generations dating back to the 1800s. The beautiful downtown Mechanics Hall was the original landmark of the first YMCA in Worcester. In 1864, the Y used rented space on the second floor of Mechanics Hall for bible classes, religious meetings, visiting the sick and aiding the poor.

Today, the Y is one of the region’s most significant charitable institutions. The Y has demonstrated, with great consistency, a distinct ability to address ever-changing community needs. They do not exist merely to provide quality facilities for health and wellness activities. Their four full-service branches serve 29,000 members across 57 cities and towns. They also deliver programs at more than 15 sites in other locations along with our two rural summer day camps. Collaboration with more than 100 other partners extends our impact to nearly 60,000 individuals annually.

The flagship Central Community Branch found its current home in the heart of Worcester’s “Main South” neighborhood in 1920. As the socioeconomic demographics of this part of the city have evolved in recent decades, the Central Branch has become a refuge for the residents of the area. Central is a safe haven, where business men and women from nearby downtown can be found exercising next to high school students, single moms, local residents and active seniors who all bring the richness of diversity to the branch.

The Greendale Family Branch was established in 1929 through the generous donation of facilities from Norton Company – today Saint-Gobain. The relationship with this worldwide leader in abrasives manufacturing remains strong to this day. In 1978, as the State began work on a new highway that included the taking of the YMCA’s property, Norton Company again intervened and donated nearby land on the shores of Indian Lake.

The Boroughs Family Branch, established in 2002. Its roots, however, date back to 1983 with limited programming for those living in the communities in the eastern region of our service area. What began as a sprinkling of child care operations and swim lessons in rented hotel pools, has become our most thriving operation, now counting close to 14,000 members.

The Montachusett Community Branch YMCA strengthens the foundations of our community through well-being and fitness, camps, family time, swim, sports and play, and other activities for people of all ages, incomes and abilities. We’re more than just a place to work out. At the Y, they help build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all with the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility at the heart of everything we do.

It is the mission of the Y that membership, child care, and program services will always be accessible to any person regardless of age, income, race or religion. In cases where the cost of membership or programming is out of reach for an individual or a family, the Y offers financial assistance. For the past seven years, the Y has provided more than $1 million in scholarship assistance and program subsidy to participants.