DEAR FRIENDS,
We are pleased to present the YMCA of Greater Boston’s 2021 Annual Report. As you read our digital report, you will be inspired by the many ways we responded to a series of emergent community needs.
Throughout the past two years, we have remained courageous in our actions and resilient in our resolve. We drew courage and resilience from you – our branch and program members, volunteers, advisors, donors, partners, and General Board members. Collectively, you inspired and empowered us to do more than we thought possible.
During 2021, we demonstrated our commitment to diversity and inclusion by demanding equity for all; by tackling food insecurity with our robust Hunger Prevention Program; by building bright futures for our children both in and out of the classroom; by removing barriers to economic stability; and by improving community health via innovative programs and technology. It was an incredible year, and we humbly thank each of you for your ongoing support.
Thank you for believing in us!
We are proud to share this Annual Report; it reminds us that for 170 years, we have adapted to the times in order to strengthen children, families and communities. And with your continued support and engagement, we will continue to be courageous, resilient and mission-driven for years to come.
Your humble servants,
James O’S. Morton
President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Boston
Evelyn Kaupp
Chair, General Board
Building Bright Futures
Youth Development
We remain steadfast in our commitment to youth development. All children in our care are served by caring adults who provide academic support, social-emotional development opportunities through play, arts, and movement, and nourishment so that each child can reach their fullest potential and thrive.
Video Spotlight: Happy Camper at the Y
The continuation of COVID-19 into 2021 was especially difficult for our children who were forced to deal with extended periods of social isolation and uncertainty. At Y Summer Camps, we had one mission: to provide our children with the “best summer ever” in hopes of overcoming the isolation and anxiety they were experiencing and to provide them with normalcy and predictability. Watch a short episode of our series “Happy Camper at the Y” and determine for yourself if we met our goal.
Ending Hunger
Food Access
During 2021, hunger insecurity grew as parents struggled to return to work while also caring for their children. Providing free, nutritious, culturally appropriate meals for the nourishment of children, families, and seniors became a necessity in Greater Boston. Our dedicated hunger prevention team and community partners provided millions of meals to ensure that everyone had access to food.
Video Spotlight: Hunger Prevention Efforts at the Y
James Morton, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, and others share why our fight to end food insecurity was critical in this video.
Eliminating Barriers to Financial Stability
Community
Poverty in Greater Boston created many hardships in 2021. The Y, along with its many partners, worked to address chronic and emergent needs for families and individuals in crisis. As a community, we provided equitable access to programs, services and resources to eliminate the barriers to economic stability and physical/spiritual well-being.
Video Spotlight: YMCA Achievers Program
Throughout the pandemic, our Achievers Program continued to provide social-emotional support and stability for our youth. Every Achiever was encouraged to develop their individual talents, positive self-identities, and plans for successful futures. This video highlights the hopes and aspirations of our Youth Achievers.
Improving Community Health
Healthy Living
In 2021, health disparities became more prominent, as our community and nation continued to face the pandemic. With a focus on helping everyone create healthy habits, the Y created new products, services and partnerships to promote health equity for all.
Video Spotlight: Roxbury YMCA Swim Team with Coach Daly
After seven years of not having a competitive aquatics program, the Roxbury YMCA re-established its swim team under Swim Coach Daly Richelieu-Hamilton, assuring all children equitable access to aquatics. See how the swimmers and families reacted to having a swim team at the Roxbury YMCA.
YMCA GO
Our community needed a way to remain healthy or start a wellness routine, but many were not ready to return to the Y in person. With our commitment to improving community health, the YMCA of Greater Boston created YMCA GO, an enhanced holistic digital wellness platform and app, giving everyone access to better health whenever and wherever they want. We reimagined ways to be impactful, outside our brick-and-mortar branches, using technology to deliver high-quality health and wellness to anyone, anywhere.
Demanding Equity For All
SOCIAL JUSTICE
We demonstrated our commitment to “equity for all” through programs and services we call “The Y Way.” The Y Way connects diverse groups of people, ideas, and beliefs in the creation of environments free of racism and inequality. At the Y, we believe you cannot be what you cannot see, and we envisioned and created safe places and spaces for ALL.
Throughout 2021, we never steered away from hard conversations and created socially responsible forums for discussion, such as our podcast “For Love” with James Morton, “The Y Way” blog, Employee Resource Groups, and Race Equity Action Leaders “REAL@YGB” to share our vision and to demand equity and social justice for all.
Podcast Spotlight: For Love
Listen to this episode of “For Love with James Morton” podcast with guest Anthony Attride, Dorchester YMCA Executive Director, and Leader of REAL@YGB.
Video Spotlight: Vaccine Clinics
By partnering with Boston Medical Center and Rosindale Medical and Dental CHC to offer COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics, we provided equitable access to vaccines in one of Boston’s most vulnerable communities. Here members from “Forever Young” Adult Day Care receive their vaccines at our Thomas Menino YMCA in Hyde Park.
Video Spotlight: Community Learning Center Collaborative
We partnered with The BASE, Latinos for Education and IBA to create the Community Learning Collaborative wherein the children of working parents were provided with academic support and enrichment in our equity pods, during the several months when the Boston Public Schools offered virtual classes. Learn how this collaboration impacted families.
Partnerships For Impact
Partners
Partnering with others has always been our promise; we remain humbled by our many partners, donors, members, and volunteers who joined us to strengthen communities.
In 2021, the YMCA of Greater Boston partnered with the Red Cross, Community Hub Schools, the New England Patriots, Boston Police Cadets, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and a network of teachers and administrators to deliver Thanksgiving meals to more than 2,500 households throughout the City of Boston. And with the support of former Mayor Janey, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the Boston Triathlon we co-created Swim Safely Boston, an initiative to provide more than 600 Boston children with free swim lessons and up to 60 teens with lifeguard training.
Video Spotlight: Providing Thanksgiving Meals
Patriots players Matt Judon and Carl Davis, Jr. visited the Roxbury YMCA to give out turkeys and sides to community members. The event was also sponsored by the Greater Boston Food Bank, Hydrate the Hood and the Boston Police Department Cadet Academy.
2021 Financial Report
2021 Financial Support
The Y strengthens communities. Lasting personal and social change comes about when we all work together. As reported in our Form 990, we proudly provided more than $6.5 million in free and/or subsidized programming and services to thousands of children, individuals, and families across Greater Boston in 2021. This critical support was made possible by the enormous generosity of many individuals, funders and organizations.
2021 Donor List
View our generous donors for this past year.
Leadership & Board
View our Management Team, General Board, Community Advisors and Branch Board Leadership.