Darcy Swan is now senior vice president of Youth Development at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. She will provide leadership and strategy while building relationships to advance before and after school, summer day camp, preschool and other YMCA out-of-school time programs throughout the greater Kansas City area.

The Y received the Nonprofit Connect Stronger Together award for our partnership with GEHA, The Hunt Family Foundation/Kansas City Chiefs, and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County & Kansas City, KS Parks and Recreation, to prevent drowning through the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program. 

Did you know that the YMCA of Greater Kansas City offers group exercise classes at the Riverside Community Center? Y members are eligible to participate in a variety of free classes.

In addition to the group exercises, Y members also have free access to pickle ball on the following days: 

Mondays and Wednesday 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Thursdays 12:30-5:15 p.m.
Fridays 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sundays 1-3:30 p.m.

Open gym is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:15 p.m.

Mark Hulet will serve as the next president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, beginning July 7. Hulet is the 11th chief executive officer to lead our Y association since it was founded in 1860. 

June is National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Did you know that studies have shown that physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline?

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. The YMCA of Greater Kansas City is celebrating the YMCA’s long history of helping immigrants integrate into new communities and preparing receiving communities to be inclusive.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded the YMCA of Greater Kansas City a $10,000 grant to support our English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

Dr. Michelle Robin was elected Chief Volunteer Officer of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City at the Board of Directors Annual Meeting on May 18, 2023. She follows John Passanisi, whose term as Chief Volunteer Officer began in May of 2020.

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City announced April 26, 2023, that it is teaming up with 15 other YMCAS across the USA and the U.S. Soccer Foundation to increase access to soccer in advance of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The goal of the joint campaign, The Road to 2026: Making an Impact in Local Communities, is to provide access to soccer and its health and wellness benefits to at least 1 million youth.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the YMCA of Greater Kansas City is encouraging community members to care for themselves and others. 

Mental health is how we think, feel and act. At the Y, we recognize that we all have mental health, and mental health is an important part of our overall health and social-emotional well-being, as well as a core component of our identity.