Nearly 40 YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh branch members and staff participated in the 2019 Pittsburgh Marathon events, Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5 in every event from the pet walk to the 5K to the half and full marathons, all in support of the Y. When signing up to #RunwiththeY, participants receive training plans and guidance, coaching and team support in exchange for their fundraising efforts. 

In honor of Earth Day, did you know six branches in the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh association have spots designated for community gardens? The Allegheny, Baierl Family, Homewood-Brushton, North Boroughs, Sampson Family and Thelma Lovette YMCAs all have garden plots that are in need of volunteers to maintain.

In fact, the Allegheny YMCA is working to reopen its Community Garden Saturday, April 27 in conjunction with Healthy Kids Day. If you are interested in volunteering with the startup and/or maintenance of the garden, email Erica at egadelmeyer@ymcapgh.org. All produce from the garden will be distributed back out to families and individuals in need on the North Side.

In recent years, the YMCA garden program has provided the opportunity to positively engage with nature and to increase access to affordable organically grown fruits, vegetables and herbs. Gardening programs bring together community members of all ages in hands on learning about gardening and cooking. The edible gardens focus on building capacity by engaging community members in gardening and cooking activities. The gardens are a natural place to engage communities in every aspect of the YMCA’s mission to help people learn, grow and thrive.

The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, through its program Hope For All, helped prepare nearly 600 tax returns to be filed in 2019, helping more than 175 individuals claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. Out of the Homewood-Brushton branch alone, $863,348 in federal refunds were generated, of which $357,966 were EITC dollars.

This service is available at the YMCA through the United Way and IRS-certified volunteers.

Hope For All is project of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh and the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh that connects households in the Pittsburgh area to benefit programs and other support services. The full breadth of Hope For All programs will be featured in future Mission Monday moments.  

Y Achievers is a national academic achievement and career development initiative of the YMCA of the USA purposed to help teens set and pursue high educational and career goals, resulting in graduation and acceptance to an institution of higher learning.

The Pittsburgh chapter of Y Achievers intentionally introduces teens in grades 7-12 to professionals who guide them through experiences - ranging from civic engagement, community service projects, and academic support - that ready them for life after high school. In Y Achievers, students make new friends, learn healthy lifestyle choices, and prepare for their future.

Generously supported by: BNY Mellon and UPMC

The Lighthouse Project is a state-of-the-art teen media center in the Homewood-Brushton YMCA Creative Youth Center. The facility is comprised of a recording studio, digital music lab, photo and video space, learning lab and performance space. In each of the audio and visual arts programs, qualified teaching artists empower young people to find their creative voice while building technical and transferable skills that position them for success after high school. Led by program director James Brown, these clubs serve as creative havens where teens can learn, collaborate, and hone their artistic talents. Club participants learn how to use industry standard equipment and software and work together to create music, videos and artwork to present and showcase their work throughout the city of Pittsburgh.

Generously funded by: The Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh Foundation, Grable Foundation and Opportunity Fund.

Mark your calendar: YMCA Lighthouse Project’s Annual End of the Year Celebration
Thursday, May 23, 2019 | 6 PM, Doors 5:30 PM
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
5941 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

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