Community is Wellness
While many know the YMCA as a health and fitness facility, our true mission goes far deeper: we bring people together. Connection and belonging aren’t just feel-good ideas, they’re essential to our well-being. Yes, we all have bodies that need movement and care, but we also have minds that thrive on meaningful conversation, and spirits that are lifted by a smile, a kind word, or a warm embrace.
Research consistently shows that people live longer, healthier lives when they’re part of a strong, supportive community. That’s why creating connections is central to our work—and why programs like Circle of Champs and LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA are so impactful.
These life-changing initiatives offer more than just physical activity. They create safe spaces where individuals facing serious health challenges can build friendships, share experiences, and support one another. At the Y, they find more than a workout—they find hope, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.
Living Strong After Cancer
Since 2013, the Capital District YMCA has partnered with the LIVESTRONG® Foundation to help cancer survivors reclaim their health through a free, 12-week program focused on physical activity, emotional support, and community support.
Thanks to generous contributions to our Annual Campaign, participants receive full YMCA memberships during the program at no cost—ensuring that finances are never a barrier to healing.
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is more than a program— it’s a lifeline in the dark, offering hope and connection.
Champs Celebrates 25 Years
Circle of Champs is a life-changing program supporting children battling life-threatening illnesses, and the families who care for them. Now serving 160 families across the Capital Region, the program offers free monthly outings like baseball games, cooking classes, and summer camp, along with full YMCA household memberships to ensure families have a welcoming place to gather, play, and heal.
Founded in 1999 by volunteers in Guilderland, Circle of Champs has served over 1,000 family members since its inception, and it continues to grow at a remarkable rate. This past Christmas, the program celebrated its 25th anniversary with a festive Silver Holiday Party, featuring dancing, crafts, a magician, and a visit from Santa.
During the celebration, David Brown and volunteers honored beloved founding member “Aunt Dale” for her lasting impact.
Circle of Champs recognizes that serious illness affects the whole family. That’s why the program focuses on joyful, inclusive experiences—giving all children the chance to simply be kids in a caring, supportive community.
Rooted in Nature: The Developmental Impact of Camp
Nestled on the eastern shore of Lake George at the base of Buck Mountain, YMCA Camp Chingachgook is the Capital District YMCA’s crown jewel in the wilderness. Each season, Chingachgook serves hundreds of children through world-class outdoor programs that foster connection with nature, build confidence, and encourage personal growth.
Thanks to generous donor support, we’re able to send busloads of school-aged children from our urban centers in Albany and Schenectady to sleepaway camp, many for the first time. This life-changing experience helps kids step outside their comfort zones, discover new strengths, and feel a deep sense of belonging.
From Urban Places to Green Spaces
Each year, two major donors help turn the dream of wilderness adventure into reality for dozens of local kids: the Carl E. Touhey Foundation and the Golub Family Foundation. Their generous support funds a significant portion of our camp scholarships, making it possible for children from Albany to attend Adventure Camp and Camp Chingachgook, and for children from Schenectady to experience Camp Chingachgook.
A nervous excitement fills the air as kids load onto buses and say their goodbyes. As the road winds north, sidewalks give way to towering pines, and the noise of the city fades into the calls of loons on Lake George. Soon, kids are paddling canoes, shooting arrows, and gathering around glowing campfires at Camp Chingachgook.
At Adventure Camp, the CDYMCA’s premier day camp, kids spend their days zip lining, climbing rock walls, and cooling off in the expansive outdoor pool. For many, YMCA camp is a transformative experience, and we are deeply grateful to our donors for making it possible.
In Troy, summer day camp at the Y offers a season of fun and enrichment, made possible by the generous support of McCarthy Charities. Thanks to this long-standing partnership, many children from low-income situations attend camp free of charge. Campers enjoy outdoor games, arts and crafts, science activities, and exciting enrichment events, like a pancake breakfast hosted by RPI students and a visit from a traveling petting zoo. Swim lessons are also an important part of the camp experience, teaching kids how to be safe and confident in and around the water.
Tomorrow's Leaders
The Black and Latino Achievers program empowers students in grades 7–12 to reach their full potential through academic support, mentorship, and leadership development. Focused on uplifting youth from Black and Latino communities, the program offers opportunities for college and career exploration, professional enrichment, and civic engagement.
In 2024, the Achievers program proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of impact. It also brought back the beloved Salute Awards—a vibrant celebration of Black and Latino achievement and the power of intergenerational mentorship, once paused due to the pandemic.
Sankofa: Generations Connected
The 2024 Salute Awards embraced the theme “Sankofa: Generations Connected,” inspired by the Sankofa bird of Ghana, depicted flying forward with its head turned backward, often carrying an egg to symbolize the future. This imagery emphasizes the importance of learning from the past to guide the current generation, underscoring the program’s strong focus on mentorship.
Nearly 300 people gathered to celebrate the Black and Latino Achievers program and its graduating class, 100% of whom completed high school, a notable contrast to national averages for Black and Latino students.
During the event, Teen Achiever of the Year Sarah Brown delivered a moving speech: "With every [Achievers] meeting I understood one crucial thing: to accomplish our goals, we need the support of the village. One of our Achievers wants to attend an HBCU to play Lacrosse, […] another wants to study sports medicine, […] another immigration law. They will need the support of the village. [...] We, as Black and Latino Achievers, are the future - we are your future.”
Diverse in Culture, United in Movement
Kids race across the field, laughing as the soccer ball rolls out of bounds. The pint-sized players share a love of soccer (or football as most of the world knows it), even if some of them don’t share a common language. However, the smiles and laughter are universal.
The Youth Soccer program is a highlight in a list of refugee assistance programs run by the Capital District YMCA. From ESL classes, to an Indian-Pakistani music collaboration, to a halal-safe food delivery service, the Y is building community among people of many cultures and backgrounds, truly embracing the Y’s unifying mantra: “For All.”
Social Responsibility Means Making Connections
At the Capital District YMCA, social responsibility is more than a value—it’s a commitment to strengthening community and fostering global citizenship. Whether we’re teaching lifesaving water safety skills, offering teens a safe and supportive space on Saturday nights through Teen Nite, or extending our service beyond borders on a volunteer trip to Vietnam, the Y empowers individuals to give back, grow, and build a better world for all.
Water Safety is Life Saving
While the YMCA serves people of all ages and backgrounds, many know us best for our youth programming. From summer camp to swim lessons, the Y has long been a trusted resource for families with children, and our Safety Around Water program is no exception.
Each year, the Guilderland and Glenville branches collectively welcome more than 200 elementary school students for a one-day course in water safety. Rotating through hands-on, instructor-led stations, kids learn lifesaving techniques like “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim,” along with basic first aid. They also practice safe water rescues, play lifeguard-themed games, and get an introduction to hands-only CPR.
The training is age-appropriate, hands-on, and designed to be both fun and memorable. Whether or not a child has prior swimming experience, they leave with skills that can help save lives.
As Kim Kowalski, Aquatics Director for the Capital District YMCA, explains: “This age group really retains what they learn—and they have a blast doing it.”
Meeting Teens Where They Are
Nearly 25 years ago, the Capital District YMCA launched Teen Nite in North Albany—a violence prevention program offering teens in underserved neighborhoods a safe space for recreation, support, and community. Since then, the program has served multiple generations, providing mentorship and stability that help keep youth on a positive path.
Many former participants, now attorneys, activists, and professionals, credit the program with helping them avoid common pitfalls and achieve their goals.
Now in its 25th year, this impactful program is expanding. With the launch of the CDYMCA’s new Y on the Fly mobile van, sponsored by the Highmark Blue Fund, Teen Nite will soon reach even more youth, broadening the program’s reach in Albany and soon expanding service to Schenectady and Troy as well.
The Y Mission Goes Global
Once again, a team of Capital District YMCA volunteers traveled to Vietnam for a community service project none of them will soon forget.
Dear Y Community,
The momentum over the past year has been nothing short of inspiring. During the 2024–2025 program year, we’ve welcomed back many members who had stepped away during the pandemic—especially families—and embraced a wave of new faces. It’s been a joy to reconnect and to introduce more people to the full scope of what the Y offers. We are, and have always been, much more than “gym and swim.”
This renewed energy has led to record-breaking achievements. Last year, the Capital District YMCA raised an unprecedented $2.25 million—our highest total ever. These funds directly support our community through scholarships, youth programs, and essential initiatives like Black and Latino Achievers, Youth and Government, and Safety Around Water.
In September, we hosted our first annual Upstate New York Pickleball Championship at the Broadview Center on the University at Albany campus. The event was a tremendous success, bringing together 205 athletes and raising nearly $35,000 for Circle of Champs, which supports children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
We’ve also launched several exciting initiatives, thanks to the support of new and expanding partnerships. With a $200,000 grant from the Highmark Blue Fund, we’re proud to introduce our new mobile YMCA service center—a van that will bring wellness and youth programs directly to urban and underserved communities. We’ll celebrate its debut with a ribbon-cutting at our Annual Board Meeting.
Additional partnership-driven programs include:
- Be5STEM, offering hands-on science and technology programming at our Southern Saratoga branch
- eSports programming in collaboration with Claim to Fame Entertainment
- Expanded higher education partnerships supporting the Black and Latino Achievers program, including Siena College, Hudson Valley Community College, and the University at Albany.
The past year has marked a powerful turning point for the Capital District YMCA. As we continue to move forward, we are filled with optimism and a renewed sense of purpose. Together, we have a remarkable opportunity to shape growth that truly serves and strengthens our community.
We hope you enjoy reading more about the inspiring outcomes the Capital District YMCA has delivered this year.
Dave Brown,
CEO and President, CDYMCA
John Vero
Chair, CDYMCA Board of Directors
