Third Thursday June 2025
Impact Beyond the Numbers
As we reflect on this past year, you’ll see in our annual report that we delivered over $2 million in mission-driven programming and served thousands of children, families, and individuals across the Capital District. These numbers are important: they show scale, reach, and commitment. But they only tell part of the story.
Because, at the Y, impact is more than numbers. It’s the child who found their bravery at summer camp, the parent who gained peace of mind through safe, affordable childcare, and the grandmother who regained some of her lost mobility in a neuromotor wellness class. It's the teen who chose basketball over violence today. It's the Achiever who heads off to college knowing they have a whole community cheering for them and their success. It's the cancer survivor who has found the strength to keep going, and the friends who understand the struggle. It's the kid who learned not to jump into the pool after a friend in trouble.
Behind every dollar and data point is a life changed or even a life saved—and that’s what really matters.
Thank you for being part of a community that’s not just delivering outcomes, but transforming lives.
On Monday, June 16, the Capital District YMCA officially cut the ribbon on Y on the Fly, a new mobile initiative designed to bring YMCA programs directly into neighborhoods across the Capital Region. Held at YMCA Adventure Camp in Guilderland, the ceremony marked a major step forward in the Y’s efforts to remove barriers and expand access to youth development, healthy living, and community engagement.
The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Teen Nite, one of the Y’s longest-running youth programs, now designated as a flagship program of the Y on the Fly van. Teen Nite has provided safe, welcoming Saturday night spaces for teens in Albany for decades, offering basketball, music, mentorship, and meals. With the support of the Highmark Blue Fund and community partners, Teen Nite can now expand its reach, bringing positive programming directly into neighborhoods where it’s needed most.
Speakers at the event included President and CEO Dave Brown, Chief Development Officer Tovah Lisky, and Director of Youth Outreach David Graham, who was joined by Teen Nite participants to mark this next chapter.
“This van is not just a vehicle,” said Brown during the ceremony. “It represents our promise to show up, to listen, and to meet people where they are.”
On Friday, June 13, the Capital District YMCA proudly dedicated the Bethlehem Area YMCA in honor of longtime supporter and community advocate William H. Lawrence. In recognition of his decades of philanthropic leadership, including his foundational support of the Teen Nite program in Albany and his role in establishing the former North Albany YMCA, the building is now formally known as the William H. Lawrence Family YMCA.
The event included remarks from President and CEO Dave Brown and Mr. Lawrence himself, along with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and the unveiling of new building signage and a commemorative rendering. The dedication celebrates Mr. Lawrence’s lasting legacy and ongoing impact on the YMCA mission throughout the Capital Region.
The 2025 Salute Awards was an unforgettable evening filled with pride, inspiration, and celebration. Held at the Albany Capital Center and attended by hundreds, the event honored the achievements of graduating participants from the Capital District YMCA’s Black and Latino Achievers Program—young leaders who embody strength, ambition, and purpose.
Under the theme “I Believe,” this year’s ceremony was a moving tribute to the power of education, mentorship, and community. From heartfelt speeches to a powerful keynote by Gregory Owens, the night affirmed the importance of uplifting and celebrating Black and Latino excellence.