Today’s communities urgently need us. It’s our responsibility to step in and make a difference. That’s why the YMCA exists as a powerful community of men, women and children of all ages and abilities joined together to create a healthy, vibrant place where all can thrive, together.

YMCA Without Walls & Community Corps

YMCA Without Walls (YWW), a community outreach initiative focusing on supporting neighborhoods outside of brick and mortar walls, expanded its reach from the Linden area into the Hilltop.

What started as a vision to bring Y programs and services directly into underserved communities, has evolved to include Safe Routes to School, programs to combat summer learning loss, English Language Learner Summer Series to help close the achievement gap, neighborhood beautification efforts and mid-day health and wellness programs to address the community’s obesity rate in children.

YMCA Without Walls in the Hilltop is made possible through the generous financial support of American Electric Power (AEP) and the dedicated staff of YMCA Community Corps. As a result, students from Georgian Heights and Eakin Elementary schools are building stronger connections, making friends and have counselors, teachers and coaches to look up to.

“The Corps and its members have actively demonstrated the importance and power of service and volunteerism.” - Dean Hindenlang, AmeriCorps Program Director

Furthering its presence in the Hilltop, YWW is also providing New American families invaluable resources for language, mental health and access to food.

I love that the YMCA is here to help Santiago get to school safely. With the Safe Routes to School program, my son is happier when he gets up in the morning and even looks forward to school. He’s getting his homework done and plays outside. What more could a mom ask for.

The YMCA reaches out to all members of the community to create a sense of belonging, where we can all come together. We play. We’re active. We care, have fun and stir up all kinds of energy...all to make it our home, away from home.

YMCA Family Fun Factory

The YMCA of Central Ohio’s newest social enterprise, YMCA Family Fun Factory, also referred to as YF3 officially launched in 2018 with 196 events in just under a year. From engaging children at birthday parties, community events and team building at corporate gatherings, YF3 has expanded the visibility and understanding of the Y brand throughout central Ohio.

When the Y came to our community event, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was so surprised to see all of the bouncy houses and games for kids. We have twin boys who have never played the game of GaGa before. They absolutely loved it! The staff from the Y were so engaging. Now the boys want to go to camp!

YF3 began as a simple idea to provide a Y experience outside of a building. Now, one year later, opportunities for communities to give back has provided a new avenue for philanthropic efforts. In collaboration with Violet Elementary, ‘Help the Next One in Line’ allowed students to collect and donate toys, diapers, toothbrushes and toothpaste for guests of the Van Buren Center.

There are a lot of people and kids that live at the center. They don’t have anywhere to live which makes me sad. My mom helped me buy some toothbrushes and toothpaste to give to them. That made them happy.