Get Involved

Despite its name, the YMCA is not just for the young, not just for men and not just for Christians. It is, however, as our history illustrates, an association of members who come together with a common understanding of the YMCA mission and a common commitment to the YMCA's vision of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

Across the United States, 17.9 million members are part of more than 2,400 local YMCA associations. Each association is different, reflecting the needs of the local community. Your YMCA in your community may have a facility with a gymnasium, pool, child care center and fitness center with a wide variety of programs for everyone to enjoy. It may be a storefront operation delivering community-based programs such as job training or Youth and Government. It may be a camp, or it may be a satellite program in a local school. It may be all of those things.

Whatever the facilities, whatever the programs, what doesn't change are the people. What every YMCA has in common is a dedicated group of people: volunteers, staff, members and donors—all of whom are commited to our mission. It is the people of the YMCA who build strong kids, strong families and strong communities—and you can help.

Member

A YMCA is an association of people of all incomes, ages, abilities, religions and ethnic backgrounds. It works to nurture the healthy development of children and teens, support families and strengthen communities. When you join a YMCA, you help not only yourself and your family but the entire community. Along with the many precious hours of volunteer time and the dollars that are contributed, membership fees make it possible for your YMCA to respond to community needs and to make sure it is accessible to everyone, regardless of income.

When you become a YMCA member, you're setting yourself on a lifelong journey of healthy spirit, mind and body. You're becoming part of an association that does everything from child care to health and fitness to youth development to the arts and humanities, and much, much, more. As a YMCA member, you have many benefits but you have some responsibilities, too. You will be asked to get involved and be a champion for the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. You may be asked to volunteer or contribute to the Y's annual support campaign that underwrites membership assistance for those who cannot afford the full fees. The YMCA involves members in offering their time, talent and treasure, for the greater good.

Volunteer

At the YMCA, your time and talent go a long way. Every hour you spend as a YMCA volunteer translates into the caring attention a child or teen needs to grow up healthy and resilient. It translates into support for families so they can be successful and strong. Into healthier lives for people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and incomes. Into a safer, more viable community that's a good place to live and work.

As a YMCA volunteer, you can lead an exercise class, read to a preschool class, coach a basketball team, cook for a bake sale, design a program brochure, greet people at the front desk, find items for an auction, serve as a role model for young people, help out in the office or at a special event, or be part of a group or committee working on a neighborhood problem. No matter how you help, you'll make a big difference as you work with others to create a feeling of connectedness in your community.

To solve the problems closest to home—or better yet, prevent them—the YMCA needs more people like you. Do something good. Volunteer at the YMCA.

To learn more about volunteering, check out these helpful links:

• What kinds of volunteer activities can young people participate in?
• Volunteers: How you can be a champion for kids, families and communities

Donor

YMCAs embrace people of all ages, incomes, abilities, religions and ethnic backgrounds; they're for everyone. Ys work to break barriers of isolation and to create the connections between people that add meaning to life. Children and families who cannot afford to pay full costs deserve the experiences the Y offers as much as those who can. Your support, which goes beyond membership fees, helps YMCAs provide programs to those who otherwise couldn't afford to participate.

The YMCA needs you to help children and teens grow up happy and strong. To support families in their efforts to be successful. And to make your neighborhood a safer, healthier, better place to live and work. Won't you please help by supporting your local YMCA?

Online Registration

The YMCA is in the process of adding online registration for many of it's programs. To register online, visit http://webregistration.ymcaofpittsburgh.org and select your YMCA office (Cloverleaf Area YMCA or South Hills Area YMCA). Keep All Categories and Any Age selected to view the full breadth of programs currently available.

A current YMCA membership is needed. Follow the instructions on the screen for First Time Users, or if registered, enter your username and password.

Partner with Youth Campaign

The Partner with Youth is an annual Phone-A-Thon that takes place every March to raise funds for Camp AIM, the largest day camp for special needs children in the region.

How you can help:

• Make a pledge
• Volunteer
  • Join a Phone-A-Thon Team
  • Collect pledges
  • Assist with the adminstration
  • Recruit
• Donate some time and talents

Contact the YMCA for more information.

Visit the Camp AIM website -- www.campaim.org.

Home | Chief's Letter | Calendar | News | Camp | Photos | Longhouse

The Smoke Signals is a newsletter for the South Hills Area YMCA Guide Parent/Child Program

South Hills YMCA, 51 McMurray Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15241
412-833-5600