YMCA of Reading & Berks County

National Nonprofit Day

Posted on August 15, 2025 Updated on August 18, 2025 by Amber Fox

This is what your YMCA does for you, and why your gift matters

When a neighbor needs child care so they can keep a job, when a teen needs a safe place after school, when a senior needs community to fight loneliness, nonprofits show up. Today we celebrate National Nonprofit Day, which makes it the perfect moment to talk plainly about why nonprofits matter in Berks County and how your gift to the YMCA of Reading & Berks County turns into real help for real people.

Why this day is on the calendar?

National Nonprofit Day is observed every year on August 17 to spotlight the impact of organizations that serve the public good. The date nods to an early federal policy that recognized the value of charitable work and helped set the stage for modern nonprofit service. Advocates have championed this observance to raise awareness, thank volunteers and donors, and encourage communities to give, serve, and speak up for the causes they love. It is a reminder to invest in the places and people that make home feel like home.

Why nonprofits matter here at home

Nonprofits are built for community problem-solving. We step into the gaps that for-profit markets do not fill and public funding cannot fully cover. At the Y, that looks like financial assistance in child care so parents can work, youth development so kids grow with confidence, social services that steady families in crisis, and health and wellness that keep people moving and connected.

Every program the Y runs exists because a neighbor needed it. Every one of those programs is sustained by a mix of earned revenue and philanthropy. Our Annual Giving Campaign is the engine that makes sure a child is never turned away for inability to pay, that a family in transition still has support, and that community health is not just a slogan.

What your YMCA does in Berks County

Here is a snapshot of how support becomes impact right here at home:

Child care and early learning. Working parents rely on our Early Learning Centers and Before and After School programs to keep kids safe, learning, and loved. Scholarships from Annual Giving close the gap for families who need help.
Youth programs and summer camp. From camp activities to robotics tables, kids test courage, creativity, and leadership. One great day at camp can change the whole arc of a summer.

Safety around water and the swim team. The pool is a classroom for confidence and life-saving skills. It is also where local athletes shine. Our swim team’s strong performance at recent state and national championships shows what happens when coaching meets grit.
Healthy living for all ages. Group fitness, personal training, Les Mills GRIT, and wellness coaching help adults build habits that last. The membership scholarship fund keeps the doors open to neighbors who need the Y most.
Social services and stability. When life gets tough, our Social Services team closes the gap with free Parenting Pathways classes for parents/guardians/role models; housing programs for men, women, and women with children; and practical care and support. Community initiatives like the member-led garden show what happens when people are given space and support to rebuild.

Real people. Real change.

Stories move us because they remind us who we are together. Here are a few moments from our community you can explore in more detail on our site.

Amy’s journey began in crisis. After struggling with addiction and surviving an abusive marriage, Amy was welcomed into the housing program at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. In retrospect, it was Amy’s first real step toward a better life. Each stage of her life has involved the Y and has been as positive for Amy as her impact is for those around her.
When Ariyah started school, she would cry uncontrollably, cling to her mom, and sometimes even try to run back out of the classroom. Now, after programming at the Y, she’s comfortable and confident, and can hug her mom and say goodbye. Her mom said the transformation has been incredible.
With Jeff’s medical condition, reaching toward the floor was too painful. After coming to the Y for movement exercises (and socializing with his new friends), he found that his physical limitations were decreasing. After not being able to touch his toes for years, he’d knocked something down and without thinking about it, reactively bent down and picked it up. It wasn’t until he stood back up that he thought, “What did I just do?!”

These are not one-time wins. They are the day-in and day-out outcomes your support creates.

Where your gift goes?

Transparency matters. Here is the short version of how giving fuels impact:

Scholarships lower the cost of child care, programs, and memberships for families who qualify. All children deserve the YMCA resources. Thanks to donations, they have access.
Program support keeps classes staffed, supplies stocked, and facilities safe and clean.
Community outreach brings programs to neighborhoods that need them most.
Emergency assistance helps families bridge short-term crises without losing hard-won stability.

If you have ever wondered whether a gift makes a difference, the answer at the Y is yes, every single time.

Why give today?

National Nonprofit Day is about more than awareness. It is about action. When you give to the YMCA of Reading & Berks County, you are investing in the health, safety, and potential of your neighbors. You are saying that every child deserves a strong start, every teen deserves a mentor, every adult deserves a community, and every senior deserves to be seen. You are saying you believe in the power of connection and making it happen.

Your gift to our Annual Giving Campaign stays local. It is stewarded carefully. It is matched to real needs. It gets to work immediately.

Three simple ways to help right now

Give today. Make a one-time gift or set up a monthly donation that fits your budget. Small monthly gifts add up to big change.
Tell your story. Share why you support the Y on social media and tag #ymcarbc. Your voice encourages the next donor.
Bring a friend. Invite someone to tour a program, try a class, or volunteer at an event. Seeing impact up close makes all the difference.

A note of gratitude

If you have already given, volunteered, or cheered us on, thank you. Your generosity fuels kids who raise their hands in class because they finally feel confident. It fuels parents who can breathe a little easier on the night shift. It fuels seniors who find purpose and friends again. It fuels athletes who discover what they are capable of. It fuels gardens and graduations and the kind of ordinary magic that makes a community strong.

Ready to be part of the story?

Giving is not about fixing everything at once. It is about moving one life forward today. That is what nonprofits do best. That is what the Y does every day in Berks County. Join us.

Mission Moments: Amy’s Y

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Amber Fox

At the Y, Amy found healing, belonging, and the strength to lift others.

The path to healing isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes it’s a winding, uphill climb filled with second chances, painful detours, and moments that break you, before they begin to build you back up again. For Amy, that path started with the YMCA.

Her journey began in crisis. After struggling with addiction and surviving an abusive marriage, Amy was welcomed into the housing program at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. In retrospect, it was Amy’s first real step toward a better life.

The YMCA was the beginning of my story. Even though I didn’t stay long, it planted a seed. It was the first time I started to believe that a different life was possible.

-Amy

That belief, however small, was enough.

By 2012, Amy began to transform her life as the changes she had made gave her new footing and she found support in community programs, recovery meetings, and sober events. Finally, she “started living instead of just surviving” and her world shifted for the best. She regained full custody of her daughter, and married the love of her life, and created a new beautifully blended family with four children.

Amy’s journey with the Y took on a new, incredible life, this time as a parent. All four kids attended before-and-after school “Y-Care” at Brecknock Elementary and summer camp at the Mifflin YMCA. They loved the fun experiences and making/playing with friends. Amy and her husband loved even more than that. They found support, comfort and strength in the inclusion and sense of true belonging that their son, who is on the autism spectrum, found at the Y.

They welcomed him with open arms. So many places wouldn’t ‘deal’ with him. But the Y staff never made him feel like a burden. They made him feel like he belonged.

-Amy

Fast forward to 2018. Life threw another devastating blow when Amy’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and passed away within months. Grief and depression hit like a tidal wave. That’s when someone encouraged her to go to the gym. “I thought it was a joke,” she laughs softly, “but I went.”

And something clicked.

Group fitness didn’t just become a routine; it became her anchor. A space to breathe. A place to cry, sweat, connect, and feel something other than grief. “Group fitness became my saving grace,” Amy says.

Soon, she wasn’t just taking classes. She was leading them. Giving back the same encouragement that once saved her.

Today, Amy teaches group fitness at the YMCA, pouring strength into every movement, every message. She’s become the light for others still navigating dark places, the way the Y once was for her. For the young mother battling addiction. For her stepson, who just wanted to feel accepted. For the grieving daughter trying to survive one more day. “The Y helped me grow. It helped my family grow,” Amy says. “And now I get to be part of the change that helped me.”

Because of the Y, Amy’s life is proof that hope can be rebuilt and shared.

Be the reason someone like Amy finds their first step toward healing. Donate today and support the programs that give our community strength, one story at a time.

Mission Moments: Ariyah’s Y

Posted on May 12, 2025 Updated on June 30, 2025 by Amber Fox

At the Y, Ariyah found the security and the support that gave her game-changing confidence.

Her mom found peace of mind and watched her daughter thrive.

When Ariyah made the big leap from Pre-K to Kindergarten, her mom thought she had prepared for everything: the labeled backpack, the sparkly shoes, the proud “first day of school” picture. The only thing she wasn’t ready for was Ariyah sobbing at drop-off and refusing to let go, every single morning.

“She would cry uncontrollably, cling to me, and sometimes even try to run back out of the classroom,” her mother, Perla Santiago, remembers. “It was heartbreaking to watch her feel so overwhelmed and scared.”

For weeks, this was their morning routine: chaos, tears, and heartbreak. Kindergarten wasn’t just a new classroom—it was a big, unfamiliar world, and Ariyah felt lost in it. For her mom, it was just as painful to watch her little girl struggle so much with the transition. “As a mother, it left me feeling helpless. She wouldn’t talk about what was bothering her, and I wasn’t sure how to make things better,” Perla reflects.

Then came the YMCA of Reading & Berks County’s Before & After School Program, which turned out to be the lifeline both Ariyah and her mom needed.

Y Care staff saw more than just a nervous Kindergartener. They saw a child in need of reassurance. Rather than trying to rush her through the transition, Y staff took the time to really get to know her and to understand what she needed to feel safe and secure.

“They approached Ariyah with so much patience, care, and understanding,” her mom shares. “They paid attention to the little things—what made her feel calm, what sparked her interest, and how to gently encourage her to engage.”

While some environments push kids to “get over it,” the YMCA staff walked beside Ariyah, step by loving step. They partnered with her mom, keeping her in the loop every day. They reminded her that growth doesn’t happen on a strict schedule—it happens with support, consistency, and heart.

And slowly, everything began to change. The tears stopped. The fear eased.

The same child who once ran out of classrooms now walks into the Y with her head held high and a confident smile. “She gives me a hug and says goodbye with confidence,” her mom beams. “The transformation has been incredible.”

"She gives me a hug and says goodbye with confidence. The transformation has been incredible."

Perla Santiago, Ariyah's mom

At the Y, Ariyah didn’t just gain comfort, she gained confidence. She discovered that she was brave. That she could trust new people. That the world wasn’t so scary after all. And her mom? She finally could trade those tearful drop-offs for peace of mind, knowing that her daughter was being cared for and engaged, not just supervised.

For the YMCA of Reading & Berks County, this is what community looks like. This is what donors make possible. Your support doesn’t just keep the lights on or fund a program, it creates a safe space where kids like Ariyah can thrive and where parents like her mom can exhale.

Because of Y supporters, a little girl found her courage and a mom found her hope.

And because of the YMCA, their mornings now begin not with fear, but with smiles.Instead of just making it through the day, Ariyah can be fully engaged in learning and making moments with friends.

Want to be part of stories like Ariyah’s?

Help us continue providing safe, nurturing spaces for every child who walks through our doors. Donate today and be the reason another child smiles tomorrow.

Making Waves for a Cause: The Marsh Madness Polar Plunge Recap

Posted on March 27, 2025 Updated on April 21, 2025 by Amber Fox

A Chilling Challenge with a Warm Heart

Imagine stepping into icy 34-degree waters, the cold stealing your breath away as you take the plunge. Now, imagine doing it for a cause that changes lives. On March 15, hundreds of brave adventurers did just that at the Marsh Madness Polar Plunge, an annual fundraising event hosted by the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. This event wasn’t just about the thrill—it was about making waves for a greater cause by raising essential funds for the YMCA’s Open Door Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to youth when their families need extra help to afford programming such as summer camp, before & after school care, school’s out programs.

“Regardless of their family's ability to pay, events like this make sure that kids in our county have access to high-quality programming that is affordable. The experiences they have with their peers and our mentors have long-lasting impressions on their lives – from core memories to learning social skills and building confidence in a safe place. Every kid deserves – and receives – the same chance for potential.”

-Phil Borup

Freezin’ for a Reason: The Impact of Your Support

Every dollar raised at Marsh Madness helps ensure that children, no matter their financial circumstances, can access life-changing YMCA programs, including swim lessons, summer camp, and memberships.

$100 provides two children with six weeks of swim lessons, helping them learn vital water safety skills.
$250 gives a struggling family a seven-month YMCA membership, offering them a place to stay active and engaged.
$500 sends four children to one week of summer camp, giving working parents peace of mind.
$1,000 ensures 12 children have meals and snacks in childcare for a month.

The ripples of generosity from this year’s plunge will be felt by countless families across Berks County.

Epic Costumes, Fierce Competitions, and Award-Winning Spirit

The event was more than just a plunge—it was a celebration of community spirit. Participants sported wacky costumes, formed spirited teams, and competed for top fundraising awards.

Pot of Gold Awards (Top Individuals)

Shamrock Award (Male with most money raised): Joseph Conte
Four Leaf Clover Award (Female with most money raised): Kim Evans
Leprechaun Elder Award (Oldest Plunger): Bill Oswald
Fairy Tales Award (Best Female Costume): Rylee Coyle
Ogre Drag Award (Best Male Costume): Joey Conte

Blarney Chalice Awards (Top Groups)

Fiddler Folly Award (Best Team Costume): Christopher, Robin, Candice, and Ira Wierzbowski
Member Spirit Award (Member team with most participants or best costume): Reading YMCA Swim Team
Community Spirit Award (Business with most money raised): Exeter Leo Club

Y Spirit Awards (Branch Awards)

Most Money Raised: Reading YMCA
Best Spirit: Sinking Spring YMCA’s Group Fitness Team

Community Champions: Our Incredible Sponsors

Marsh Madness wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our local businesses. A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event a success:

Platinum Sponsors

Redner’s, Chicco, Enersys, The Works at Wyomissing

Gold Sponsors

MailShark, West Lawn Quoiting Associates, UGI Energy Services INC, Reading Orthodontics Management, Dorothy M Hass Charitable Trust

Silver Sponsors

Alarm Tech Services INC, Reading Precast INC, Performance Roofing Associates, EHD, Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys, Burkey Construction, Fulton Bank, Herbein, Maillie LLP, Precor, Fleetwood Orioles Nest #23

Bronze Sponsors

Sheetz, Tree’s Salon, Sims Lawn and Landscaping LLC, West Wyomissing Fire Co, Lincoln Park Fire Company, Boehringer’s Drive-In, Hidden View Woodworks, Kristen Young Pilates LLC, ReMax of Reading, Rudolph LLC

Iceberg Sponsors

D & S Portable Toilets LLC, Geist Sporting Goods, Elwood and Carol Klinger, Simple Again, Keystone T’s, Bob Zelano Refrigeration, Prospectus Berco

Support the Y’s Mission: It’s Not Too Late to Donate

Visit our website to learn more about YMCA programs, volunteer opportunities, and how to support local nonprofits in Reading, PA. Every contribution helps strengthen our community—because when we come together, we rise together.

Mission Moments: Jeff’s Y

Posted on November 8, 2024 Updated on November 27, 2024 by Amber Fox

At the Y, Jeff found small steps make a big difference.

When Jeff Seltzer first came to The YMCA of Reading & Berks County’s Adamstown branch, he had been living with a life-changing medical diagnosis. A degenerative disease had impacted his physical movement and balance. He could no longer go to work. And isolation was becoming a real threat. But in 2022, Jeff walked into the Y and took a step that would help him regain some of what he had been losing.

At first, he thought it would be beneficial to use the treadmill and walk a little each day, but the Silver Sneakers classes quickly caught his attention. He decided to join in – a decision that would become another life-changing event for Jeff.

“[The classes] are not physically taxing, but they keep me moving,” says Jeff as he joyfully demonstrates how he can touch his right foot to his left knee as he slowly crosses his leg – a movement some take for granted, but a major milestone for Jeff, who had been unable to touch his toes in over five years. “I can do this now,” he says. “And I give credit to moving.”

Jeff looks forward to taking group fitness classes offered at the Y to keep him socially engaged and his body moving. Small steps have made a big difference.

"I have to admit I wouldn’t have done this stuff on my own. It’s because of coming here and doing these classes I’m learning these things. It’s very beneficial."

-Jeff Seltzer

Over time, Jeff discovered the simple exercises he had been doing were making a real difference. Due to his condition, he has difficulty reaching the floor because it’s too painful. “If I drop anything, I don’t even bend over and try to pick it up,” he explains. “One morning in my bedroom I knocked something down and I subconsciously bent down and picked it up and stood up – and I was like ‘What did I just do?!”

Jeff is now a regular at the Y, riding his recumbent bike to classes four times a week when it’s warm outside. He participates in the Silver Sneakers class as well as stability and stretching classes. As much as he enjoys the classes and the results, he says it’s the people that keep him coming back.

Find Your Reason to Give.

Find your Y.

Our donors lay the groundwork for our YMCA to provide structure, expand community outreach programs, uplift Christian principles, and advance inclusion and belonging. It is through support that we can provide a firm foundation for services and evolve with the needs of our community. Be the change you wish to see.

Mission Moments: Tanieya’s Y

Posted on November 1, 2024 Updated on November 21, 2024 by Amber Fox

At the Y, Tanieya found her wings.

Like any working mom, Tanieya Woodson’s days are full. In addition to caring for her daughter, she’s pursuing her bachelor’s degree and serves as the group supervisor for a toddler classroom at the YMCA of Reading & Berks childcare program. Tanieya’s full-time job at the Y is also a full-circle success story that began in 2017, when she and her 6-year-old daughter moved into the YMCA Y Haven Housing Program.

“I was ready for a new start, for something different,” Tanieya recalls of applying to the Y Haven Program to venture on her own from her mother’s house. “When I moved in, the other residents welcomed me and made sure I was comfortable.”

The Y Haven Program is designed to help women and children experiencing homelessness find stability and independence. Tanieya joined a community of women living together in a supportive, structured environment.

Tanieya Woodson on duty at YMCA childcare, where she came full circle as a participant in Y Haven and Parenting Pathways (formerly Baby University) programs.

“We went to school, went to work, did our chores, and cooked for each other. We worked as a group to take care of each other,” Tanieya says. “I learned how to cook for myself at the Y. I learned how to make money properly and in a healthy way. I learned how to save. I learned how to budget.”

Tanieya also participated in Parenting Pathways, a program formerly called Baby University that was created to help parents of young children support development in the crucial first five years of life. The program covers key skills like discipline, wellness and sick care, and purposeful play.

Tanieya and her daughter spent two and a half years at Y Haven. In that time, they built a strong foundation that allowed them to achieve meaningful successes – like earning her associate’s degree from Reading Area Community College, advancing in her career path, moving from the Y to her first apartment, and most recently, buying her first house!

In almost every memory of her time there, Tanieya fondly mentions “Ms. Gena.” Gena Pina-Garcia, executive director of social services at the Y, is much more than her title. For the women of Y Haven, she’s an accountability coach, a guiding north star, and often the first person they call with news, good or bad. “I try to make myself available to them, so they have that support,” Gena explains. “Some come from dysfunctional homes, have trauma, or lack family.”

"The Y helped me grow and brought me out of my shell. I learned how to take care of me and my child and how to be self-sufficient. I learned a lot.”

-Tanieya

While Gena fits well as a caretaker and confidant, she’s also versed in truth and tough love—providing guidance but insisting that growth comes from within. Tanieya speaks highly of the encouragement that led her to make positive changes for herself and her daughter. She smiles as she mentions the butterfly decorations at Y Haven, now understanding their significance.

“A lot of people would ask, ‘What’s up with all these butterflies?’” Gena laughs. “And I’d say, ‘This is your cocoon, and when you leave, I want you to have the wings to fly.’”

At the Y, I found myself.