Reading PA – YMCA of Reading & Berks County

Annual event honors local leaders and organizations investing in the future of Berks County

The YMCA of Reading & Berks County welcomed community leaders, partners, advocates, and supporters to the 2026 Breakfast of Champions for Youth on Tuesday morning at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, raising $110,000 so far for its annual support campaign for programs and services that strengthen youth, families, and the community across Berks County. The Y is accepting donations throughout the month online at YMCArbc.org/donate.

“This morning is a reminder of what is possible when a community comes together around a common cause,” said Ken Borkey, Jr., President & CEO of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. “Every dollar raised and every person recognized represents an investment in belonging, opportunity, mentorship, and brighter futures for the children and families we serve.”

The annual event celebrated individuals and organizations whose leadership, service, and commitment embody the YMCA’s mission of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. From the national anthem performed by Schuylkill Valley School District students to the performances by Reading YMCA Early Childcare Center’s Pre-K students, the event reinforced the spirit of youth confidence and achievement.

Along the lines of celebrating youth champions, Borkey recognized the Reading Y Swim Team for its record-breaking performance at the recent National Championship. Winning first place in the 200 freestyle, Owen Eisenhofer won the first national individual championship in Reading Y’s history. More victories followed throughout the meet for 16 dedicated athletes from schools across Berks, who are united by the Reading Y swim team.

Borkey and Y Volunteer Board Member Crystal Gilmore-Harris, the event emcee, gave awards to six outstanding changemakers whose work continues to positively impact the lives of local youth and strengthen the Berks County community:

Richard Palmer, Sr. Wealth & Wisdom Award: Wynton Butler, Reading School District (top left)
James Sternbergh Faith & Guidance Award: Susan Looney, Reading Area Community College (top middle)
Jere Edwards Spirit of Youth Award: Doug Dahms, Wilson High School (top right)
Red Triangle Awards: Schlouch Incorporated, Barry and Deb Schlouch (bottom left) and Mid Penn Bank (bottom center)
Eugene Shirk Youth Leadership Award: Beloved Lenora Pair (bottom right)

Investing in Community

Throughout the morning, attendees heard powerful stories (Y Stories Video) highlighting how YMCA programs help children and families gain access to childcare, mentorship, scholarships, swim safety, summer camp experiences, educational support, and opportunities that build confidence and lifelong skills.

Funds raised through the Breakfast of Champions directly support YMCA programs and financial assistance initiatives that ensure no child or family is turned away due to inability to pay.

Thanks to the generosity of our annual support partners, table sponsors and donors, the Breakfast of Champions has already raised $110,000. This year’s Legacy Partners were:

Dorothy M. Haas Charitable Trust – Represented by Richard Auman and Clair Auman. (Pictured L-R: Sinking Spring YMCA Executive Director Jesse Whiteman, Richard Auman, Clair Auman, and Y President & CEO Ken Borkey, Jr.)

M&T Bank

Together, We Made This Possible

Every sponsorship helped create moments of belonging, support, confidence, and opportunity for the people we serve every day.

Thank you for investing in the future of our community through the YMCA of Reading & Berks County.

Legacy Partners

Dorothy M. Haas Charitable Trust

M&T Bank

Visionary Partner

Precor

Mission Partners

Alarm Tech Systems, Inc.
Artsana USA, LLC Chicco
Customers Bank
East Penn
EHD
Holly Gerke
UGI Energy Services

Impact Partners

Barley Snyder Attorneys At Law
Blinck Studios
The Borkey Family
Burkey Construction
Canteen Berks
Cherry Bekaert
Fulton Bank
The Gulati Family Foundation
Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys
Michael & Diane Duff
Mid Penn Bank
Penske Truck Leasing Co.
Penn State University / Penn State Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Reading Area Community College
Reading Hospital – Tower Health
Reading Beneficial Association
RKL
Schlouch, Inc.
Smith | Bukowski
Solve IT Solutions, LLC
Weik Capital Management

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.

Tag: Reading PA

YMCA of Reading & Berks County Raises More Than $110,000 Toward Annual Support Campaign at 2026 Breakfast of Champions for Youth