Reading YMCA – YMCA of Reading and Berks County

From 1857 to Today: Honoring 167 Years of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

Posted on June 13, 2025 Updated on June 10, 2025 by Amber Fox

Celebrating 167 Years of Impact: The Reading YMCA Legacy Lives On

Happy Birthday to us! On June 22, 1857, the Reading YMCA opened its doors with one mission: to strengthen our community through a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Today, 167 years later, we’re still at it, and stronger than ever.

Reading YMCA early 1900s

From our humble beginnings in a borrowed meeting room to now operating five vibrant branches and two early learning centers in Berks County, the YMCA of Reading and Berks County has become a cornerstone of community support, wellness, youth development, and social responsibility.

To thank you, our members, staff, and supporters, we’re throwing a weeklong celebration for Membership Appreciation Week, June 17–22! You’ve helped shape this legacy, and now we want to celebrate YOU.

A Rich History of Service and Strength

Since 1857, the Reading YMCA has weathered wars, economic shifts, and social changes, but our commitment has never wavered. From early literacy programs and boarding rooms for young men in the 1800s, to launching job readiness programs and summer camps in the 1900s, to providing critical childcare, housing, and fitness services today, we’ve adapted to meet the community’s needs every step of the way. Each generation brings new energy and passion, but our mission stays the same: building a stronger, healthier community, together.

“The Y has always been more than a gym; it’s a home. A safe place. A community of people who lift each other up.”

- YMCA Member, Reading Branch

The Reading YMCA created a USO 1943

Then, Now, Always: What the YMCA Offers Today

The Y you know today is packed with programs and opportunities for all ages and abilities. Whether you’re chasing a new fitness goal, searching for affordable childcare, looking for youth sports, or wanting to volunteer, there’s a place for you here.

Reading YMCA Welcome Center Desk 1879-1895

Here’s just a snapshot of what your YMCA offers:

State-of-the-art fitness centers
Preschool & early learning programs
Before & after school care
Swim lessons & water safety
Summer day camps & playground programs
Housing programs
Tennis and pickleball courts
Supportive community events and wellness workshops

We are proud to serve over 40,000 people every year in Berks County. Each one of you is part of our legacy.

Growing Into the Future: Our Next Chapter Starts With You

Our story isn’t just about the past, it’s about where we’re headed next. As we prepare for the future, we’re committed to:

Expanding affordable access to all families
Strengthening youth mentorship programs
Enhancing our facilities and equipment
Growing partnerships with local businesses and donors
Supporting community wellness and mental health

Every time you show up, whether to work out, volunteer, donate, or enroll your child in a program, you are shaping our story. You are helping us carry 167 years of impact forward.

Be a Part of Our Legacy

If you haven’t stopped by in a while, now’s the perfect time. Visit us during Membership Appreciation Week, take a tour, and discover how the YMCA continues to be a pillar of wellness, inclusion, and opportunity in Berks County and beyond.

Whether you’re a longtime member or brand new, you belong at the Y, because the Y belongs to this community.

Thank you,

To our founding members, our current families, and every volunteer, donor, and staff member who’s walked through our doors, thank you. This birthday isn’t just about looking back, it’s about celebrating what we’ve built together, and what we’ll keep building for generations to come.

The Olympic-size indoor Pool opened in 1971. At the time, it was the largest Y pool in the US.

Happy 167th, Reading YMCA. Here’s to the next hundred and beyond!

Reading YMCA to Offer Entrepreneurship Program for Area Youths

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Ashley Shannon

Reading, PA – This summer, the Reading YMCA seeks to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among local youth through a collaboration with fellow nonprofit agency Young Entrepreneurz Solutions (YES).

The Reading YMCA will be a site of the Summer 2021 YES Business Plan Challenge for Reading School District students in grades 6-8. Throughout the summer, participants will attend a series of workshops designed to teach the basics of business planning, economics, marketing, and financial analysis. These results will be achieved through a combination of classroom-style lessons and hands-on learning experiences.

At the conclusion of the program, participants will work in teams to create the best possible business plan and present to a panel of local judges from August 16-20.

The winning team will be awarded $200 per team member and will have the opportunity to compete nationally in the U.S. Virgin Islands for a grand prize of $1,000 per team member, plus $2,500 for business licenses, LLC formations, trademarks, copyrights, and other necessary expenses to turn their proposals into real businesses.

YES was founded by an award-winning adjunct professor at Rutgers University, Ernest Ruffin, Jr to teach young men and women in urban areas nationwide about business and economic development. Over 1,800 students have participated in the YES Business Plan Challenge since 2014.

This program will be offered at no cost to participants thanks to generous donations from the Dorothy Haas Charitable Trust and Visions Federal Credit Union. Visions will also provide the instructional workshops to program participants.

“The YMCA is excited to work with Ernest and local community leaders to offer this program, which will allow students an opportunity to build teamwork skills while providing the unique insight into creating your own business,” says William Folk, III, Branch Executive at the Reading YMCA

Applications to this program will be accepted from May 3 until May 15, 2021. For more information regarding the YES Business Plan Challenge, or to apply, please contact William Folk, III at 610-378-4763 or email [email protected]. More information about Young Entrepreneurz Solutions is available at www.yngentrepreneurz.org.

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The mission of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. For over 160 years, we have been
the heart of the community we serve. The Y is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility. That is because a strong community can
only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. The Y so much more.

Reading YMCA Housing Program Receives Generous Donation from Penske

Posted on April 19, 2021 Updated on May 3, 2021 by Ashley Shannon

Reading, PA – The Reading YMCA’s Y Haven Program is getting women and children experiencing homelessness back on their feet thanks to a generous donation from the Penske Women’s Network.

Penske donated several items including bedding, towels, hygiene and feminine hygiene products, diapers, and wipes to create welcome kits for incoming residents. Other items donated include home goods such as cribs, toddler beds, lamps, silverware, and board games, which will help improve their quality of life while at the Y. All donations were collected from Penske employees through a donation drive at their Green Hills location.

The Y Haven program provides a safe place for women with up to two children who are experiencing chronic homelessness. Women may stay in the program for up to two years and, during this time, work to become self-sufficient, find stable employment, develop a healthy

lifestyle, and ultimately find a permanent living arrangement. The program is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“Some women in this program come in with very little,” said Gena Pena Garcia, Director of Y Haven, “so we give them some essentials to get started until they are able to supply their own. We very blessed to have received such a kind donation from Penske and our women will be very happy.”

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The mission of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. For over 160 years, we have been the heart of the community we serve. The Y is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility. That is because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. The Y so much more.

BB&T Lighthouse Project Donates to Reading YMCA Housing Programs

Posted on December 18, 2020 Updated on May 3, 2021 by Ashley Shannon

Reading, PA – The residents of the Reading YMCA will have a very happy holiday season thanks to BB&T, now Truist.

The BB&T Lighthouse Project has donated a variety of goods to the Reading YMCA Transitional Housing and Recovery Programs, including winter clothing, personal hygiene products, housewares, toys for children, and even a refrigerator and freezer. The donations total over $9,000 and were compiled by BB&T employees and sent to the Reading YMCA the week of December 1.

“We do all kinds of projects for nonprofits,” says Eric Crawford, Branch Leader and Vice President of the Kutztown Branch “from planting flower beds to full construction projects. You name it, we’ve done it… this is just our way of giving back and staying in the communities we serve.”

The BB&T Lighthouse Project was founded in 2009. Over the past ten years, they have completed more than 12,000 community service projects and have served over 18 million people in need in our communities.

“We are very grateful to the BB&T Lighthouse Project for selecting the YMCA as this years’ service project. The donation of personal items will have an immediate impact for those individuals who need a little extra support this time of year and the larger appliances will add to the overall program quality for our residents,” said Ken Borkey, Jr., Vice-President of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. “The YMCA is appreciative for businesses like BB&T that support local non-profits and give back to the communities they serve.”

“We appreciate this so much and we know our residents will, too,” added Jami Geist, Executive Director of Social Services for the Reading YMCA. “This year has been really hard for everyone, but especially so for our residents.”

The Reading YMCA houses men, women, and women with children who are struggling with homelessness, substance abuse, or mental health disorders. All individuals in these programs work towards achieving self-sufficiency, financial stability, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The facility has over 150 beds and provides over 49,380 bed nights per year.

“‘We at BB&T, now Truist, are proud to be able to support such a worthy organization as the YMCA which does so much for our community and the people it serves,” said David C. Roland, Market President for Truist. “Truist has as its purpose to ‘Inspire and build better lives and communities’ and we hope this donation is a small representation of that purpose.”