YMCA of Central Ohio

Congratulations to the Pickaway County Family YMCA! ?? We’re thrilled to share the team who leads the After School program at Pickaway County Family YMCA was recognized at Children's Hunger Alliance Menu of Hope event as Program of the Year! Thank you, CHA, for your partnership and lifting up their outstanding work in providing after school care (and meals) to local children. ???? As the only CHA After School and Summer Meals program site in the county, their impact is incredible: ? 2,100+ meals served in 2024 (with even more during summer!) ? After school care provided for 12 kids daily, ensuring they have a safe and supportive space ? Dedicated staff who go above and beyond to encourage, engage, and nourish the full potential of every child From sports and swimming to arts and crafts, this team does it all—always putting kids first. Their commitment to health, wellness, and community has been at the heart of the YMCA since 1978, and we couldn’t be prouder of their impact. Join us in celebrating their amazing work! Drop a ?? in the comments to show your support.

Excited to wrap up an amazing first week of our Bitty Street Hockey program at the YMCA of Central Ohio of Central Ohio! We’ve kicked off the season by introducing over 100 kids ages 3-5 to hockey. A huge thank you to Leveling the Playing Field, Inc. for generously providing each child with a stick and puck to take home and continue practicing their skills. Here, we're playing a fun game of red light/green light to teach stick safety and proper grip. Looking forward to an incredible session ahead! #YouthSports #CommunityEngagement #HockeyFun

We're celebrating a true Champion of Community! ?? A huge congratulations to Bob Weiler on receiving the 2025 Columbus Award at Ignite US | Fueling the Future of Columbus Together, presented by Mount Carmel Health System and Wright-Patt Credit Union! Bob and the entire Weiler family have been longtime supporters of the YMCA of Central Ohio - especially at the Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA - helping to strengthen our community through their generosity and dedication. Bob has a heart for serving and volunteerism; his leadership and commitment to helping people continues to inspire our whole organization. We're very thankful for the Weilers. Join us in celebrating Bob’s well-deserved recognition! ??

Have you heard? The Liberty Township / Powell YMCA is building an outdoor street hockey rink! Today we had the honor of celebrating the groundbreaking of this exciting new addition to our community, which is expected to open in late summer. The new rink will feature durable boards, a high-quality playing surface, and structured programming. The Columbus Blue Jackets will provide hockey programming support and resources as part of the partnership. The street hockey rink is made possible by the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation and NHL and a continued partnership between the City of Powell, Liberty Township, and YMCA of Central Ohio.

“This new street hockey rink is more than just a place to play—it’s a space where kids can build confidence, learn teamwork and develop lifelong skills.” — Tony Collins It’s about more than just sports; it’s about access, a sense of Belonging, Achievement and positive Relationships. All kids, all ages, and all people deserve a community and the resources to help them thrive! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gh7f__VD

Future hockey legends, local leaders from Liberty Township and City of Powell, Ohio, and an incredible team from the National Hockey League (NHL) and Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation—all coming together to bring our new street hockey rink to life! ?? Yesterday, we broke ground on a street hockey rink at the Liberty Township/Powell YMCA-the first of its kind at a YMCA in our region. This is a milestone that will bring even more opportunities for all kids and families to connect, grow, and thrive through sports. The rink will extend our reach and create greater access to hockey for all kids-no skates required! The project was made possible through the NHL Stadium Series Legacy Project, thanks to the endless support of the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation, Liberty Township and the City of Powell. Special thanks to Powell Mayor Tom Counts, YMCA families and all our partners who are committed to making youth sports accessible for everyone! This new rink is a testament to our shared mission, and we can't wait to see it become a hub for hockey, community, and play. Thank you to everyone who helped bring this vision to life! Stay tuned for more updates and photos. Until then, go Jackets! ??

Approximately one year ago, I accepted the position of Executive Director at the Reynoldsburg Community Center YMCA, which is part of the YMCA of Central Ohio. From the time I left my last job as Executive Director in June 2022 to February 2024 when I began this position, I networked and met 302 professionals in and around Ohio and the USA. Through those meetings, I was inspired by hard working humans, who continued to encourage me to make further connections. Through those connections, I landed in this position at the YMCA. Over the past year I have learned, grown, and built meaningful and strong relationships at the YMCA. With the support of bright and hard working colleagues, I have been able to build and develop my own team, which I am proud of. Even though only a year has passed, I feel like I have been a part of the YMCA family forever. I am excited about the future as we have lots of great projects in store and many upcoming opportunities for collaboration. Onwards and upwards team! YMCA of Central Ohio #Reynoldsburg #connections #growth #leadership

We’re proud to support families in South-Western City Schools through our before and after-school programs! These programs offer a safe and engaging space for students to learn, play, and grow, while giving parents flexibility and peace of mind. A special thank you to CityScene Media Group and reporter, Maisie Fitzmaurice, for featuring our work and partnerships in Discover Grove City. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/geSju2nJ

We're raising the BAR for more than 44,000 youth across Central Ohio. At the YMCA, that means offering programs that foster Belonging, celebrate Achievement, and build positive Relationships—three key areas of youth development that deserve our support every step of the way. It's great for programs to teach swimming, basketball, STEM, hockey, etc., but it's how we intentionally support core character development that'll truly impact kids for a lifetime. Thank you to Frankart Film for their stellar storytelling skills, kind hearts and incredible production quality. We'd highly recommend them to any business and organization looking to energetically showcase their impact! Also, every smiling face you see in this video is a YMCA member! We appreciate all volunteers who took hours out of their day to support this project. The Y wouldn't be what it is without countless volunteers who go above and beyond every single day. ?? Watch the full video on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ge3m-pAu

We're cheering for our Bitty Sports families! ?? It's essential for our youngest athletes to see role models who play at a high level—like our very own The Ohio State University Men’s Basketball Team! Experiencing the game alongside inspiring players helps build confidence, skills, and a lifelong love of sports. This program thrives because of it's dedicated leadership and the 100+ families who participate—many of whom generously volunteer as coaches. Thank you to our partners for helping us create a positive, supportive environment where kids can thrive both on and off the court!