YMCA of Dane County, Inc.

Our vision is to see that all children in Dane County are supported and prepared to maximize their educational opportunities and have access to safe and caring out-of-school activities. We want to help children and teens realize their full potential by nurturing their social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

We want to reduce the obesity rate in adolescents, which has tripled over the last 20 years and continues to increase due to lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits.

We want the Y to be here for people of all ages and abilities, and we want to support all people seeking a healthier lifestyle and greater well-being because we make the healthy choice the easy, accessible and affordable choice.

We want to fill the gaps where society falls short because we believe every person and every community deserves the chance to thrive. We are devoted to engaging and connecting all segments of our community, particularly those in under-served and isolated neighborhoods. We want to nurture teens, especially those in-need or at-risk, so that there's a healthy, productive place with positive role models that's open and accessible to all.

We want to maintain the Y as a leader in diversity and inclusion practices.

We want to help people prevent or manage chronic conditions and have a portfolio of seven evidence-based programs to help them do so.

Want want to work with other organizations to increase food security and access to affordable housing for area families.

We want to eliminate child care issues for Dane County workers. Our vision is enabling all primary caregivers to work and build successful careers, knowing that they can count on the Y to help develop and care for their children.

We want the Y Adaptive Program to serve children and adults from around Dane County with intellectual disabilities or other special needs.

Our preschool and 4K programs are designed to equip kids with the learning and social tools necessary to be prepared for Kindergarten, and our out-of-school-time programs provide a safe place for kids with healthy activities, role models and mentors so working parents can feel confident that their children are cared for, get homework help and are physically active. Our summer camps help kids “Hop the Gap" while they enjoy the outdoors, build and strengthen friendships and prevent summer learning loss.

We partner with Second Harvest Food Bank and other community organizations to help alleviate the problem of food insecurity in the communities we serve.

In partnership with the City of Madison Police and Fire Departments, we created Friday Nights at the Y to engage teens in need and help diffuse racial tensions in our community.

We provide a place for all to gather and be part of a shared community, because social interaction and connectedness for seniors is linked to healthier minds and bodies. Our Healthy Aging programs keep participants active, build fitness levels and enable members to stay in their homes longer.

Along with Y's across the country, we are implementing evidence-based programs to help people prevent diabetes; recover after surviving cancer; and effectively manage Parkinson's disease.

We partner with an area food bank to screen our program participants for food security concerns and refer them to the right resources. We partner with Habitat for Humanity to connect staff and members to their services. We partner with The Salvation Army to send homeless kids to Y Summer Camp at no cost.

The Y is the largest provider of licensed child care in Dane County.

Multiple partnerships and access to food drop-off/pick-up sites within at-risk neighborhoods allow us to directly address food insecurity.

Friday Nights at the Y serves and feeds hundreds of teens 350 teens while keeping them safe and active.

We developed and cultivate dozens of community partnerships including Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army and many others.

Our Licensed Early Childhood Education (preschool & 4K), Licensed School Age Child Care (Out-of-School-Time) and Licensed Summer Day Camps all continue to grow. In 2019, many programs were filled to capacity and wait-lists were maintained throughout the year.

The Dane County Y Adaptive Program served over 200 participants aged 8 and above in 2019. 50+ participants became Special Olympics athletes in bowling, basketball (both teams and skills), track and bocce ball, and dozens more were participants in our Community Activities Program.

Programs like Pickleball, Wallyball and others encourage healthy activity and socialization for seniors. Pickleball is especially popular with courts filled at all branches when this free, member drop-in program is available.

Friday Nights at the Y was expanded to include a meal each Friday night, the only one of the day for some participants.

In a community virtually surrounded by water, we teach more than 6,000 swim lessons every year, with nearly 20% qualifying for financial assistance.

We continue to connect families with food security resources through our partnership with Second Harvest, and all families moving into new Habitat for Humanity homes receive complimentary three-month YMCA memberships.