The Current - Donor Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2026

Y Teens Come Together for a Citywide Day of Service  

Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day of Service, a program day offered as part of Leaders Club, is a citywide opportunity for teens to give back while exploring the social justice issues that shape our communities. For more than 15 years, this citywide movement has offered activities ranging from community clean-ups to donation drives supporting local shelters and hospitals.

One powerful example comes from the Flushing Y, where a group of Beacon 194 teens gathered to explore the ongoing challenges immigrants experience in NYC and learn how they can be effective community advocates. Turning this spirit into action, the students assembled hygiene kits for the New Americans Initiative, benefitting local immigrants.  

“It was so eye-opening to see that even after coming to America for a better life, people are still met with so many different struggles the moment they get here. [Understanding] the reality of those challenges motivated me to do what I can to make sure everyone feels supported and welcome.” - Alexis  

Thanks to donor support, teens can respond to community needs while building leadership skills that will serve them, and their communities, for years to come. This day of service is just the beginning of a year of growth and advocacy through the Y’s teen programs.  

To learn more about Y teen programs, visit our website. 

How the Brooklyn Y Desegregated One Afternoon

The Y is proud of our deep legacy within New York City’s Black community, and we join all New Yorkers in celebrating Black History Month. At the same time, we recognize that our past has not always reflected the values we stand for today.

“And then she put on her white gloves, with a book under her arm. The Y got integrated that afternoon.”

We honor Winnifred Graves, a mother who successfully fought for desegregation at the Brooklyn Central Y after her son, Earl Graves Sr., was denied access to the pool.

Earl Sr. later recalled being told, at just 10 years old, to go to a different Y that’s for “your people” (Carlton Y). He went home to tell his mother, and shared that the Y director was lucky it was too late for her to go back that night. That next morning, “She put her hat on. And when my mother pulled her hat down on her head, that meant bad things were gonna happen. And then she put on her white gloves, with a book under her arm. The Y got integrated that afternoon.”

Winnifred was a matriarch and pillar of the community who instilled the values of education and hard work in her son. Earl Sr. went on to become an influential publisher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Earl Sr. later founded Black Enterprise Magazine in 1970, an iconic platform highlighting Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses. Today, his son, Earl “Butch” Jr., continues his family’s legacy as President and CEO of the magazine.  

We share this history because it shapes how we move forward. We honor the generations of Black leaders who have made the Y a place of belonging and community for all--and the leaders who carry this work forward across the five boroughs today. We are grateful to our Black members, program participants, volunteers, and supporters who strengthen our communities every day.

When we say, “We’re Here for All New Yorkers”, we truly mean it.  

Corporate Partners Holiday Wrap-up

We are deeply grateful to our generous corporate partners for showing up for our Y families, especially during the holiday season.  

Thank you to Bloomberg, which donated 250 toys and 250 hats and gloves to the West Side Y’s PS 191 Afterschool program and put them in the hands of children who may have otherwise gone without. Bloomberg also provided 100 gifts to the Castle Hill Y, bringing joy to the children from PS 93 during the Winter Slumberland Party.  

Morgan Stanley wrapped 750 gifts and donated an additional 123 gifts for elementary community schools powered by the South Shore Y. Continuing this spirit of generosity into the new year, Morgan Stanley has been collecting winter necessities for over 100 participants in the New Americans Initiative at the Harlem Y, with distribution planned for this month.  

At the Northeast Bronx Y, AT&T provided 250 laptops to our afterschool and teen program participants, as well as active older adults who completed workshops through our partnership with Older Adults Technology Services. AT&T’s support helps bridge the digital divide, empowering older adults in our community to stay connected and engaged.  
 

And finally, MetLife employees donated and wrapped 284 gifts for Jamaica Y’s Community School students who are living in transitional housing. MetLife’s partnership furthered our goal in helping young people meet their basic needs and experience moments of childlike joy and normalcy.  

To all of our partners who continue to stand for our communities when it matters most—thank you. We look forward to sharing more about our collective impact in the coming months.  

We welcome new partners who share our commitment to community. To learn more about corporate engagement opportunities, please contact Oumaima Karimi (okarimi@ymcanyc.org). 

Applications Now Open for Team Y Champions 

Do something for yourself and for others—by joining Team Y Champions. Every dollar you raise goes right back into your community, supporting the essential services and programs your neighbors rely on every day.  

As a Team Y Champion, you will also receive exclusive Y gear, group training opportunities, and priority race day amenities designed to help you go the distance. To learn more about joining the team and our perks, visit our website.

• UA NYC Half Marathon 3/15: Only two spots left! Claim my spot.
• TD Five Boro Bike Tour 5/3: Limited spots remaining! Sign me up!
• TCS NYC Marathon 11/1: JUST ANNOUNCED! Apply now.

Questions? Contact our Charity Team Manager, Tessa Greenberg 
(teamychampions@ymcanyc.org). 

Craft Your Legacy Online with FreeWill

For nearly 175 years, the YMCA of Greater New York has brought families, neighbors, and friends together to nurture potential and strengthen communities. Today, we celebrate that mission by offering a resource that can strengthen your family through responsible planning.  

Through our partnership with FreeWill, you can create a legally valid will online--at no cost--in just 20 minutes. This tool also gives you the option to include a gift to the YMCA of Greater New York in your plans. A legacy gift costs nothing today and helps ensure the future generations of New Yorkers have the support they need to thrive. Click here to get started.

If you've already included the YMCA of Greater New York in your estate plans, please let us know. We would be honored to thank you for your generosity.