Leaders from the YMCA and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to Celebrate the Announcement at the Jamaica YMCA

Today, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced a $100,000 grant awarded to the YMCA of Greater New York for its Community Lifesavers Lifeguard Initiative and the Jamaica YMCA’s community programming. YMCA and Anthem leaders announced the funding at a ceremonial check presentation at the Jamaica YMCA branch. This investment will help the YMCA – the city’s largest swim safety provider – address the ongoing lifeguard shortage in New York City, which has reached crisis levels, forcing the closure of pools and beaches and limiting access to swim instruction and water safety.

The Community Lifesavers Lifeguard Initiative is a citywide workforce development and certification program. With this one-year investment, the YMCA aims to train and certify more than 50 new lifeguards from underserved communities, provide stipends and job readiness tools, remove economic barriers, create a pipeline to YMCA jobs and instructor-level advancement, and build awareness of water safety and lifeguarding as a viable career. This will allow the YMCA to expand its reach, deepen workforce development offerings, and provide lifeguarding as a meaningful, accessible opportunity for youth and adults alike – delivering both community impact and long-term workforce solutions.

“We at Anthem are proud to support this unique initiative which provides outstanding opportunities for the city’s youth and helps to address the shortage of lifeguards which can result in significant safety risks as well as reduced access to public pools and beaches, said Dr. Mark Levy, President and CEO of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “The lack of investment and understaffing of public facilities disproportionately affects marginalized communities, who rely heavily on public pools for recreation and relief from the summer heat,” he added.

“The YMCA of Greater New York is grateful for this critical investment from our generous partners at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield that will help build our Community Lifesavers Lifeguard Initiative – training and certifying even more lifeguards across the city,” said Cedric Dew, Executive Director of the Jamaica YMCA. “This investment will enable the YMCA to further address the ongoing lifeguard shortage head on and open doors to opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages who face barriers to becoming lifeguards.”
 
“Thank you to Anthem Blue Cross for investing in the Jamaica YMCA and supporting programs that keep our community safe, active, and thriving. The continued investments we’re seeing in Southeast Queens, especially in spaces like the Y, are shaping the next generation of leaders. Lifeguard training and swim lessons are especially important in our communities, where these opportunities aren’t always accessible or widely available. Combined with the Y’s Annual Fund, which helps sustain essential programs, these efforts are strengthening our community for future generations to come,” said Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams.
 
Along with the funding from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Jamaica YMCA today announced and celebrated the retirement of its Aquatics Director Calvin Lawrence. For more than 24 years, Calvin has been a beloved aquatics instructor at the Jamaica Y, serving as the branch’s aquatics director the last four years. This funding will enable the Jamaica Y to build upon Calvin’s legacy and help many more New Yorkers to learn how to swim and be safe around the water.
 
Anthem looks at the whole health of communities and works with community-based organizations and nonprofits like the YMCA to provide solutions to social determinants to health by creating safe places for kids to go and providing a path to economic development. This grant is the latest development in Anthem’s support of the YMCA and its programs and services.
 
Anthem also helps fund a workforce development program that trains individuals from underserved communities across New York City to become basketball officials. “Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has a strong connection to the Jamaica YMCA who is an active partner in the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials program, providing space for floor activity exercises and trainings, as well as assisting with recruitment of referees and construction of the training program,” said Victor Bell, Regional Vice President – NY Medicaid Marketing at Anthem. Both Mr. Bell and Queens Borough President Richards were honored with the 2025 Community Service Award at the Jamaica YMCA’s Annual Golf Fundraiser this year.