YMCA of the USA National Donors

YMCA of the USA gratefully acknowledges our national donors for their continued dedication and support through funding and in-kind resources that benefit the YMCA's mission, programs and services nationwide.

For more information on Y-USA national donors, contact Christin Baker at 1-800-872-9622 ext. 4697, or christin.baker@ymca.net.

Current donors of YMCA of the USA, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Annie E. Casey Foundation:  Since 1948, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has worked to build better futures for disadvantaged children and their families in the United States. The primary mission of the Foundation is to foster public policies, human service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today's vulnerable children and families. The YMCA is pleased to partner with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to acknowledge, publicly recognize and reward YMCAs engaged in exemplary family strengthening work in their YMCAs and communities.  The YMCA of the USA-Annie E. Casey Foundation FAMILIES COUNT! Family Strengthening Awards program recognizes YMCAs whose programs support the development of strong, capable and economically successful families. Award recipients receive $15,000 in recognition for their outstanding efforts and serve as role models for YMCA family-strengthening programs throughout the U.S.

Bridgestone Americas: Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., is an international manufacturer with 44 production facilities throughout the Americas. The Nashville, Tennessee-based company is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. The Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund , the philanthropic arm of Bridgestone Americas,  supports many community involvement programs with a special focus on education, children,  and  environment and conservation. This annual multi-million dollar effort has provided innumerable benefits including literacy education, scholarships, civil rights support, environmental conservation, housing, and support for the arts, public radio and television, libraries and museums. The YMCA of the USA recognizes Bridgestone Americas as a proud corporate sponsor of the General Assembly of YMCAs, a nationwide gathering of YMCAs held every five years.

CompuCredit Corporation: CompuCredit is a specialty finance company and marketer of branded credit cards and related financial services. CompuCredit provides these services to consumers who are underserved by traditional financial institutions. Through corporate and affinity contributions focused on the underserved and un-banked communities, CompuCredit also uses its financial resources and volunteer efforts to address the numerous challenges affecting its customers. The YMCA of USA recognizes CompuCredit Corporation as a corporate sponsor of the 2006 General Assembly of YMCAs, a nationwide gathering of YMCAs held every five years.

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. (the makers of FLOXIN® Otic): Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., is the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.  Daiichi Sankyo, the makers of FLOXIN® Otic Singles® (ofloxacin otic) solution 0.3%, entered into a partnership with the YMCA in 2006 to sponsor the YMCA’s national water-safety awareness event, YMCA Splash!, and share their important message of being healthy and safe around water with children and parents at YMCAs throughout the country. FLOXIN® Oticalso served as a corporate sponsor of the 2006 General Assembly of YMCAs, a nationwide gathering of YMCAs held every five years.

Disney Channel: Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies.  Currently available on basic cable in over 89 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on 23 Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney-ABC Television Group.  Disney Channel is the media sponsor for YMCA Healthy Kids® Day, the nation’s premier celebration of children’s health and wellness and a signature program of YMCA Activate America, the Y’s long-term initiative to positively impact the health and wellness of Americans. Including public service announcements, kids’ group fitness curricula and other promotional support, the initiative showcases favorite Disney Channel characters and personalities as positive role models for children to foster healthy physical and emotional growth.

Entertainment Industry Foundation: The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) responds to some of the most critical needs facing society.  It helps raise awareness and funds for causes such as childhood hunger, cancer research, creative arts, education, cardiovascular research and more.  Annually, EIF funds more than 300 charitable organizations within the greater Los Angeles area and throughout the nation.  This funding is made possible with support through workplace giving, EIF’s national initiatives, special fundraising events and EIF Charitable Services Funds.

Gibson Foundation:  Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corporation’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steingberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Baldwin, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. The Gibson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the company. Founded in 2002, it is dedicated to making the world a better place for children by creating, developing and supporting programs and other non-profit organizations in their efforts to advance education, music and the arts, the environment and health & welfare causes. As a national sponsor of the YMCA, Gibson Foundation supports the YMCA’s annual Y Arts Week and the new YMCA Music Program with various resources to strengthen YMCA arts and humanities programming for kids and adults nationwide and abroad.

JCPenney Afterschool Fund:  The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to providing children with access to high-quality afterschool programs. The Fund’s contributions allow for the continuance and growth of afterschool programs aimed at the academic, physical and social development of children throughout the U.S. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund also works to raise awareness of the benefits of afterschool programming, and is committed to ensuring that every child has access to the world of opportunities that awaits them after school.  As  major contributors to YMCA Afterschool and early sponsors of the YMCA Activate America initiative, JCPenney and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund together have contributed more than $22.4 million in support of local and national YMCA initiatives since 1999.  Our organizations work toward the same goal: to ensure that children will not only be safe outside of school, but that they will grow into stronger, healthier and more productive citizens. 

Kellogg Company: With 2005 sales in excess of $10 billion, Kellogg Company is the world’s leading producer of cereal and convenience foods.  Kellogg products are manufactured in 17 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world.  Kellogg has chosen to focus its philanthropic efforts on three areas: helping children and youth reach their potential, improving opportunities for minorities and women, and strengthening communities.  In honor of Kellogg’s 100th Anniversary, Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund, the charitable arm of Kellogg, awarded YMCA of the USA a grant to support YMCA Activate America.  Through this grant, Kellogg is helping the YMCA transform itself to better serve those individuals who struggle to adopt and sustain a healthy lifestyle.  Kellogg is also sponsoring two signature Activate America programs: Pioneering Healthier Communities, an initiative that engages key community stakeholders in developing strategies that reduce barriers and increase support for healthy living; and YMCA Healthy Kids® Day, an annual grassroots community event that uses fun, engaging and creative activities to encourage children and families to embrace life-long healthy habits

Kimberly-Clark Corporation: Every day, 1.3 billion people—nearly ¼ of the world’s population—trust Kimberly-Clark brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being.  Consistent with its corporate mission of improving the health and hygiene of everybody, everywhere, Kimberly-Clark is a proud national sponsor of YMCA Activate America—the YMCA movement’s innovative public health initiative that is making healthy living a reality for millions of Americans.  As an Activate America sponsor, Kimberly-Clark supports the YMCA’s ongoing organizational transformation to improve how Ys work to promote healthy living, and also serves as a national sponsor of YMCA Healthy Kids® Day, the nation's largest health day for children and a signature program of YMCA Activate America.  Additionally, as a national presenting sponsor of Pioneering Healthier Communities, Kimberly-Clark helps engage teams of community leaders in identifying and implementing projects that support healthy living.  Through the Kimberly-Clark Everyday Healthy Day Grants, Activate America YMCAs nationwide receive significant support for their health and wellness programs. 

The Kresge Foundation: The Kresge Foundation is a $3 billion national foundation that builds stronger nonprofit organizations—catalyzing their growth, helping them connect with their stakeholders, and challenging them with grants that leverage greater support. The Foundation concentrates its programming on capital campaigns as a key opportunity for nonprofit growth. In 2005, the Foundation awarded 216 grants totaling $131,770,027 to organizations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Mexico. The Kresge Foundation has a five-year alliance with the YMCA of the USA and the Mexican Federation of YMCAs to support an initiative to incorporate philanthropy in the YMCA of Mexico business model and advance the culture of philanthropy on a broader level in Mexico and Latin America. Plans include capacity building through hiring resource development staff, training, board development, mentoring, technical assistance and positioning campaigns.

Lance Armstrong Foundation: The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) inspires and empowers people affected by cancer. They help people with cancer focus on living; they believe that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. From the moment of diagnosis, the LAF provides the practical information and tools people with cancer need to live life on their own terms. The LAF serves its mission through advocacy, public health and research. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF is located in Austin, Texas. In 2006 the Foundation entered into a partnership with the YMCA of the USA to develop a quality, evidence-based physical activity and wellness initiative for cancer survivors. 

Lumina Foundation: Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school. Through grants for research, innovation, communication and evaluation, as well as policy education and leadership development, Lumina Foundation addresses issues that affect access and educational attainment among all students, particularly underserved student groups, including adult learners. The Foundation bases its mission on the belief that post secondary education remains one of the most beneficial investments that individuals can make in themselves and that society can make in its people. The Foundation recently awarded the YMCA a grant to support a pilot YMCA Collegiate Achievers program for college students designed to foster collegiate success and readiness. The Foundation also has named the YMCA its first national outreach partner for KnowHow2GO, a nationwide college-readiness media campaign sponsored by Lumina Foundation, the American Council on Education and the Ad Council.

Nautilus, Inc.: Headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., Nautilus, Inc. is a pure fitness company that provides tools and education necessary to help people achieve a fit and healthy lifestyle. With a brand portfolio that includes Nautilus®, Bowflex®, Schwinn®Fitness, StairMaster®, and Pearl iZUMi®, Nautilus manufactures and markets a complete line of innovative health and fitness products through direct, commercial, retail, specialty and international channel. Nautilus' support of the YMCA includes a nearly $1 million in-kind donation of Nautilus consumer products to local YMCAs. The company also served as a corporate sponsor of the 2006 General Assembly of YMCAs, a nationwide gathering of YMCAs held every five years, and sponsored the assembly's "In Step Together" 5K Run & Fun Walk.

Packard Foundation: The David and Lucile Packard Foundation was created in 1964 by David Packard, the co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, and Lucile Salter Packard. Throughout their lives in business and philanthropy, the Packards sought to use private funds for the public good, giving back to a society which enabled them to prosper. Guided by these values, the Packard Foundation invests in innovative people and organizations to improve the lives of children, enable creative pursuit of science, advance reproductive health, and conserve and restore earth’s natural systems.  In 2006 the Packard Foundation renewed grant support with the YMCA of the USA and the YMCA of Nigeria to support the second phase of the Youth Education and Services (YES) Program in selected communities of northern Nigeria.  YES Phase II is designed to improve the health knowledge and practices of more than 200,000 youth and families through education and increased access to contraceptives, counseling and medical services.

PepsiCo and the Smart Spot Program: PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, is committed to providing industry leadership in the health and wellness arena.  PepsiCo launched the Smart Spot(TM) symbol, the first-of-its-kind designation that makes it easier for consumers to identify PepsiCo products that can contribute to healthier lifestyles.  Products that feature the Smart Spot symbol meet established nutrition criteria based on authoritative statements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Academy of Sciences.  The Smart Spot symbol appears on more than 250 products across all of PepsiCo’s brands including Tropicana®, Aquafina®, Gatorade®, Baked! Lay’s®, Quaker Oats ® and Diet Pepsi®, among others.  PepsiCo and YMCA of the USA have a five-year alliance to support America’s YMCAs through 2010.  This partnership will feature program development and marketing initiatives designed to strengthen and promote YMCAs’ abilities to help more Americans live healthier lives.  In addition to national sponsorship of YMCA Activate America, PepsiCo will fund several YMCA priorities, including YMCA Healthy Kids Day, a week of action at local YMCAs in partnership with America on the Move, and the YMCA’s Diversity Initiative.   

PepsiCo Foundation:  The PepsiCo Foundation’s mission in Health and Wellness is to advance the knowledge of how to promote healthy lifestyle behavior and effect positive behavior change with a focus on three areas: community activation, minority communities and health professionals.  Also, the Foundation supports programs and organizations that encourage young people to be physically active and educates them about the value of healthy eating and a balanced diet.  The PepsiCo Foundation, along with PepsiCo’s operating divisions, gives grants to more than 1,000 community organizations.  The PepsiCo Foundation is a National Presenting Sponsor of the Pioneering Healthier Communities Conference, a major component of the YMCA Activate America initiative.

USAID: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) offers humanitarian and economic assistance in more than 100 countries to provide a better future for all.  The YMCA of the USA, in partnership with USAID and the YMCA of Lebanon, works to provide healthier living conditions for young Lebanese through the Sustainable Environmental Practices and Policies (SEPP) program.  The YMCA’s SEPP program develops sustainable waste management facilities and leadership capacity in villages throughout Lebanon.  In collaboration with 88 local village communities, the YMCA will complete three solid waste processing plants and nine wastewater treatment facilities.  In addition, the YMCA partners with USAID and the East Jerusalem YMCA in the West Bank and Gaza.  The YMCA Youth Opportunities II Program has created immediate short-term jobs and vital educational and recreational opportunities for at least 230,000 Palestinian youth in the West Bank and Gaza through the rehabilitation of 30 youth centers, construction of a YMCA Youth Recreation Center in Ramallah, the development of after-school programs at 65 youth centers, and the rehabilitation of two centers for disabled youth.

Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation:  The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation is a private family foundation created in 1992 by Tom and Virginia Cabot to be an instrument through which their descendants could actively participate in carrying on their tradition of trying to help make this a better world.  The Foundation has established a giving policy guided as much by the degree of personal volunteer commitment as by subject matter.  The Foundation’s alliance with the YMCA of the USA helps to reach teens who otherwise would not benefit from enriching YMCA programs by supporting the Y Arts Youth Film initiative, The Filmmaker’s Voice. This initiative engages middle-school and high-school-aged youth in critical thinking about themselves, and YMCA values and initiatives, while producing a new platform of quality teen films.