Maria Chaves
Opens in a new window YMCA of South Palm Beach County
Maria didn’t let a life-changing car accident keep her from living an active lifestyle. From water aerobics, to Pilates, to working out with a personal trainer, Maria has improved her mobility and inspired others with her perseverance. The community of support she found in the process is an added bonus. This is her Y. Her camera. Her story.
More Y Stories
Victor Mrosso
Opens in a new window YMCA of Greater Kansas City
"Before I Knew It, I Was Doing Marathons."
The Andriani Family
Opens in a new window YMCA of the Rockies
"Sometimes my Family Just Needs to Unplug."
Leslie Hejnal
Opens in a new window YMCA of Greater New Orleans
"I Found the Energy to Play with my Kids Again."
The Y aims to improve the nation's health and well-being by providing programs and activities that promote wellness, reduce risk for disease and help others reclaim their health. These programs and everything else the Y does are in service of making us—our Ys and our communities—better. The result is a country that values health and communities that support healthy choices. The Y.™ For a better us.
Community Integrated Health
Community integrated health is the effort to strengthen the linkages between traditional health care and community-based prevention strategies (like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program) in order to help individuals prevent, delay or live better with chronic conditions.
Family Time
Serving families has always been at the heart of the Y. We are a place where they can find respite from social, economic and educational challenges, and learn how to overcome them. We have a fundamental desire to provide opportunities for every family to build stronger bonds, achieve greater work/life balance and become more engaged with their communities.
Group Interests
Whether you’re new to the community or simply want to pursue a new hobby, the Y brings together people who love to learn. Whether you want to cook new dishes, join a Bible study, create pottery or speak a new language—you’ll learn right alongside others from your community who share your interests.
Health, Well-being & Fitness
Because we know that healthy lifestyles are achieved through nurturing mind, body and spirit, well-being and fitness at the Y goes beyond just working out. In addition to fitness facilities, we provide educational programs to promote healthier decisions, and offer a variety of programs that support physical, intellectual and spiritual strength.
Healthier Communities Initiatives
At the Y, we work with community leaders to make the healthy choice the easy choice in all of the places where people live, work, learn and play.
Healthy Kids Day®
As part of the Y's commitment to strengthen community by addressing critical gaps in health and education, Healthy Kids Day will encourage kids and parents to commit to keeping the body and mind active this summer. On April 27, 2019, join the Y and more than a million parents and kids across the country for the largest day committed to improving the health and well-being of kids.
Sports & Recreation
We believe sports, fun and exploring new interests aren’t just for the young. Along with improving health, whenever teamwork is involved, there’s the added benefit of being connected to others. That’s why you’ll find a range of recreational activities at the Y. With something to offer everyone, there’s no such thing as being too old to get in the game.
