Across our community, families are navigating rising costs, social isolation, and barriers to health and stability. In the context of these challenges, our Y is more than a gym: it’s a source of connection, support, and opportunity. From safe spaces for children to learn and grow, to programs that strengthen mental and physical well-being, the Y continues to meet people where they are and help them move forward.
In 2025, our community came together in a powerful way. We completed construction on the first phase of the new Pearl Street Family YMCA, ushering a new era for the Y in Tacoma, and broke ground on the Gig Harbor Sports Fields, which will create much needed access to outdoor play spaces for youth.
We also raised $2.5 million to provide financial assistance to neighbors in need. Beyond what we fundraised, we invested a total of $3.7 million in our financial assistance program, allowing us to minimize cost as a barrier to belonging, wellness, and growth at the Y. As a result, more than 15,000 members received financial assistance monthly, including 1,667 youth in foster care who received free YMCA memberships across Pierce and Kitsap counties.
Every day, we see the difference this makes: a child gaining confidence, a family finding stability, a neighbor discovering community. These moments are made possible by the collective support of our staff, volunteers, donors, and partners.
The need for the Y has never been greater. Neither has the opportunity to make a lasting impact. Together, we are creating a future where everyone has the chance to belong, grow, and lead healthier lives.
Thank you for being part of this work and for helping us build a stronger, more connected community for all.
With gratitude,
Charlie Davis, CEO and President
Blake Bolton, Chair of the Board of Directors
130,000+
members served.
69,500+
youth served.
15,600+
individuals receive financial assistance.
$2.5 million
raised for financial assistance.
$3.7 million
provided in financial assistance.
Strategic Focus Areas & Actions
2025 marked the first year of our new three-year strategic plan. The new plan is the culmination of extensive collaboration and input from thousands of stakeholders, including the YMCA Board of Directors, major donors, community leaders, and members.
The four new focus areas will help us maintain and cultivate progress towards our new vision: A healthy future for all.
"Here, people remember my name. They cheer me on." – Nancy
In 2016, Nancy’s life changed in an instant. A car traveling 75 miles an hour broadsided her vehicle, leaving her hospitalized for three months.
“I got depressed,” Nancy recalls. “I stayed in bed for about a year and got really weak.”
Many older adults experience similar isolation, which increases the risk of depression, cognitive decline, and other serious health challenges.
Nancy decided it was time to reconnect with the world. She returned to the Lakewood Family YMCA and began attending low impact classes like chair yoga and Enhance®Fitness. Before long, she was coming four or five days a week.
Reduced Loneliness
Through group fitness, wellness programs, and social activities, the YMCA helps thousands of adults build meaningful connections that support both physical and emotional health.
25,000+
senior members served in 2025.
1 in 3
older adults experience feelings of loneliness.
"He helped me while talking to me when I was at my lowest, when no one noticed." – Rob
Rob shows up consistently for youth navigating some of the most challenging moments in their lives. Watch him work for an hour, and he’ll share stories of education, encouragement, and discipline. At the YMCA Evening Center, any of these interactions can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.
Youth are referred to the Evening Center through partnerships with juvenile courts, probation officers, and schools, and receive academic support, mentorship, and encouragement from trusted adults like Rob - adults who see their potential even when they may not see it themselves.
For one young participant, that environment made all the difference. From the very beginning, Rob’s welcoming presence stood out.
“He helped me while talking to me when I was at my lowest, when no one noticed,” they shared. “He encouraged me to keep pushing… and made me believe in my dreams of being a nurse. I will always think of the stories he told. He’s just a really good guy in my eyes.”
Thanks to caring adults like Rob, the Evening Center can be a steady step towards something better.
Teen Access to Positive Role Models
"The YMCA started this program in 2015 to make sure youth involved in the juvenile justice system get a second chance and receive support with their emotional intelligence, financial literacy, goal setting, and career readiness,” says Tony Dike, senior program director. “A bad choice doesn’t make someone a bad person.”
88%
reduction in youth detention overall in Pierce County thanks to programs like the Evening Center.
82.8%
of participants made a connection with a positive adult.
“Without this place, I’d feel like something was missing from my life." – Aquaria
When Aquaria was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 30, everything changed. Activities she once loved, like walking Chamber’s Bay, became too difficult.
“My instructor reminds me, ‘Don’t push your body past your limits. You know your body,’” Aquaria says. “I feel like they care about me personally. I’m not just some random person in the pool.”
At the Y, Aquaria found instructors who understand her needs and a community that shows up for her. Staff check in and create an environment where she feels comfortable participating.
“It just feels warm. It feels like a family,” she says. “Without this place, I’d feel like something was missing from my life.”
Belonging
Through inclusive programs and supportive relationships, the YMCA creates spaces where people of all abilities can feel connected and know they belong.
15,600+
members receive financial assistance.
"Every child is greeted with the same warmth, the same opportunities, and the same sense of belonging.” – Sierra
YMCA Before and After School programs provide a safe, consistent place for children to learn and grow each day. This includes children experiencing homelessness and those in foster care, many of whom face instability that can disrupt their connection to school and community. Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, every child experiencing homelessness is ensured school stability, and the Y ensures that stability continues before and after school by offering free childcare to these children. The YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties also offers every child in foster care a free Y membership, thanks to a decision made by its leadership.
“Every child is greeted with the same warmth, the same opportunities, and the same sense of belonging,” says Sierra, a Y childcare leader. “There is no stigma or judgment. Only community.”
By providing accessible, inclusive childcare, the YMCA helps ensure every child has a consistent place to go and the opportunity to feel supported and connected
Access to Childcare
By providing accessible, inclusive childcare, the YMCA helps ensure every child has a consistent place to go and the opportunity to feel supported and connected.
1 in 4
Child Care participants received financial assistance.
30
children experiencing homelessness received free year-long childcare from the YMCA.
“I didn’t think I could do it, but I was encouraged to try.” – Annee
For years, Annee faced significant health challenges that limited their mobility and independence. At one point, they relied on a motorized scooter and were rarely able to walk on their own.
Through the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program and Enhance ®Fitness classes, Annee began making gradual, sustainable changes. With consistent support and guidance, those changes lead to meaningful results. Annee lost more than 50 lbs., improved their strength, and regained the ability to walk independently.
“I didn’t think I could do it,” Annee says. “But I was encouraged to try.”
Reduction in Chronic Disease
Chronic conditions such as diabetes and mobility limitations affect millions of adults and can significantly impact quality of life. Access to structured, supportive programs can help individuals build healthy habits and improve long-term outcomes.
756
individuals participated in evidence-based health intervention programs.
78%
of participants in a Y evidence-based program experience an improvement in a health marker.
"I wanted them to disconnect and really understand what nature has to offer." – Mark
For the Wuscher family, Camp Seymour has been part of life for three generations. What began with Irene attending camp in the 1950’s continues today as her son Mark sends his own children, Owen and Bernice, to the same place.
At camp, that shift happens quickly. Without phones or screens, campers spend their days outdoors, building friendships, trying new activities, and gaining independence. For Owen and Bernice, that time away from devices has made a lasting impact.
For Bernice, camp has helped build confidence.
“Before Camp Seymour, I would always need help with things,” she says. “Now I feel stronger, mentally and physically.”
Screen-Free Active Youth
Many young people today spend significant time on screens, which can affect physical activity, sleep, and social development. Experiences like camp provide an opportunity to reconnect with movement, nature, and in-person relationships.
3,402
youth served at Camp Seymour and Camp Lake Helena combined.
Pearl Street Family YMCA
Construction was completed on the first phase of the new Pearl Street Family YMCA, a $35 million project that reimagines a long-standing community hub in Tacoma. The new facility introduces a state-of-the-art aquatics center, climbing wall, and strength training area, creating more opportunities for individuals, families, and seniors to focus on their health and wellness. With the building now complete, the YMCA is positioned for a strong future as members begin to fully experience everything the new space has to offer.
Gig Harbor Sports Fields
In May, construction began on the Gig Harbor Sports Fields, a $7 million project more than 8 years in the making. Developed in partnership with the City of Gig Harbor, the project addresses a long-standing need for lit, synthetic turf fields that could be used year-round.
In recent years, more than 2,000 youth were unable to participate because of limited field space, being waitlisted, or teams limiting participants. The fields will provide year-round access to play, allowing those youth who previously lacked space to participate in organized sports. The YMCA will operate and maintain the fields for the broader community, ensuring long-term access for local leagues, families, and organizations.
Compassion in Action
Community makes the YMCA's work possible.
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In 2025, individuals and families across Pierce and Kitsap counties rallied together to raise $2.5 million for the Compassion in Action campaign to make sure that everyone in our community had access to life-changing programs at the YMCA. This spirit of generosity enabled the Y to provide more than $3.7 million in financial assistance.
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This support helps remove barriers to participation and provides access, from childcare and youth programs to health and wellness services for older adults. For many, it’s the difference between facing challenges alone or being part of a community where everyone belongs.
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Community members found many ways to support the YMCA in 2025: from Rally for the Y and giving campaigns held during group exercise classes, to signature fundraising events throughout the year. Generosity was evident across the Y. Together, these efforts engaged donors, members, and staff in meaningful ways while helping fund outreach programs that expand access and opportunities for everyone.
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The philanthropic spirit didn’t end there. In 2025, the Y’s capital projects received considerable support and marked a record year for the Y’s endowment, with more than $1 million being invested to provide future generations access to the Y.
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Collectively, this generosity is helping ensure the YMCA remains a place where everyone, now and in the future, has the opportunity to belong, grow, and thrive.
“We can’t change everything going on in the world, but this is our community, and this is something we can build together." – Rick
At Camp Lake Helena, a small group of volunteers has helped transform the experience for kids.
From fall to spring, Rick, Mary, Bruce, and Helen gather regularly to help restore and maintain the camp. Together, they repair buildings, improve shared spaces, and prepare the camp for summer, often working in cold, wet conditions when the property is otherwise quiet.
For Rick, the work is rooted in something simple. “I believe in contributing locally. We can’t change everything going on in the world, but this is our community, and this is something we can build together.”
Together, they’ve helped transform Camp Lake Helena into a place that is safe, welcoming, and ready for kids.
Financial Statement
Board and Leadership
Areas We Serve
