Groundbreaking Moments: A Look Back at 2024 for the YMCA

As we say goodbye to 2024, we celebrate the incredible impact you, our members, donors, partners, and community have helped us make.  The past few years have presented us all with incredible opportunities as we commit to adapting in the face of unprecedented regional growth. You have helped us meet our communities’ needs head-on.

Here are a few highlights of what you helped us accomplish in 2024:

• The progress toward a new Park South Family YMCA was bookmarked by two special events this year, including a groundbreaking in February and topping out ceremony in October. We are excited to open the new Y in early 2025.
• In partnership with Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, the Y has launched free career readiness services and job placement support at the Moorland Family YMCA at Oak Cliff and surrounding communities.  
• The finishing touches on the total renovation and expansion of the Lake Highlands Family YMCA were completed with an outdoor pool and playground opening during the summer of 2024.
• Our Safety Around Water program taught almost 7,500 kids across North Texas life-saving water skills at Y's, apartment communities, camps, and partner pools.

We also enjoyed large crowds for our signature events this year:

• The YMCA Key Leaders Luncheon hosted 500 guests to hear about the challenges we must meet as a region to facilitate continued growth, including affordable childcare, transportation, and workforce development.
• The  57th Annual Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot welcomed almost 22,000 runners and over 750 dogs on Thanksgiving morning.  This year’s race introduced a diaper dash for the youngest Y kids and continued a costume contest, team challenge, and we gave away some great swag.

Fundraising efforts have begun to create brand new experiences at the Waxahachie Family YMCA and Camp Grady Spruce:

• Waxahachie Family YMCA has launched a $3.7M capital campaign to renovate and expand the current building. The renovation and expansion will allow the Y to be able to double our membership and grow our programs four-fold.
• The YMCA has launched a $5.4M capital campaign as Phase I of a $10.2M campaign to renovate and expand our facilities at YMCA Camp Grady Spruce, including new Ray Bean cabins and dining hall renovations, as well as a new Welcome Center.

November of 2025 will mark 140 years of the Y in North Texas, and like the region itself, the Dallas Y couldn’t be more different today than it was when the doors to the first downtown Y opened in 1885. Buildings, programs, and people all change, but one constant has been our commitment to adapting to meet community needs. Another bedrock has been your continual support of the Y and its mission, and for that we are grateful.

Thank you, and happy new year! 
 

Curt Hazelbaker 
President and CEO