All In Alongside our Partners and Supporters

At the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, we are incredibly grateful to the work and commitment of our partners and volunteers, who dedicate their time and talents to bettering Chicagoland and the Midwest!  

In 2023, the YMCA of Metro Chicago was visited by 16 different corporate volunteer groups who empowered us to provide critical services to our community, from distributing food to creating a welcoming environment for those we serve.   

Among the amazing groups who joined us at the Y was the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), who extended their support and partnership with the Y on their Community Impact Day in October to update and beautify YMCA spaces. More than 100 employee volunteers participated across three YMCA locations — North Lawndale YMCA in Homan Square, Rauner Family YMCA in Little Village, and South Side YMCA in Woodlawn.  

Volunteers spent the morning and early afternoon helping beautify and organize the YMCAs’ indoor and outdoor spaces. This included painting walls, landscaping, and gardening. After a day of hard work and community engagement, volunteers and Y leaders regrouped for a “closing circle” to share the impact of volunteer support, both on the Y and BCBSA employees! Following their volunteer work, BCBSA made a special contribution of $10,000 to the YMCA of Metro Chicago.    

In November, BMO sent a team of their executives to volunteer at the Crown Family YMCA as part of the organization’s Afternoon of Service. The nearly 25 volunteers assisted in preparing classroom spaces in advance of our re-opening of the Early Learning Demonstration Center (ELDC), helping set up the ELDC childcare team for success! BMO is a longtime partner and supporter of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, having sponsored the creation of the Collaboration & Innovation Center on the Crown Family Y’s seventh floor.  

We’d like to additionally extend special thanks to the employees and leadership teams of the McDonald’s Corporation, CNA, Sam’s Club, the University of Chicago Medical Center, Lotis Blue Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield, and Salesforce. Their steadfast belief in the Y’s mission is an inspiring force as we work hard to champion the Power of Play and shape the YMCA of Metro Chicago into a connector and catalyst for our communities.