By: Loria Yeadon

President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Seattle

Happy Valentine’s Day, thank you for being a part of the Y family. We won’t dance around it, we love you and thank you for being a friend. 

At the Y, we’re thinking about all the things that make the Y special, from our staff and members to the families we serve, the smiles on kids’ faces after they learn to swim, stories and laughter over coffee in the lobby, and people like you, who help make our buildings feel like home — vibrant, fun, and impactful spaces to work out, meet neighbors, and volunteer to help our community be stronger even during difficult times. 

Our community is at the heart of our work. At the Y, we don’t just care about how much you can bench press or how many miles you run, we also care about your personal, social, family, and community goals. Through Whole Person Health, we support you and our neighbors, living our healthiest lives and reaching our fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body. We believe that the health of our community is connected to our individual health, which is more than gym time and laps in the pool. Our individual and collective health is influenced by a range of environmental, social, and biological factors affecting our well-being as individuals, families, and a community. 

No matter what you and your family are into, there is always something new to discover at the Y. In addition to taking care of your physical health, you and your family can nurture your spirit through volunteerism and the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a community. Feed your mind through our Equity and Justice for All programming and learning events such as Y Community Conversations. Fuel your body through new programs like rock climbing, cooking classes, and open swim, rediscover old favorites like adult and youth basketball leagues and reconnect with family, friends, and neighbors. 

The only thing better than being a Y member is inviting a friend to join you. Consider inviting someone to the Y today, for a limited time, they can receive 100% off joining fees and free Y Gear. As always, we are affordable for all, and we offer financial aid to address any financial barriers so that everyone can be a member of the Y. 

These past two years have been challenging, and the Y continues to step up and serve, be a friend, and a good neighbor at every opportunity.  

We continue to be more than a gym. We’re a movement of community caring for community. The  Y continues to do incredible work even during incredibly challenging times. In the last year, the Y has housed thousands of youths and adults experiencing homelessness, prepared hundreds of thousands of meal kits for families in need, supported youth development through social and emotional learning, education, mental health services, and so much more. 

With our expansion of Vision 2025, the Y remains committed to advancing equity and justice for all and becoming an anti-racist organization, in everything we do, everywhere we do it, including programs such as free swim lessons, healthcare partnerships to reach those who need us most, improving access to child care and early education, addressing hunger, and so much more. 

We can’t do it alone. When you’re a member of the Y, you not only do something good for yourself, you also do good for our community. Also, did we mention — our pools are open! We also have free wellness programs, workouts on Virtual Y, events for the whole family, and so much more.  

Happy Valentine’s Day! We can’t wait to see you at the Y soon for a workout, engagement with our programs, volunteer opportunities, or just to say hello. 

From our hearts and in community,

Loria Yeadon

President & CEO YMCA of Greater Seattle

Invite a friend to join the Y today, and they’ll receive 100% off joining fees and free Y Gear. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. 

Loria Yeadon is President and CEO at YMCA of Greater Seattle. She is an accomplished non-profit and corporate leader, engineer, and patent attorney, with over 35 years of demonstrated commitment to serving community. Yeadon is the first woman, as well as the first person of color, to serve as CEO in the 146-year history of the YMCA of Greater Seattle.