The Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA recently received the final $50,000 of a $150,000 First Federal Charitable Foundation grant disbursed over three years that was used to help fund the Hazleton YMCA building restoration project.
Established in 1863, the Greater Wyoming Valley Area (GWVA) YMCA has been serving the region for more than 160 years and now hosts six branches, including the Hazleton YMCA. A key component of its mission is to focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility while making its programs available to everyone, regardless of the ability to pay.
In addition to being a leading provider of childcare services, the GWVA YMCA offers free chronic disease prevention programming, free swim lessons in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and other programs.
GWVA used the grant funding to restore the Hazleton YMCA's 42,000 square feet of updated community programming space to provide YMCA programming for everyone in the Greater Hazleton community as part of an overall plan to expand services to at-risk populations in Northeast Pennsylvania. Specifically, the funds were used to complete and furnish the childcare facilities and restore YMCA functions like the gymnasium, wellness activities and the pools to the general public. This included demolition and reconfiguration of rooms to maximize programming, replacement and upgrades to building infrastructure and safety systems for code compliance and construction of new outdoor recreation amenities.
The Hazleton YMCA Revitalization project included a multi-faceted plan to address the community need for quality childcare, water safety, employment opportunities, wellness/chronic disease prevention and newcomer services. The first phase of the project focused on establishing childcare and after-school programs, which provide a critical support system for working families and businesses in southern Luzerne County. The center is equipped to serve approximately 150 children and youth in a licensed childcare facility participating in the state's Keystone STARS quality assurance program. Subsequent phases included youth and adult programming, aquatics, wellness, feeding and a Welcome Center.
GWVA YMCA President & CEO Jeremy Popiel said, “At the YMCA, we have three focus areas – youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Hazleton YMCA project helps to advance this mission and to create new childcare opportunities for the community. We are thrilled to have the support of the First Federal Charitable Foundation with this critical work.”
First Federal Charitable Foundation Executive Director Megan Kennedy said, “We are happy to provide this grant to the Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA. The YMCA and its services are a vital asset to the Hazleton community and we are excited to see this facility open once again.”
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.
For more information on the foundation or to obtain a grant application, visit www.1stfederalcharitable.org or email
