Every April the YMCA of Greater Brandywine takes the time to thank some of our greatest assets, our volunteers, during National Volunteer Month.

Across the United States, the Y Movement sees over 233,000 people volunteer each year. In 2021 at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, 4,867 volunteers gave over 21,223 hours of their time to our organization.

Our volunteers serve in a myriad of roles such as youth sports coaches, leadership board members, community theater set and costume designers, role models in childcare, facility and grounds helpers, pickleball ambassadors and at a variety of special events and initiatives throughout the year. We benefit greatly from the assortment of talents, skills and passions our volunteers bring to the YMCA.

It has also been shown that our volunteers benefit from donating their time and talents in a variety of ways including feeling like they have more time in the day, having a stronger sense of empathy and improved social relationships, learning new skills and improved health outcomes and lower rates of depression later in life.

Janelle Brandberg, the senior director of youth programs at the Upper Main Line YMCA sums up the impact of volunteers well, “Our theater program would not be where it is today without the ongoing support of our volunteers. They help with everything from set and costume design to backstage logistics to day-of audience questions and needs. Their commitment to the Upper Main Line YMCA Performing Arts Company allows us to continuously grow our impact and include more children and families in what we do.”

We are endlessly grateful for the support and will be bringing together some of our volunteers to celebrate and recognize accomplishments at the Breakfast of Champions Celebration on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine here.

Thank you for your continued support of our YMCA.

Sincerely, 

Denise Day

President & CEO