Valley of the Sun YMCA

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our new Y-Academy at Hospice of the Valley Dementia Care and Education Campus in Arcadia. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners for making this vision a reality. Together, we are creating opportunities that will impact the lives of children and families in our community. We were honored to have some of our fellow board members join us for this momentous ribbon-cutting ceremony. They toured the facility and witnessed firsthand the remarkable work being done by Hospice of the Valley. This collaboration is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together for a brighter future. Here’s to empowering the next generation! #YAcademy #RibbonCutting #CommunityStrong #ChildcareLeadership #YMCA

We celebrated a remarkable milestone at the Valley of the Sun YMCA’s 45th Annual Heritage Club Dinner at the stunning Arizona Biltmore. We were honored to recognize our Heritage Club Members, whose unwavering support and dedication have built a solid foundation for the future of the Y. Thanks to the growth of the endowment, generous donors, and the support of our sponsors, the impact of the Y continues to grow stronger every year. Thank you for leaving a legacy. Together, we are shaping brighter futures and stronger communities. #ValleyOfTheSunYMCA #HeritageClub #CommunityImpact #Gratitude

Congratulations to Jenny Holsman Tetreault on being honored with the prestigious ATHENA Award. This internationally recognized award celebrates Jenny’s remarkable achievements, dedication to leadership, and her commitment to mentoring and empowering women. Jenny’s influence in the Greater Phoenix business community and her tireless contributions to both her industry and the community make her an outstanding recipient. It’s inspiring to see such exceptional leadership recognized, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact she will make. #ATHENAAwards #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #Mentorship #Phoenix

Great collaboration in action, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) visited the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA to capture new images of our cooling center, a vital part of the Heat Relief Network. As the 2024 Heat Relief Campaign wraps up, these fresh photos will help promote the 2025 campaign, highlighting the ongoing need to provide relief during Arizona’s extreme heat. We’re proud to be a part of this important effort. #HeatRelief #CommunitySupport #YMCA #PublicHealth #ArizonaHeat”

Thank you to VanTrust Real Estate for their generous $50,000 donation in support of the Y Achievers program at the Watts Family Maryvale YMCA. This contribution will help engage opportunity youth in education and workforce development, empowering them to build a brighter future.

We are proud to share that our own Artemisa Martinez recently spoke at the ASU Watts College Stakeholder Feedback Luncheon. Artemisa joined faculty, staff, and fellow alumni at the Downtown Phoenix campus to share her insights on the Future of Public Service. Her valuable feedback on teaching, curriculum, research, and community engagement will play a role in shaping the direction of public service education.

We are excited to announce the grand opening of our new Y-Academy at Monterey Park! A special thank you to our amazing partners at Phoenix Elementary School District for making this possible. We were honored to have Vice President of Childcare Kirsten Gray, Executive Director of School Services & Community Programs Kristen Shields, our CEO Bryan Madden, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Sara Sims and Phoenix District Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gonzalez join us for this momentous ribbon cutting. Together, we're paving the way for a brighter future for our community's children. #YAcademy #ribboncutting #CommunityStrong #ChildcareLeadership #YMCA

Wishing our incredible Human Resource Director, Michelle R. all the best as she embarks on a new journey with Community Bridges. Her leadership, expertise, and heart have made a lasting impact on the Valley of the Sun YMCA. From guiding us through a major HR transition to building an exceptional HR team and teaching us how to navigate tough conversations, Michelle has left an indelible mark. We are grateful for the knowledge and passion she’s shared with us and are thrilled that her family will continue to be a part of our Northwest Family Y community. Best of luck on your exciting new adventure. #Leadership #ThankYou #Community #ValleyOfTheSunYMCA #NewBeginnings

This week, we were incredibly grateful to have welcomed Metro Board Member and Chandler Chief of Police, Bryan Chapman, along with Dr. Bob Rossi, Ed.D. Director of Curriculum and Leadership at the Phoenix Police Academy, for an impactful training session on "Conscious Leadership: Building Capacity in Leadership." This in-depth leadership development session provided our staff with valuable insights into what it takes to be effective leaders in today’s world, empowering the Valley of the Sun YMCA team to deliver world-class services and opportunities to the communities we serve.

We are proud to announce that Katerina McLane has accepted the role of Associate Executive Director of School Services at YMCA School Services & Community Programs (Branch 40). In this exciting new role, Katerina will bring her innovation, leadership, and passion to support our school-based before and after school programs, along with our incredible staff teams. Katerina’s outstanding contributions to childcare at the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley Family YMCA over the past two years, combined with her "say yes, do yes" attitude, have made her the ideal candidate for this position. Her extensive experience in the school system and deep knowledge of school district operations will be invaluable as we continue to elevate our programs. We look forward to the positive impact she will continue to make in our community. Congratulations, Katerina! #Leadership #YMCA #CommunityPrograms #SchoolServices #Promotion #Congrats