Thursday, June 19, 2025
Dear Friends,
Well, it's summer, and you know what that means… YMCA Summer Day Camp is here and in full swing! Every day, throughout the summer, thousands of children run through the doors of our YMCAs to experience a season of laughter, friendship, learning and discovery. These summer months are a special time at the Y. For generations, Y Camps have been a place where kids can explore their creativity and just be themselves. Our campers will expand their comfort zone, learn new skills and build lifelong memories, all under the guidance of our incredible camp counselors and staff who are passionate about creating safe, inclusive and fun environments for every child.
Furthermore, we know the atmosphere in our facilities change during the summer months as we corral the exuberance of our young campers. Thank you for working with our staff and camp counselors as we provide a constructive place for our youth to enjoy their summer.
As if the start of Summer Camp wasn’t fun enough… I’m thrilled to share some more exciting news with you. We have officially broken ground on our NEW YMCA in Wesley Chapel!!! This marks the beginning of a new chapter for our Y and a new commitment to the Wesley Chapel community. It is the result of years of careful planning, true collaboration and the incredible generosity of so many. The two-story building will encompass nearly 50,000 square feet with an additional 36,000 square foot outdoor Aquatic Center. It will be an epicenter for families to connect and have fun.
And, I’m even more excited to share that thanks to a generous donation from the Bob and Mary Sierra Foundation, our new YMCA will be called the Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA. We are so grateful to our wonderful donors that help us to continue to grow our capacity to impact our Tampa Bay Community. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our progress as we move toward an exciting grand opening next summer. In the meantime, please learn all about our new YMCA and enjoy photos from our groundbreaking event here.
To close, today is June 19th and I’d like to reflect on the significance of this important day in our nation’s history. Juneteenth is celebrated each year on June 19th and commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in 1865. It serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the ongoing American journey toward liberty and justice for all. It is also a reminder of the important work we do every day to help ensure that every individual in our community can thrive with dignity.
With appreciation,
Matt Mitchell
President & CEO
813.224.9622