Thursday, October 15, 2026
Dear Friends,
October is always a special time at the Tampa YMCA, but this year, it feels especially exciting as we celebrate the opening of the Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA in Wesley Chapel.
After years of planning and anticipation, we officially opened the doors to our newest YMCA on September, 28th. We broke ground on this $35 million investment in May of last year and we are so honored to be serving our Wesley Chapel community with this state-of-the-art facility. Seeing families, community leaders, staff and donors come together to celebrate this new community asset was an incredible moment. The Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA represents what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision of creating more opportunities for people of all ages to connect, grow and reach their full potential.
And we’re not done celebrating! We’ll continue the fun with our Grand Opening Block Party this Saturday, October 17, featuring family activities, facility tours and plenty of opportunities to experience all that the new Y has to offer. If you haven’t visited yet, I hope you’ll join us.
While the opening of a new Y is certainly worth celebrating, it also reminds us that our work is about much more than a building. It’s about creating opportunities for people and families to be healthier. That mission is especially important this month as we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the role the Y can play in supporting whole-person health and wellness.
One example is our YMCA Survivorship & Wellness Program Powered by Moffitt, a free 12-week program that provides support, guidance and personal training from certified cancer wellness coaches. The program offers physical and social activities designed to support cancer patients and survivors before, during and after cancer treatment. This program is an important part of how the Y supports individuals and families through challenging seasons and helps them build strength, confidence and community.
Our members and supporters also play an important role in making these programs possible. This Thanksgiving, you can help us continue this work by joining us for the Annual Turkey Gobble Race. Every registration helps fund life-changing Tampa YMCA programs that make a difference for children, families and individuals throughout our community. Whether you run, walk or simply come out to cheer on participants, your support helps ensure more people have access to all these important programs.
From a brand-new YMCA in Wesley Chapel to programs happening every day across our association, October is a great reminder of what makes the Y special. We’re here for the big moments, the everyday moments and everything in between.
Thank you for being part of the Tampa YMCA community and for helping us continue to build a stronger community for all.
With appreciation,
Matt Mitchell
President & CEO
Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA