Thankful for the YMCA Community
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year, because it's a holiday all about gratitude, catching up with loved ones, and, most importantly, lots of delicious, delicious food!
As you gather this week with your friends, family (of origin and/or of choice) and community, I hope that you’re able to spend some time doing what brings you joy — whether that’s watching the Bears beat the Lions, hitting the sales for Black Friday, or just having that extra helping of mashed potatoes.
I also hope that you take time to prioritize your holistic health and wellbeing this season, including not just your physical health, but your emotional mental health, as well. If you’re in search of new and different ways to take care of your whole self or something fun to break out of a rut, I can promise you that the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago has something for you.
Yes, that may have been a shameless plug, but it’s not an unwarranted one!
In addition to offering hundreds of options for movement, fitness, and recreation across the region, our Community Hubs also serve as gathering places for our members and friends, sites of unforgettable getaways, makeshift bingo halls, career-exploration spaces, and new-best-friend-making zones. (Plus, we have swim lessons for all ages and stages, hockey and skate programming, resource fairs, community events... you get the idea.)
As I like to say: We’re definitely not your grandparents’ Y. But, we also could be!
On behalf of the Y, I wish you and your loved ones the happiest of Thanksgivings! In the coming days, please stay tuned to your inboxes, our website, and our social media channels, because this Tuesday, December 3 is Giving Tuesday, the Global Day of Giving. Amid the barrage of requests and emails flooding your inbox next week (of which just a couple will be ours), I encourage you to consider making a gift to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Each contribution is an opportunity for the Y to expand our reach to more individuals, families, and communities, empowering them to realize their greatest potential and become the greatest versions of themselves.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dorri
Dorri McWhorter
President & CEO