Building Confidence and Connection at the Meadville YMCA
Funded through the Unrestricted Fund
Every summer, the Meadville YMCA fills local parks with laughter, games, and learning. Behind every activity is a group of high school students who gain much more than a paycheck, they gain purpose.
With support from a Crawford Heritage Community Foundation grant, the YMCA expanded its Summer Parks Program, employing and training local teens to lead activities for children throughout Meadville. The program teaches responsibility, leadership, and community pride, while offering children a safe, positive place to play and grow.
“For many of these students, this is their first job,” shared one YMCA staff member. “They learn how to show up, how to be leaders, and how to give back. It changes the way they see themselves.”
The ripple effects reach far beyond one summer. Children look up to these role models, parents gain peace of mind, and teens discover that making a difference feels just as rewarding as earning a paycheck.
The Meadville YMCA’s Summer Parks Program is proof that generosity creates opportunity and that the right support helps everyone thrive.
Every gift tells a story. Every story becomes a legacy.