General Assembly of YMCAs Gives Back to Local Atlanta Community
Over 3,400 backpacks were stuffed with school supplies as Y staff and volunteers gather for quadrennial event
ATLANTA (July 25, 2023) – Over 4,400 YMCA staff and volunteers from across the country attended the Y’s General Assembly of YMCAs last week in Atlanta. Over the course of the four-day conference, attendees were able to participate in a hands-on community service project and give back to the local Atlanta community.
On Friday, July 21, almost 200 participants gathered to take part in a school backpack assembly project at the Georgia World Conference Center. Volunteers assembled backpacks full of school supplies for under-resourced children in Atlanta. Over 3,400 backpacks were stuffed and collected during this full-day community service project.
“We were thrilled to host the 2023 General Assembly of YMCAs and are grateful for the Y staff and volunteers who took part in our backpack stuffing community outreach program,” said Lauren Koontz, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. “Our Y has happily served Atlanta for over 160 years, and this donation helps ensure that children in our community are set up for success this coming school year.”
“Our General Assembly was a celebration of the many ways that YMCAs address social needs and strengthen their communities,” said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. “It comes as no surprise that Y staff and volunteers showed up in big numbers to support the Atlanta YMCA’s backpack project. It’s what they do every day in communities across the country – help those who need a hand.”
The General Assembly of YMCAs is the national gathering of senior leaders, local volunteers and key program staff who work within YMCAs across the US. It serves as a forum for networking, inspiration, education and an opportunity to connect and unite as a Movement. Every four years, this conference is hosted in a different city and is a chance to collectively celebrate the staff and volunteers who lend their passion towards the work being done across 2,600+ Y locations in more than 10,000 communities nationwide.
About YMCA of Metro Atlanta
For more than 160 years, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta has been impacting lives and strengthening communities. As Atlanta has grown, the Y has also evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. Well-thought-out planning, while engaging stakeholders at various levels, provides the backdrop for sustainable change and positive impact at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. By providing impactful services and support networks, and building bridges between people from all backgrounds, the Y has maintained its relevance, helping to create stronger, more cohesive communities for all. https://ymcaatlanta.org/
About the Y
Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community for more than 175 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide. Learn more at ymca.org.