YMCA of Greater Hartford

We believe learning should never take a summer break—thanks to Liberty Bank, hundreds of young minds across Greater Hartford will stay curious, confident, and on track. We’re proud to announce a generous $10,000 gift from the Liberty Bank Foundation (Liberty Bank - CT) in support of our BellXcel Power Scholars Academy, a high-impact summer learning program designed to help students retain knowledge, stay curious, and continue growing throughout the summer months. The BellXcel Power Scholars Academy is designed to combat summer learning loss by combining academic instruction with hands-on enrichment, social-emotional growth, and physical activity. It gives children—especially those from under-resourced communities—a chance to not only retain what they’ve learned but to discover new interests, build confidence, and continue growing. Support from partners like the Liberty Bank Foundation makes this work possible. Their investment ensures that every child—regardless of background—has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and explore new possibilities year-round. Thank you, Liberty Bank Foundation, for believing in our scholars and for helping us build brighter futures. Pictured: Lloyd Huie and James O'Rourke celebrate summer learning with BellXcel scholars.

Celebrating Leadership Lab Cohort #2 at the YMCA of Greater Hartford We’re proud to recognize five outstanding YMCA professionals who recently completed Leadership Lab Cohort #2—a multi-week program designed to foster innovation, strengthen leadership skills, and inspire collaboration across our organization. These emerging leaders dedicated themselves to deep learning, thoughtful dialogue, and strategic thinking, all while continuing to serve their branches and communities. Their capstone project focused on implementing Awardco, a customizable employee engagement platform that will help connect our 1,000+ staff across the association in new, motivating, and meaningful ways. This was more than a project—it was an investment in our people and our culture. Their commitment, creativity, and vision will leave a lasting impact on the YMCA of Greater Hartford. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable cohort. Their leadership truly embodies our mission and our values. #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #YMCA #GHYMCA #Awardco #BelongToSomethingGreater #MissionDrivenLeadership #CHoRRValues #ProfessionalGrowth #InnovationInAction

We are thrilled to welcome 𝐉𝐢𝐦 𝐎’𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐞 as the new President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford! Jim’s YMCA journey began in his youth at the Southington-Cheshire YMCA, where he first experienced the power of mentorship and community. That early connection sparked a lifelong commitment to the mission of the Y—one that has defined his 30+ year career in service to others. Most recently, as CEO of the Greater Waterbury YMCA, Jim led with a bold vision and a heart for people. He strengthened the Y’s role as a hub for youth and families, expanded access to wellness and educational programs, and responded to critical community needs—including leading efforts to provide emergency childcare during the pandemic. He’s known not only for building programs, but for building trust, inclusion, and impact in every community he serves. We are honored to welcome him to the YMCA of Greater Hartford and excited for the next chapter of growth and service under his leadership. Welcome to the YMCA of Greater Hartford, Jim! #BelongToSomethingGreater #GHYMCA #YMCA #Leadership #CommunityImpact

𝗔 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻' 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 ⚾ Last night we gathered at Dunkin' Donuts Park for our 2024 Annual Meeting—a heartfelt evening celebrating our mission, our people, and our future. We proudly honored 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗖. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘅 𝗝𝗿. 𝗬𝗠𝗖𝗔 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for her exceptional service, unwavering leadership, and lifelong commitment to strengthening community. With deep gratitude, we thanked 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 for his 10 years of visionary leadership as President & CEO. Harold's commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and support has left an indelible mark on our community. We also welcomed 𝗝𝗶𝗺 𝗢'𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲 as our new incoming President & CEO. Jim's journey—from a challenging childhood in the Bronx to leading the Greater Waterbury YMCA—embodies resilience and dedication. With over 35 years in the YMCA movement, Jim brings a deep commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. His leadership during the pandemic, including mobilizing emergency childcare for frontline workers, showcases his ability to respond to community needs with compassion and efficiency. To all who joined us—thank you for believing in the power of community. Together, we belong to something greater. #GHYMCA #BelongToSomethingGreater

Campaign Success: Member to Donor Fundraising Initiative We are excited to announce the successful completion of our Member to Donor campaign, which raised over $25,000 thanks to the generosity of 479 donors! Nearly half of these donors were first-time donors—an incredible show of new support that speaks to the power of our mission and the passion of our community. What impact do these gifts make? They help provide: - Scholarships for youth programs that build confidence and leadership. - Financial assistance for families to access essential services like childcare and wellness programs. - Support for community initiatives that promote healthy living and social responsibility. Pictured here: A stack of postcards headed to our new donors, sharing our sincere gratitude and recognition of their support. Every gift matters. Because of you, more children and families can thrive. Thank you for making a difference. 💙

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers! 🌟 We feel so lucky to have celebrated Read Across America Week not just once, but twice! Thanks to the incredible volunteers from Trinity Health Of New England, we extended the celebration for another amazing week in our early education classrooms. 📚💫 With warm smiles and engaging stories, these volunteers brought books to life, sparking curiosity and joy in our young learners. Their time and energy made a lasting impact — we read books about colors and animals of all kinds, played games, and laughed together. We're so grateful for their dedication to nurturing a love of reading and making special memories with our young learners. ❤️ Thank you, Trinity Health of New England, for helping us inspire the next generation of readers! Together, we’re building brighter futures, one story at a time. 📖✨ #GHYMCA #BelongToSomethingGreater #ReadAcrossAmerica #ThankYouVolunteers

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers! Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming incredible volunteers from across our community to help us celebrate Read Across America Week! Thanks to your time, energy, and love for reading, children in our early education programs enjoyed exciting stories, engaging conversations, and unforgettable moments. Your dedication truly made a difference — showing our young readers that books can unlock a world of imagination, curiosity, and learning. Thank you for being a part of this special week and for investing in the future of our youth. Together, we are building brighter futures, one page at a time. Hoffman Auto Group #ThankYouVolunteers #ReadAcrossAmerica #GHYMCA #BelongToSomethingGreater