YMCA OF METROPOLITAN DALLAS RECEIVES $20,000 GRANT FROM THE MAYOR'S DISASTER RELIEF FUND OF THE DALLAS FOUNDATION

DALLAS (April 9, 2021) – The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is one of the recipients of the latest round of funding from the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund of The Dallas Foundation. The Park South YMCA and Moorland Family YMCA at Oak Cliff have been selected to receive the $20,000 gift which will be split equally between the two locations. Both Ys opened their doors as Winter Warming Centers during the February storms and have distributed food throughout the pandemic to community members, which will continue with this donation.

“I want to thank Mayor Eric Johnson and The Dallas Foundation for recognizing the non-profits that are continuing to help our community through these challenging times,” said Curt Hazelbaker, President and CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. “At its heart, the YMCA is a community service organization. When there’s a need in this community – whether it’s a place for people to get shelter from the cold or pick up needed food for their families – the Dallas YMCA will always be there to help.”

During the February winter storm, Dallas Y branches opened their doors as Winter Warming Centers serving over one-thousand people with warm spaces, water, food, power, showers, Wi-Fi and more to help those in need due to power and water outages. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Dallas YMCA has served more than 75,000 people through its Catalyst Initiative (the Y’s COVID response program). The Dallas YMCA has provided 217,387 pounds of produce to people in need, 75,958 meals, served more than 3,300 children of essential workers in Emergency Child Care, distributed 450 laptops so kids could learn virtually and provided more than 1,700 students needed school supplies. The YMCA delivers groceries to at-risk seniors and does regular wellness checks to ensure our seniors feel mentally and physically connected to others during this time.

The Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund, sponsored by The Dallas Foundation, was initially created to help the City shelter Hurricane Katrina refugees in 2005.

The Fund, which previously distributed $275,000 to organizations that helped residents navigate the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, can only be used in the event of a federally declared disaster in Dallas. The state of Texas received an initial federal disaster declaration for the winter storms from President Biden on February 14th.

About the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Founded in 1885, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas serves thousands of men, women and children each year, regardless of age, income or background. Anchored in communities across North Texas, the Dallas Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. The Y ensures all people have equitable access to the essentials needed to become thriving members of the community. Daily, the Y bridges and fills individual and community needs as a catalyst for impactful change. The YMCA makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower people and communities to learn, grow and thrive, with three areas of impact: Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. To learn more or get involved, please visit www.ymcadallas.org.