The Lancaster Family YMCA and the YMCA of York and York County merged into a single YMCA association - the YMCA of the Roses - effective Dec. 1. The merger is intended to ensure the region has access to high-quality YMCA programming and allow the YMCAs in York and Lancaster to be more efficient stewards of the areas' resources.

On Sept. 1, 2020, the Lancaster Family YMCA and the YMCA of York and York County entered into a management agreement so that the York organization could provide CEO and human resource services to the Lancaster organization. Since then, the two associations have deepened their partnership by sharing staff, services, and programs.

Both YMCAs' leadership voted to move forward with a merger process, establishing a Merger Task Force, including representatives from each YMCA and the Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs, along with the York and Lancaster YMCA president/CEO. The task force conducted due diligence in the areas of property/risk/insurance, program and membership, governance, human resources, and finance, and it developed a formal plan of merger, which was approved by both boards and members.

Members at both YMCAs will automatically become members of the new association in the same category as they were before the merger. There will be no significant changes to each YMCA's programming or facilities, but both associations are adjusting their pricing models to establish consistency in the new association. Certain operations will be streamlined, such as timing of programs and online communications so that the merged YMCA can more efficiently serve residents in both counties.

The YMCA of the Roses will keep its staffing structure largely the same. Larry M. Richardson, who has been the president/CEO of the YMCA of York and York County for over 27 years and the acting president/CEO of the Lancaster Family YMCA since September 2020, will serve as the merged YMCA's president/CEO. In each county, a director of operations will oversee the day-to-day activities of the branch. A single corporate office will manage both counties.

The YMCA of the Roses will conduct centralized fundraising activities, but ensure that past, present, and future restricted funds are used for their intended purpose and align with the donor's intent.

The volunteer leadership for both associations will have an opportunity to continue serving with the new organization in some capacity. The YMCA of the Roses' board of directors will be made up of volunteer leadership from both counties as will the various other committees related to overall operations of the merged YMCA. Local committees will ensure that each area's operations are appropriate and relevant for their respective communities. Direct service volunteers, such as ones from United Way initiatives, will continue to have opportunities to serve their local YMCA.

The merged YMCA of the Roses will run five branches and five pools across both counties in rural, suburban, and urban communities. It will have a combined operating budget of about $15 million and over 500 employees, and it will serve over 30,000 members a year. YMCA of the Roses will work with over 1,500 volunteers for a combined 20,000 service hours and give out over $2 million in financial assistance so everyone can afford a YMCA membership. YMCA of the Roses will have an office for a New American Welcome Center in each county so that newcomers to the area can access YMCA resources. Its free or low-cost child development programs will serve 600 children. Summer camp in five locations across both counties, including financial assistance, will work to ensure that all the community's children can go to camp.

The organization's leadership will continually evaluate community issues and resources so that it can implement charitable programs to meet the region's new and emerging needs.

For more information, contact jkirkenir@rosesymca.org or visit http://www.rosesymca.org.