By Lucy Berres
Over the past 12 months, the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina has experienced a remarkable season of growth – one defined not just by construction and expansion, but by a deepened commitment to serving communities across our region, as well. From revitalized spaces to new amenities and future-focused investments, each milestone reflects our mission in action – to strengthen the foundations of community for all.
In June of 2025, we proudly reopened the fully renovated YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake, breathing new life into a vital community hub in East Winston. As we approach its one-year anniversary in June of 2026, the REACH Center stands as a powerful example of what’s possible through partnership and purpose. With a full service family medicine clinic operated in collaboration with Novant Health, the center is helping remove barriers to wellness by connecting community members to both health and holistic support – all under one roof.
This past year also marked an important moment of internal growth for our association. For the first time in more than 20 years, we brought our internal teams together – including Human Resources and Finance – and our external-facing teams such as Development, Membership, and Marketing and Communications into one centralized location. Now housed in the Wells Fargo building in downtown Winston-Salem, our Association Resource Center (ARC) is designed to better support our branches and the communities they serve. By aligning these teams under one roof, we are strengthening collaboration, improving operational efficiency and maximizing stewardship of our resources – ensuring that more time, talent and funding are directed where they matter most – advancing our mission and serving our communities.
Across the region, we’ve continued to invest in spaces that bring people together. At the Robinhood Road Family YMCA, we broke ground on an exciting project that includes a new airnasium and expanded parking. The additional parking was completed in November of 2025, and the airnasium – an open-air, covered facility designed for year-round programming – is nearing completion this spring. Similarly, at the Yadkin Family YMCA, construction began in April of 2025 on long-anticipated renovations and expansions, with the project now in its final stages. These improvements allow us to serve more members, more effectively, in spaces designed for connection, health and growth.
Innovation has also played a key role in expanding access to the Y. In the beginning of 2026, we introduced 24/7 access at branches in Alexander, Davie and Stokes counties – ensuring that more people can engage in their wellness journey on a schedule that fits their lives. This added flexibility reflects our ongoing commitment to meeting community needs in meaningful and practical ways.
At YMCA Camp Hanes, we celebrated the completion of the Wood Family Canteen in May 2025 – an enhancement that enriches the camp experience for generations of youth and families. As we look ahead, we are planning additional improvements that will preserve and elevate Camp Hanes as a place where memories are made, confidence is built and lifelong friendships are formed.
We also had the opportunity to celebrate milestones that remind us of our enduring legacy. The William G. White Family YMCA marked its 50th anniversary in 2025, honoring five decades of impact in the community. Looking forward, 2026 marks the 175th anniversary of the YMCA in the United States – a powerful reminder of the organization’s longstanding commitment to strengthening communities nationwide.
Most recently, we broke ground on a new airnasium at the Kernersville Family YMCA, with completion anticipated later in 2026. This project represents just the beginning of continued enhancements at the branch, as we look ahead with excitement and determination to expand our reach through ongoing fundraising and community support.
Together, these milestones tell a story of momentum – one driven by community need, sustained by generous partners and guided by a mission that has stood the test of time. As we look to the future, the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina remains committed to growing with purpose, ensuring that every individual and family we serve has the opportunity to reach their God-given potential in spirit, mind and body.
