Summer is here and with the Texas heat becoming increasingly unbearable every year, doesn’t a dip in the pool just sound divine? Not if you can’t swim!

Struggling to find affordable childcare in Houston? The YMCA is here to help! They're taking action to combat childcare deserts in the area, offering programs for kids of all ages. From early childcare centers to summer camps, they've got you covered. Learn more and get involved: #ChildcareDeserts #CommunitySupport #YMCAHouston

Police are praising former NFL player Braylon Edwards for stopping an attack on an 80-year-old man at a YMCA in suburban Detroit.

Texans Pro Bowl left tackle distributes Thanksgiving meals tor roughly 850 people, 250 families Wednesday night

The city of Houston will be opening two multi-service centers and a community center on Sunday and Monday as cooling centers for people without air conditioning to take refuge from the heat.

As the heat wave pushes people towards the water, the YMCA of Greater Houston is sharing some water safety tips.

It’s pool season and with all the fun that comes with that, also comes some danger for inexperienced swimmers.

The Canadian wildfires that have shrouded much of the nation in smoky haze are making it much harder for American kids to enjoy one of the staples of summer camp: fresh country air.

The YMCA of Greater Houston is combatting loneliness and isolation by helping Houstonians build connections through its new “Connection Guest Pass.”

Sister 2 Sistah co-founders Rebecca Briscoe and Nakia Cooper are on a mission to bring the love of baseball back to African American households. It is a personal mission, after the two working mothers saw a lack of diversity on the fields and in the stands at Major League Baseball games. KPRC 2's Sofia Ojeda interviews Briscoe and Cooper about their organization's initiative.

The YMCA of Greater Houston is now holding various on-site job fairs at 14 of its locations, hoping to fill 1,500 part-time summer positions.

More than 350,000 Americans die from a sudden cardiac arrest each year.

Stacey McDaniel, the anti-hunger initiatives specialist for YMCA, appeared on KPRC 2+ Monday.

The program runs through Aug. 31

It’s a competition of different YMCA's across our region, and their senior dance teams.

Today, on KPRC 2+, Tony Guillory, Association Director of Aquatics at the YMCA of Greater Houston, offered some water safety tips for parents and children and discussed the swim programs YMCA offers.

Houston Newsmakers: MLK Day - Is the dream still alive?

In the wake of the most devastating public-health emergency in a century and the resulting economic uncertainty, Americans provided more charitable dollars to United Way Worldwide than any other nonprofit focused on direct aid, followed by the Salvation Army and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, according to new rankings by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize the emergency use of an antibody treatment to prevent COVID-19.

YMCA of Greater Houston is accepting donations July 6 – Aug. 6 to provide school supplies and backpacks to students in need.

The summer is better with friends. And, the YMCA is making it easier for teens to connect.

The family of a man who collapsed at a Houston YMCA last week is crediting workers for helping to save the man’s life.

If you’re still looking for a summer camp or two to fill your child’s days this summer, you’re in luck. There are still some spaces open. Many families uncertain about the safety of sending kids to camp waited later to register their children this year. When Gov. Greg Abbott opened all businesses to 100% capacity in early March, it allowed camps to start planning.

Several warming shelters have opened in and around the Houston area because of the arctic blast. AdLakewood ChurchLakewood Church is open as a warming center. League CityWe’ve opened a warming center at the Hometown Heroes Recreation Center. McGuire Dent Recreation CenterThe City of Galveston is reopening a warming center at the McGuire Dent Recreation Center beginning Wednesday, February 17 at 6 p.m. If you need a warming center, please use the Harris County and Houston centers along with this northside center.

HOUSTON – The YMCA of Greater Houston announced Thursday that it will increase the minimum pay for all full-time and part-time associates. The starting minimum pay is $15 an hour for full-time associates and $10 an hour for part-time associates, according to a news release. Stephen Ives, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Houston said in a statement the initiative was a result of a generous gift received from MacKenzie Scott, who donated $18 million to the organization last year. Read more: MacKenzie Scott says she has given $4.1 billion to charity“Our intention is to increase equity and inclusion starting with ourselves, and this entry level wage adjustment is just one of the ways we are taking action internally,” Ives added. The YMCA will also use their $18 million gift to sustain efforts and to assist with other initiatives to fight inequality, address food insecurity and inspire youth to thrive.

Prairie View A & M University was a big winner toward the end of 2020 when it was awarded 50 million dollars by the Mackenzie Scott Foundation. Happy days for Houston Area nonprofits50 million dollars-Prairie View A & M University18 million dollars-YMCA of Greater Houston15 million dollars-Goodwill Industries Houston7 million dollars-Easter Seals of Greater Houston? Meals on Wheels Montgomery CountyYMCA of Greater HoustonAfter an aggressive pivot on priorities because of the pandemic, the YMCA of Greater Houston now has a much needed cushion for programs. Steve Lufburrow is the President and CEO and recounts his thoughts when told of his 15 million dollar award. More Information:Ruth Simmons, Ph.D., President, Prairie View A & M University· Website: https://www.pvamu.edu/· Twitter: @PVAMUStephen Ives, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston· Website: https://www.ymcahouston.org/· Twitter: @YMCAHoustonSteve Lufburrow, President & CEO, Goodwill Industries Houston· Website: https://www.goodwillhouston.org· Twitter: @goodwillhoustonElise Hough, CEO Easter Seals of Greater Houston· Website: https://www.eastersealshouston.org/· Twitter: @eastersealshouSummer Day, President & CEO Meals on Wheels Montgomery County· Website: https://www.mowmc.org/· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mealsonwheelsmc/?ref=hl

The $30 million donation by Scott was announced Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in a post that detailed the nearly $4.2 billion in gifts given to nonprofit organizations by the philanthropist in 2020. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)SEATTLE – MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist, author and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has announced that she has given away $4.1 billion in the past four months to hundreds of organizations as part of a giving pledge she announced last year. In Houston, the YMCA of Greater Houston announced that it will receive $18 million from Scott. The gift is the YMCA of Greater Houston’s single largest donation in its 134-year history. Scott announced her pandemic-era philanthropy in a Medium post Tuesday, The Seattle Times reported.

MISSOURI CITY, Texas – Fort Bend County has launched a childcare initiative to help local families. George said that childcare has been an ongoing challenge that many families are facing in the midst of a pandemic. He said that a child care task force was formed in the county several months ago and tasked with the job to come up with solutions to help families facing this challenge. On Wednesday morning, the county announced a new partnership with the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and other private licensed child care facilities. Mom of three, Zipciriah Washington, was so happy when she found out her family qualified for the free YMCA childcare assistance program too.

President Donald Trump, a man who is famously particular about his appearance, is fully embracing doing a dad dance to the Village People's “YMCA” as the finale to his rallies in the campaign's closing stretch. Trump's rally dance has become a rare moment of levity in an otherwise miserable campaign year marked by a deadly pandemic, an economic recession and racial turmoil. Then order 'Dancing with The Don’ and let President Trump teach you all the hottest moves!" Dancing.”“YMCA,” widely considered a gay anthem, is a relatively new addition to Trump's rally playlist. Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller agreed to reveal the secret to an AP reporter “only if we first get a clip of you singing YMCA.”AP’s Jill Colvin declined.

TRINITY, Texas – The coronavirus pandemic put a halt to almost all summer activities, including many camps for children. YMCA’s Camp Cullen, about 90 miles north of Houston in Trinity made the difficult decision to cancel in late May. Later this year, families can sign up for theme weeks like “Fall Festival,” “Halloween” and “Winter Wonderland” Family Camp. The YMCA hopes to keep Family Camp running through the end of 2020 to help make up for the organization’s budget shortfall. Here’s a description from the YMCA of what Camp Cullen normally offers:“Camp Cullen offers boys and girls ages 7-17 the experience of a lifetime.

HOUSTON – The YMCA of Greater Houston has always been a great place to enroll your kids in sports programs after school. This August, the organization is launching a new program to help children learn through their schools’ virtual learning program while being supervised by a certified teacher at the YMCA. The academic/ virtual learning program begins at 8 a.m. and runs through 11 a.m. There is also financial aid available for parents who are struggling, through the YMCA and through the Texas Workforce Commission. You can enroll in the program for your children and apply for financial aid by going to the YMCA website.

The coronavirus pandemic is changing some parts of the job for local lifeguards. With city pools in Houston still closed, the YMCA of Greater Houston said its swimming facilities have seen quite a bit of traffic since reopening in June. The YMCA purchased blue filters for its guards to use during CPR. Lifeguards are disinfecting more and swimmers can only use the pool by reservation to control the number of people inside. Bradford said all of the YMCA’s pools now have the filters, though they haven’t had to use one so far.

HOUSTON – There's growing concern that protecting children from the coronavirus could expose them to other dangers around the home, especially this summer. According to Help and Hope, 11 children across our area have drowned already this year. They are not outside doing other things,” American Academy of Pediatrics’ Ben Hoffman, MD, warned. If your teenager has never learned to swim, it's never too late, according to the latest PSA released from the American Academy of PediatricsDue to COVID-19 closures, the YMCA does not yet know if or when they will do their free annual safe swim lessons. Although, they are offering these online videos about swim safety for pre-school and grade-school kids, plus one on the basics of CPR.

HOUSTON – Summer camps will be allowed to reopen soon after Gov. The YMCA of Greater Houston’s summer camps will soon be allowed to open but they will not look like they did every year before this. The thing that won’t be different is the joy and excitement and enthusiasm that the kids are going to have for the good program that’s happening,” said Stephen Ives, the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston. Summer camps can open on May 31, according to the state’s guidelines. In the video above, see what steps the YMCA of Greater Houston will be taking to protect your kids.

Almost all gyms said they’ll have equipment spaced out or every other machine powered off so they cannot be used in close distance to other members. We got information from a few local gyms about what members should expect and have the state’s criteria to open. State protocolThe state requires gyms to cap attendance at 25% capacity just like other businesses that are currently open. Also, members used to scan their fingerprint to check-in with the front desk. They’ll release which Houston locations will open on Monday but don’t plan to go there just yet.

HOUSTON – The YMCA of Greater Houston will reopen a limited number of facilities for fitness-related services beginning June 1 as part of their phased opening approach, they said. The YMCA said they will not draft member dues for the month of June while the phased approach is being implemented. We will release details the week of May 18 regarding locations, amenities and youth programs, including summer camps, that will reopen in phase one,” YMCA Houston said. The YMCA also continues to provide services such as weekly food distributions, child care for essential personnel and social services for senior citizens. of food, served 285,000 individuals, and cared for more than 600 children at 19 sites designed for child care for essential personnel.

HOUSTON – Here is a list of food distribution events that are going on in the Houston area. Northwest Assistance MinistriesNorthwest Assistance Ministries will be hosting several food distribution events through early September. Houston Food BankThe Houston Food Bank has created a robust map that will help those in need find food bank partners who may be able to provide them with food assistance. Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston sitesThe Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston is offering some drive-thru food pantry services during the week. YMCA sitesThe map below is maintained by the YMCA of Greater Houston.

HOUSTON – YMCA of Greater Houston is offering child care at select locations to essential business workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks will be provided by the Houston Food Bank. According to the YMCA website, essential personnel is defined as city and county staff responding to the COVID-19 crisis, first responders such as police, fire, and EMS, medical personnel, those who work at food bank and grocery stores, and other organizations or businesses providing critical services to the community during this time. Proof of employment will be checked up first drop-off. Anderson Family YMCA705 Cavalcade St., Houston, TXTexas Medical Center YMCA5614 H.Mark Crosswell Jr St., Houston, TXYMCA Children’s Academy at University Park11144 Compaq Center W Drive, Houston, TXWendel D. Ley Family YMCA15055 Wallisville Road, Houston, TXThe Woodlands YMCA - Shadowbend6145 Shadowbend Pl, The Woodlands, TXFor more information, visit the YMCA website.

If you’re still working on your New Years resolutions, you can get your workout for free this weekend, The YMCA is giving people a chance to try out their classes. Adopt a pet for freeIf you’re looking for a new furry family member, head to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter in Conroe this weekend. The shelter is open for adoptions 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and is located at 8535 Hwy 242, Conroe. This Sunday, kids of all ages can take part in sled rides and other winter activities under the Houston sun. The fun starts at 3 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m. at the park in southwest Houston located behind Westbury High School.

The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to focus on your health and workout habits. The YMCA stopped by to give some some tips.

Getting healthy in the new year is easy at the YMCA of Greater Houston | HOUSTON LIFE | KPRC 2Published: December 19, 2019, 2:08 pmThe YMCA of Greater Houston has been serving the Houston community for over 130 years. It’s a place you can work out and get healthy, but also so much more! They offer something for everyone…from infants to senior citizens. Now, they’re making it easy for you to get the entire family active in the new year.