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Category: Child Care

The Harlem Globetrotters Surprise Y Kids with a Visit

Posted on by Kathleen Webber

EVERETT, WA – November 18, 2025. A YMCA of Snohomish County Before and After School Care site was treated to a surprise visit from the Harlem Globetrotters.  

The kids were dazzled by talented tricks from Lucious “Too Tall” Winston. Known for his skillful dribbling and long-range shooting, Winston put on a show these Y kids will never forget. 

The Globetrotters are gearing up for their worldwide 100-Year Tour, which is set to pass through Everett on January 25, 2026 at Angel of the Winds Arena. The team is known for being the originators of basketball style, so it’s a natural fit to celebrate their centennial anniversary with the Y, where basketball was invented. 

“Our kids’ faces just lit up,” said Michelle Pitzer, Everett Family YMCA Senior Director of Child Care. “Lucious took time to connect with each child, showing them that teamwork, kindness, and fun all go hand in hand. Moments like this remind us why we do what we do.”  

The visit brought joy and energy to the Y, leaving kids inspired and excited to carry the Globetrotters’ message of positivity and teamwork both on and off the court. 

To learn more about basketball and youth sports at the Y, please visit ymca-snoco.org/sports/.  

Schwab Tires Supports Youth and Promotes Safety with Multiple Donations to the Y

Posted on by Abbey McGee

the YMCA of Snohomish County

Everett, WA. November 13, 2025 – Thanks to the Les Schwab Tires for Purpose program, the YMCA of Snohomish County is even better equipped this fall to empower youth to discover their potential, build confidence, and positively engage with their communities.

Through the Les Schwab Tires for Purpose program, five of the YMCA’s vehicles – a full-sized bus, two mini buses, a Suburban and a Ford Ranger XL – were outfitted with brand-new, donated tires this month at four different Les Schwab locations in the area. The vehicles are used to transport staff and members, especially youth, to a wide variety of events year-round. More vehicles on the road for the YMCA means more opportunities for the community.

“The YMCA of Snohomish County is committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and we are so grateful to Les Schwab for supporting that vision and keeping our community safe with their generous donation,” said Brianne Kreppein, Grant Manager at YMCA of Snohomish County. “Tires for Purpose is an amazing program, covering a basic need that nonprofits often struggle to find funding for.”

Les Schwab Tires for Purpose awards community nonprofits that are making a positive difference with a set of tires for their organization’s vehicle.

“It’s a meaningful way Les Schwab helps local organizations stay on the road to do more good,” said Les Schwab Area Manager Rich Baalman. “Les Schwab has always been about creating opportunity, especially in the small towns where we were founded and where we work. We want to help all kids in our communities dream and prosper.”

According to Kreppein, the donation came at the perfect time for the Y, “Les Schwab made it possible to replace tires on all of our vehicles that needed it across Snohomish and Island County just in time for the rainy fall and winter seasons. We can’t thank them enough for helping our youth get safely to their field trips, swim lessons, and before- and after-school care!”

In 2025, Les Schwab Tires supported more than 300 organizations with the Tires for Purpose program across the 15 states where the company operates. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.lesschwab.com/tiresforpurpose. Applications for 2025 have closed, but nonprofits will have another opportunity to apply in early 2026. 

New Marysville Early Learning Center Coming Fall 2025

Posted on by Abbey McGee

Marysville, WA, October 4, 2024. – The YMCA of Snohomish County is thrilled to announce the construction of a brand-new Early Learning Center at the Marysville Family YMCA, set to open in Fall 2025. This facility will provide affordable, high-quality child care to local families, serving 90 children.

“This is more than just a new facility—it’s a direct extension of our mission to strengthen families and support youth development in our community,” said JJ Frank, Executive Director, Marysville Family YMCA. “There is a need to expand Early Childhood Education in the city of Marysville and we are looking forward to helping our community fill this need. Thanks to the collaboration of community partners, state and federal funding, and the support of our members and donors, this center will ensure that all families, regardless of financial situation, have access to the care they deserve.”

The Marysville YMCA Youth Development Center (YDC) building will be transformed into a 4-classroom facility, funded by a $2.2 million Washington State Early Learning Facilities (ELF) grant. The YDC and all youth leadership programs have been relocated inside the Y. Nearly $1 million in Congressionally-Directed Funds secured by Sen. Patty Murray will be used to fund staff salaries, furnishings, and supplies that will finish the space and ensure a quality program immediately upon its opening.

The new Early Learning Center aligns with the YMCA’s strategic goals to expand access to essential services, ensuring equitable opportunities for all families. This project is a testament to the YMCA’s ongoing commitment to community impact. This initiative will not only benefit the Marysville community but also families across Snohomish County.

“We’re excited to bring high-quality, affordable child care to Marysville and to provide families with the support they need to thrive,” said Megan Proost, Director of Child Care Advancement, YMCA of Snohomish County. “This center will be a game-changer for families, offering a safe, nurturing environment that fosters early learning and development.”

For more information on YMCA child care programs, please visit ymca-snoco.org/child-care/.

YMCA Child Care Programs Receive $1.3 Million in Complex Needs Funding

Posted on Updated on by Abbey McGee

EVERETT, WA. June 3, 2024 – The YMCA of Snohomish County is proud to announce that 18 of its School-Age Care sites are recipients of complex needs funding from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), a vital investment in supporting the mental health and holistic development of youth in YMCA child care. This funding, totaling $1.3 million, will enable the Y to better support the diverse needs of all children in its care.

“This funding is a gamechanger for our programs and the communities we serve,” said Megan Proost, Association Director of Child Care Advancement. “It will allow us to retain and hire mental health staff and provide necessary resources like adaptive materials and one-to-one support staff for children with complex needs in our program.”

The Y’s commitment to its holistic approach to care includes mental health and behavior specialists who adopt a trauma-informed care approach, enhancing the standard of care for children with distinctive needs. These essential staff members not only offer immediate support, but provide ongoing care that comprehensively addresses the multifaceted aspects of complex needs.

“We recognize the importance of tailored support,” said Proost. “Our programs employ essential elements to nurture and support every child in child care, including individual success plans, staff training and development, collaboration with families, schools, and community partners, and safe, inclusive environments.

The impact of this funding extends beyond the child care setting, influencing children’s families, peers, and communities. Children learn valuable skills and strategies such as emotion regulation and conflict resolution in School-Age Care, which they take home, enriching their family dynamics and relationships.

“We believe in a holistic approach to child development and this funding will enable us to continue providing quality care and support from Stanwood to Bothell, helping children academically, socially, and emotionally,” said Proost. “Our goal is to meet every child where they are at, ensuring they find friendship, achievement, and belonging in our programs.”

The Y is committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. With the support of complex needs funding, the Y is positioned to make an even greater impact on the lives of youth and families in the community. To learn more about YMCA child care, please visit: ymca-snoco.org/child-care/. The Y is currently enrolling for the 2024-25 school year.

Thanks to state funding, the Y is hiring additional mental health support staff and one-on-one leads. To learn more about a rewarding career in YMCA child care, please visit: https://childcare.ymca.careers or https://mentalhealth.ymca.careers.

leads. To learn more about a rewarding career in YMCA child care, please visit: https://childcare.ymca.careers or https://mentalhealth.ymca.careers.

Senator Murray Visits the Everett Y to Discuss Child Care in Snohomish County

Posted on by Zac Jagow

We are proud to share that U.S. Senator Patty Murray, lifelong advocate for child welfare and Early Childhood Education, visited the Everett Family YMCA. During her visit, Senator Murray learned about the role the Y, and our community partners, play in supporting working families through quality, accessible early learning.

“You’re looking at a former preschool teacher who is fighting to make every bit of progress possible to address the child care crisis in Snohomish County and all across our state,” said Senator Murray. “The bottom line is that we have a crisis on our hands. I hear nonstop from families—and from small business owners and so many others—about how child care isn’t just unaffordable, it’s also really hard to find.”

Murray discussed her continued efforts fighting to secure investments into child care at the federal level, as well as her work to secure $943,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the YMCA of Snohomish County to expand their child care programs as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 government spending bills. An estimated 80 percent of Snohomish county residents live in an extreme child care desert, and there are only 62 slots of child care for every 100 infants, toddlers, or preschoolers whose parents work, far below the state average of 79 slots per 100 children.

YMCA of Snohomish County serves thousands of children in school-age child care, early childhood education, and camp. Establishing additional early learning opportunities in Snohomish County is a cornerstone of our YMCA’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.

“We are proud of our legacy of service in Snohomish County and consider it a privilege to provide families with high-quality, affordable child care,” said Peyton Tune, President and CEO, YMCA of Snohomish County. “We are grateful for the attention and collaboration of Senator Murray and her focus on alleviating the challenges of working parents. We are committed to expanding access, so all children who need care can thrive in a safe, nurturing environment.”