Palo Alto, CA — The YMCAs of the Mid-Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley will merge into the YMCA of the Silicon Valley effective Jan. 1, 2009, the Palo Alto (CA) Weekly reports. The new organization will have 10 YMCA facilities and will have the ability and resources to reach out to nearly 190,000 members.
Both YMCA organizations offer fitness and wellness programs as well as youth and teen programs, child care, family activities and summer camps.
“This is an opportunity to develop and deliver more membership and program benefits for families across the region,” Bob Talbott, chairman of the Mid-Peninsula YMCA board, said in a statement. “They will feel the presence of the new YMCA association in more places — everywhere people live, work and play in Silicon Valley — including more under-served communities and populations.”
Judy Hayner, spokesperson of YMCA of Santa Clara Valley, tells the Palo Alto Weekly that there will be no discernable program or membership changes for members of either YMCA, and all future changes will be gradual and geared toward enhancing and expanding members' experience at their local facility. Hayner also says that although there will be changes in job descriptions at the headquarters level, no one with either organization will lose their job.