On Saturday, a local Who’s Who gathered at Schuylkill YMCA headquarters in Pottsville for the organization’s annual Spirit of the Y dinner.
The event is the largest fundraiser for Schuylkill YMCA and the money raised from it essentially keeps the organization running for the entire year. It featured numerous items up for silent and live auction. Nearly 200 people were in attendance
John Powers Jr. played the role of emcee for the evening and State Rep. Jamie Barton was auctioneer.
The 2026 Spirit of the Y dinner was Pottsville Mayor Tom Smith’s last as president of the organization’s board of directors. He announced Saturday that he’ll be stepping aside, making way for new president Katrina Marx.
“This event carries us for the year,” Smith says.
Money raised from Saturday’s event also helps get children in need to the YMCA’s Summer Day Camp. Early registration for the eight-week camp begins April 1.
Smith adds that he’s thankful for the people who come to the dinner every year with their support of YMCA but especially thankful for new people who he says are just finding out about the organization being active locally.
New support for YMCA in recent years has driven up enrollment from a little less than 500 to more than 1,000.
“We’re really building on the program,” Smith says, noting that every dollar raised locally stays with Schuylkill YMCA.
Looking ahead, Marx says she’s excited about new and expanded programs at Y.
“The future is looking bright. I can’t wait to see all the new programs come into shape,” Marx says.
Marx tells Coal Region Canary she’s looking forward to the years ahead with an immediate goal of reducing the rather large wait list for the YMCA’s gymnastics program. Earlier this month, Schuylkill YMCA cut the ribbon its new gymastics center next to Alvernia University’s Pottsville CollegeTowne.
The move to the new gymnastics center also frees up time and space for other programs at the former armory building that’s now home to the YMCA. That includes a new pickleball program, the newly started Tai Chi program, larger exercise classes, and open basketball.
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