YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Partnership with The Ripken Foundation

In 2019, the Ripken Foundation and Under Armour teamed up for the Freedom Initiative that allowed us to renovate youth-serving organization facilities across the country with the help of law enforcement volunteers coming together to transform local communities. The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles participated in one of these Freedom tour stops. As a result of their newly renovated spaces, they were on track to run our Healthy Lifestyles program in 2020 which shows kids the importance of overall wellness. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their plan was shifted they decided to tackle the challenges facing those in their neighborhood. The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles transformed some of their locations into COVID-19 testing sites and distributed PPE and hygiene products for homeless/unsheltered people and others in the community. Although they were unable to run official Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation programs, the YMCA staff made sure that their youth had access to healthy activities in order to maintain an active lifestyle from the safety of their homes.