About Us
Mission | History | Impact | Community Guidelines | Leadership Team | Board
Building A Community
At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow & thrive. The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth consists of 10 branches, as well as our resident camp, YMCA Camp Carter and the YMCA Sports Complex. The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth serves Tarrant, Hood and Johnson Counties and outlying areas.
Mission
The mission of the Y is to put Christian principles into practice through programs, services and relationships that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Vision
The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth’s vision is to be the market leader in creating experiences that strengthen families.
Values
Our values embrace the universal truths inherent in relationships with others – Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Honesty.
History of the YMCA
The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is part of a worldwide organization dedicated to putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Founded in 1844 in London, England, the YMCA quickly became a popular organization. The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth was established in 1890 when Fort Worth was just a frontier town. In those early days, a “Gospel Wagon” was used to transport young men from the streets of Fort Worth to rented YMCA facilities where their physical and spiritual needs were addressed.
In 1903, the first YMCA was organized to serve Fort Worth’s African American community, and in 1919 the branch became a part of the Fort Worth YMCA. The branch was renamed the McDonald YMCA in 1944 when William M. McDonald, a well-respected African-American businessman, donated a building which was used from 1944-1971. The McDonald YMCA moved to its Berry Street location in 1971 and merged with the Southeast YMCA to become the McDonald Southeast YMCA in 2013.
During the 20th century, two legendary leaders of Fort Worth, Amon G. Carter, Sr., and his son, Amon G. Carter, Jr., were instrumental in helping the YMCA grow. Amon Carter, Sr., served on the YMCA board in the early years, laying the cornerstone for the Downtown YMCA building in 1924 and helping establish Camp Carter YMCA with a gift of land in 1948. It was Amon Carter, Jr.’s influence, after serving time in a WWII prison camp and befriending a YMCA worker there, that inspired the development of Camp Carter. Like his father, Amon Carter, Jr., also served as the board chair for the Downtown YMCA. After his death, the central YMCA building was renamed the Amon Carter, Jr., Downtown YMCA in honor of Carter’s service as board chair.
Through the years, a number of additional branch YMCAs have opened in the Fort Worth area, including the Poly YMCA (1937), which later became the Eastside YMCA, the Northwest YMCA, which began as the Northside YMCA in 1946, the Westside YMCA (1948), originally called the Arlington Heights YMCA, the E. R. Van Zandt Southwest YMCA (1952), which began as the TCU-Southside branch, the Airport YMCA (1985), the Southeast YMCA (1991), the Clark Nowlin YMCA (1991-2008), the Ryan Family YMCA (1994), the Benbrook Community Center/YMCA (2000), the Hood County YMCA (2006) and the Northpark YMCA (2008). In 2013, the Joshua Community YMCA opened in collaboration with the City of Joshua. Also, the YMCA Sports Complex was opened in partnership with the City of Fort Worth that year. At the end of 2013, the McDonald and Southeast YMCAs merged to become the McDonald Southeast YMCA. Together, the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth’s 13 branches, one sports complex and a resident camp all continue the organization’s cause of strengthening communities through encouraging youth development, emphasizing healthy living and inspiring social responsibility.
The Y Impact
At the Y, our goal is to serve the community while also creating community. The Y has been listening and responding to our communities’ most critical social needs for more than 160 years.
For Youth Development
Nurturing the potential of every child and teen. We believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve.
For Healthy Living
Improving the nation’s health and well-being. In communities across the nation, the Y is a leading voice on health and well-being. With a mission centered on balance, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests.
For Social Responsibility
Giving back and providing support to our neighbors.
Board of Directors
Our Board Leaders

Mario Garza
Chair, Board of Directors

Melissa Rankin
Vice Chair

Cindy Milrany
Treasurer

Ellen Buck
Secretary
Our Board Members

Ricardo Alvarez
Principal, M.H. Moore Elementary Fort Worth Independent School District

Teresa Ayala
President Tarrant County College Board of Trustees Compliance, Texas Health Resources

Lillie Biggins
President (retired) Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital
Mark Bohon
Associate General Counsel Hillwood Energy

Sonyia Byrd
Owner Sonyia Byrd Attorney at Law

David Campbell
Architect/Vice President Huitt-Zollars Inc.
Carmen Curry-Beatty
Regulatory Compliance Valley Bank

Joyce Davis
Retired Federal Government

Vernon Evans, CPA
EVP/CFO (retired) D/FW International Airport

Eric Guy
Chief Financial Officer Roxo Energy, LLC

Jeff Hall
Executive Regional Vice President of Services Operations CarMax

Erayne Gee Hill
Vice President, Glint Advertising

Michael Hoffer
Vice President Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford Architects Planners Interiors

Chase Iles
Assistant Vice President Corporate Banking Frost Bank

Kirsten Jakowitsch, Ed.D.
Educational Consultant

James King
Director of Truancy & Safety Compliance Everman Independent School District

Chris Lokey
Retired Housteel Bar Stock

Jeremiah MacNamara
Vice President J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Tiera Miles
Dean of Students Rivertree Academy

Carol Murray
Program Director, Communications Blue Zones Project Fort Worth Texas Health Resources

Buddy Puente
Co-President Southwest Office Systems, Inc.

Becky Ramirez
Owner and CEO iREF Big Balls Up

Lisa Rettew
Principal & Chief Administrative Officer Luther King Capital Management

Joseph Reyes
Manager of Scouting & Analytics NBA G-League Mexico City Capitanes
Kayla Seeling
Family Law Attorney

Diann H. Smith
VP, Health Information Management Services & Clinical Documentation Integrity, Texas Health Resources
Twynette Solomon
Staff Attorney Bell Textron Inc.

Kenneth Spears
Staff Attorney Bell Textron Inc.

Sanel Thomas
Restaurant Franchisee Chick-fil-A Stockyards

Scott Turner
CEO (retired) GCG Marketing

Jermaine Watson
Law Firm Partner, Cantey Hanger LLP

Adam Weiskittel
Associate General Counsel BNSF Railway
IRS Form 990
Non-Profit Profile
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