Posted on: Wednesday, April 29th, 2026
Grant from Sturdy Health to launch Pathways Forward Initiative at our YMCA
We’re honored to receive a two-year grant from Sturdy Health to create a new YMCA program, the Pathways Forward initiative, strengthening access to vital resources and supporting individual and family stability in our communities.
This investment will strengthen the infrastructure and capacity of our YMCA’s Social Action Services initative, allowing us to reach more individuals and families with the support they need to move forward. Building on our traditional programs like our A Place for All financial assistance, food access, and chronic disease as well as mental health resources, we’re expanding into educational workshops and classes that will provide people with the tools they need for long-term success. Through structured programs, ongoing check-ins, and measurable progress, we’re helping build stronger, more resilient communities.
“This grant from Sturdy Health to create Pathways Forward at our YMCA is transformational,” said Jim Downs, CEO of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “It allows us to build on a strong foundation and evolve our work into a more coordinated, responsive system of care, one that not only meets immediate needs, but also creates pathways that ensure individuals and families can access the resources, tools and support they need—when they need them, to move forward with confidence.”
The Pathways Forward initiative will be implemented through our YMCA’s new Social Action Services Center at our Hurley Family Branch in North Attleboro, funded by the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation, currently under development and expected to open in late 2026. The Center will serve as a centralized access point where community members can receive support, be connected to resources, and navigate services more readily.
The Initiative is designed to respond to the growing and increasingly complex needs of the community. In recent years, our YMCA has seen a 120% increase in financial assistance applications and now supports more than 10,000 individuals annually through scholarship, food access programming, mental health support and case management. Many families are navigating multiple challenges at once and our YMCA recognizes the need to approach supports for the whole family and whole household to help achieve stability.
