The YMCA of Greater Toledo is proud to announce that the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award from the National Community Development Association (NCDA). This prestigious national honor recognizes leadership and innovation in advancing community development.

A joint project between the City of Toledo and the YMCA of Greater Toledo, the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA stands as more than a building—it is a hub for health, connection, and opportunity in the Warren Sherman neighborhood.

Since reopening in March 2025, the YMCA has quickly become a center of neighborhood vitality. Membership has grown from 427 to more than 2,000 in less than nine months. Today, the facility serves over 600 seniors, supports families through a community food pantry serving approximately 300 households each month, and provides youth swim lessons, early childhood education with on-site pre-K classrooms, digital learning space, mental health services, and partner-led health screenings.

“This award affirms the YMCA’s role in strengthening neighborhoods through programs that support youth and seniors, promote healthy living, and create meaningful connections,” said Brad Toft, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toledo.

The Audrey Nelson Award recognizes innovative and collaborative use of federal community development resources, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships funds. The Wayman D. Palmer YMCA will be formally recognized at the NCDA Winter/Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

This national recognition underscores the YMCA’s commitment to ensuring all people—regardless of age or income—have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Read the full press release, click here.