Hundreds Protest Cuts as Budget Deadlock Continues

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago joined other social-service agencies to protest the Illinois governor's budget cuts to childcare assistance programs. WBBM-TV's Jim Williams' live interview was among those coordinated by Marj Halperin and team. Watch it here.

A Nudge Toward Healthy Lifestyles

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington’s occasionally adopts the persona of “the Fat Nag” to urge readers to adopt healthy lifestyles. Here, she chronicled the success of a husband-and-wife Y members.

Youth Safety & Violence Prevention on WGN

Urban Warriors is a YMCA mentoring program to stem youth violence in targeted Chicago communities. To help recruit war veterans for the program, Marj Halperin and team secured this WGN Radio interview with host James VanOsdol.

NPR Reporting on Social Media Fueling Gang Activity

Marj Halperin and team leverage clients’ diverse expertise, positioning them as appealing sources for journalists. Here, the YMCA’s Eddie Bocanegra is featured in Cheryl Corley’s report on “cyber-banging” for NPR’s “All Things Considered”. 

Help for At-Risk Teens

Marj Halperin and team coordinated a letter to the editor of Crain’s Chicago Business co-written by the CEOs of two important Chicago non-profit organizations, a powerful response to state budget cuts to social services in 2015. See it here. 

School Days Out

When low temps and snowstorms closed schools, the Y’s doors were open to families. MHC earned coverage by nearly every local TV station, including WFLD-TV, whose Joanie Lum reported and tweeted.

YMCA Cover Story on Quintessential Barrington

Reaching priority audiences through hyper-local media is a smart strategy. YMCA volunteers and donors Vince and Pat Foglia were featured on the glossy, four-color cover of a suburban magazine. See it here. 

YMCA’s Urban Warriors Coverage by AP & Military Times

Marj Halperin and team raised national awareness of the Y’s Urban Warriors program by coordinating this AP story by Sharon Cohen. It ran in a dozen U.S. newspapers, leading to volunteering inquiries from veterans.

YMCA’s Urban Warriors Coverage by AP & Military Times

Marj Halperin and team raised national awareness of the Y’s Urban Warriors program by coordinating this AP story by Sharon Cohen. It ran in a dozen U.S. newspapers, leading to volunteering inquiries from veterans.

Veterans Help Chicago Teens Through ‘War’ Times

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Urban Warriors program was the subject of a Chicago Tribune front-page story by Annie Sweeney -- one of nearly 20 stories we secured for the program in 2014. See it here.