Two YMCA organizations in PA, NJ merge to become one

☑️ Discussions about a merger began in 2023 with a CEO's retirement

☑️The River Crossing YMCA will have 142,000 members in four counties

☑️ Members will be able to participate at other facilities

YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties and Greater Valley YMCA in Northhampton and Lehigh counties have merged to become one organization known as the River Crossing YMCA.

The merger of the two chapters creates a $55 million organization with 2,000 employees, 142,000 members and participants and twelve membership branches in four counties spread across two states.

"We are stronger together and as we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to strengthening our communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all," CEO Zane Moore wrote in a statement.

Thoughts of a merger

The seeds for the merger were planted in August 2023 with the retirement of longtime Greater Valley YMCA CEO David Fagerstrom. The two boards began a management agreement in September with the goal of determining if a merger would strengethen both organizations.

“Once I announced my upcoming retirement, we began thinking as an organization about the best way to move forward,” Fagerstrom said in a statement. “Following an extensive period of due diligence, we feel that entering into this partnership with neighboring YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties will lead our Y toward a strong future of growth and service to our community.”

According to a statement from the newly formed River Crossing YMCA  a membership fee increase is not anticipated because of the merger. However, fees are evaluated yearly by the staff and board based on costs of facilities, programs and increased value.

Members can participate in programs at some River Crossing locations as long as they use their "home" branch at least 50% of the time.

River Crossing YMCA facilities

In Pennsylvania, River Crossing YMCA operates member branches in Doylestown, Fairless Hills, Newtown, Quakertown and Warminster in Bucks County; Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth, and Pen Argyl (Slate Belt branch) in Northampton County; Allentown and Catasauqua (Suburban North branch) in Lehigh County; and the Deer Path branch in Flemington, NJ.

It also operates child care centers in Morrisville, New Britain and New Hope in Bucks County, as well as the Forks Education Center near the Easton branch in Northampton County.

In New Jersey, the Y includes the Child Learning Center in Annandale and the YMCA Preschool in Milford.

Outdoor camp properties include Camp Carr in Clinton Township, NJ and Holland Outdoor Center in Holland, PA.

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