Medical City Healthcare announces $50,000 investment to support youth mental wellness through Dallas YMCA sports programs
Dallas, Texas — Medical City Healthcare announced a grant of $50,000 from the HCA Healthcare Foundation to the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas to support Beyond the Game, an initiative that equips youth sports coaches, parents, and staff with tools to address emotional regulation, anxiety, and behavioral challenges in elementary-aged children.
Beyond the Game delivers mental health content through short videos designed to foster a positive and supportive youth sports coaching environment. The goal is to provide coaches, who are often volunteers, with the tools, knowledge and resources to prioritize mental well-being within their teams.
“Healthcare extends beyond our hospitals walls – it includes supporting the emotional well-being of our community and its youth,” said Allen Harrison, president of Medical City Healthcare. “We are proud to support the YMCA’s mental wellness initiative. By equipping coaches with tools and training to recognize, support and promote mental wellness, we are investing in healthier athletes, stronger teams and more resilient communities.”
“We are grateful for our partnership with Medical City Healthcare and the HCA Healthcare Foundation, who share our commitment to improving the lives of those in our community,” said Curt Hazlebaker, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas.
The Dallas Y, the largest youth sports program in North Texas, serves more than 50,000 youth and more than 5,000 volunteer coaches annually. Since 2023, The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas has been committed to strengthening all their programming through the lens of mental wellness.
Resilience means children, youth and families have effective coping skills and adopt positive strategies for strong mental well-being. As concerns about youth mental health continue to grow, teaching young people resilience and healthy coping skills has become a critical priority in helping children stay mentally strong and better equipped to navigate life’s challenges. To strengthen resiliency in children, we must also focus on building resiliency in the adults who work with and raise them.