YMCA of Greater Omaha

Just a heads up!

All YMCA of Greater Omaha locations will close at 1 p.m. today, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

Group exercise schedules, as well as gymnasium and pool hours will be modified at each branch.

Visit us online for more information: https://metroymca.org/locations

𝐓𝐡𝐞 “𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬” 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

When the Butler-Gast YMCA opened in 1995, it was named in honor of John Butler and Carol Gast, a longtime North High coach, and their work creating opportunities for Black youth.

As a new Butler-Gast YMCA prepares to serve the next generation of North Omaha next year, we’re looking back at the Butler behind the name.

For more than 40 years, John R. Butler dedicated himself to the YMCA.

During World War II, he led a recreation facility serving Black servicemen and later became one of the strongest advocates for establishing a YMCA in North Omaha.

In 1945, Butler became the first executive director of the Near North Side YMCA. Six years later, its permanent home opened at 22nd and Willis Streets—the first Omaha YMCA branch outside of downtown.

Under Butler’s leadership, the Y became a place for recreation, mentorship, opportunity and community.

Among the young people he invested in was future Omaha basketball great, Olympic gold medalist and NBA player Bob Boozer, who spent so much time practicing at the Y that Butler trusted him with a key to the building.

Butler helped open doors for generations of young people in North Omaha.

And more than 80 years later, his name is still on the door.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘔𝘊𝘈 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘖𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘢’𝘴 160 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧, 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 160-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

Just a heads up!

All YMCA of Greater Omaha locations will close at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

Group exercise schedules, as well as gymnasium and pool hours will be modified at each branch.

Visit us online for more information: https://metroymca.org/locations

Last chance to join and save!

Become a Y member yet today and pay NO joining fee, a $49 savings! Join online: https://metroymca.org/ymca-membership/join

With your membership, enjoy:

💪 Unlimited group fitness classes
📍 Access to all 13 YMCA of Greater Omaha locations
🤝 Two FREE sessions with a Wellness Coach
👶 FREE Childwatch while you work out
🏊 Dedicated lap and family swim times, plus open gym
🏀 Reduced rates on youth sports, swim lessons, camp and more

High fives all-around! Because today's the last day to save on fall basketball and volleyball with our early bird pricing.

Secure your child's spot on the team and save $10 while you still can: https://metroymca.org/youth-sports

The fall youth sports season runs October 31-December 12. Teams open for the following ages:

In Nebraska:
🏀 Basketball | 3 years–12th grade

In Iowa:
🏀 Basketball | 3 years–8th grade
🏐 Volleyball | 1st–8th grade (recreational)

POV: You’re looking at the future of the Y. They just don’t know it yet.

Before the Y. Before our stories here began. Or, for some of us, maybe they were just getting started.

Little did we know what would happen next.

Meet just a few of our leaders from the YMCA of Greater Omaha’s Association Office.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 "𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦" 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

Mr. Cyrus is part of the heartbeat of the Butler-Gast YMCA—one of those members who gives this place its pulse.

A longtime member, he’s known for sharing wisdom, encouragement, and “free game”—those everyday life nuggets that make the Y feel like more than a gym.

He’s deeply relational, loves talking sports, and helps foster community just by showing up.

He’s also a former marathon runner, still proudly wearing shirts that celebrate his running days. Anyone else remember the 10th annual YMCA Midwest Masters Classic?

He continues to inspire others through his stories and consistency.

His presence reflects the Y’s role as a place where wellness, mentorship, and friendship intersect.

Until construction is complete on our Butler-Gast location, you can try catching some of Cyrus' words of wisdom at the Maple Street YMCA.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘔𝘊𝘈 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘖𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘢’𝘴 160 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧, 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 160-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.