Gateway Region YMCA Joins Nationwide Five Days of Action® to Protect Children and Promote Digital Safety
The Gateway Region YMCA is joining Ys across the country for Five Days of Action®, a weeklong campaign running April 13-17, 2026, designed to raise awareness and inspire action to protect children from abuse, with a special focus this year on digital safety for kids.
Throughout the week, the Y will share resources and provide education to help parents and caregivers navigate the ever-changing digital world. The Y believes that every adult has a role to play in protecting children, online and off.
“Technology is an amazing tool for learning and connection, but it also presents new risks,” said Tim Helm, President & CEO of the Gateway Region YMCA. “By working together and staying informed, we can create safer digital spaces for all children.”
In 2026, the Y has partnered with Praesidium, National Center for Exploited and Missing Children (NCMEC), Lauren’s Kids, and National Children’s Alliance to offer additional resources for parents and caregivers.
The Five Days of Action campaign encourages adults to learn how to recognize red flags, start open conversations with children, access digital safety resources, and take the official pledge to protect kids at fivedaysofaction.org.
About the Gateway Region YMCA
The Gateway Region YMCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
The association features 25 traditional branches in Missouri and Illinois, along with the Campus Y student leadership facility at Washington University and YMCA Camp Lakewood and Trout Lodge in Potosi, MO.
The Y also manages several specialized public-private partnerships: the Carondelet Park and O'Fallon Park Rec Complexes are owned by the City of St. Louis and operated by the Y; the RiverChase YMCA is owned by the city of Fenton and operated by the Y; and the Ste. Genevieve County YMCA is owned by the City of Ste. Genevieve and operated by the Y.
Committed to serving people of all abilities, the Y offers financial assistance to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to pay. The Gateway Region YMCA is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
For more information, please visit gwrymca.org or call 314-436-1177.