Wichita, Kansas — The Greater Wichita YMCA today announced the selection of Kansas Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi (R-Wichita) as a recipient of the Kansas State Alliance of YMCAs inaugural YMCA Legislative Champion Award. The award was presented at the Topeka Statehouse as part of Kansas YMCAs State Advocacy Day activities. Sen. Blasi represents District 26, which covers southwestern areas of Sedgwick County and parts of Wichita.
Along with Sen. Blasi, Senator Minority Leader Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa) and Representative Sean Tarwater (R-Stilwell), both from Johnson County, were also recognized as 2026 YMCA Legislative Champions.
Since his election to the Kansas Senate in 2023, Sen. Blasi has been at the forefront of conversations to make child care more accessible in Kansas. The YMCA Legislative Champion Award recognizes his consistent leadership and backing of House Bill 2045 that was passed during the 2025 legislative session. The bill consolidates early childhood services and programs in the state into the Kansas Office of Early Childhood.
“The Y is extremely grateful for Sen. Blasi’s leadership and commitment to Wichita-area communities and working families who depend on access to quality and safe child care options for their quality of life,” said Ronn McMahon, Greater Wichita YMCA President and CEO. “As the largest provider of licensed child care in the region, we are very appreciative of the opportunity to support the senator’s priorities. Witnessing Y classrooms in action offered him further proof of how high-quality child care and early intervention lay the essential foundation for children’s long-term academic success, future graduation rates and a robust workforce.”
In addition to House Bill 2045, Sen. Blasi has been instrumental in furthering several key initiatives that are vital to the YMCA’s mission, including:
- Fire inspection parity that allows school buildings that are already deemed safe for the school day to also be deemed safe for after school programs.
- Updating child care regulations that have modernized our state’s approach to care.
- The Employer Child Care Tax Credit that has helped Kansas businesses invest in their workforce. Sen. Blasi is currently trying to expand this credit that will further increase the availability of child care slots in Kansas.
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ABOUT THE GREATER WICHITA YMCA
Since 1885, The Greater Wichita YMCA has been volunteer-led and mission driven to promote healthy lifestyles, strong families and positive youth development for all in Central Kansas. Today, we employ more than 1,400 individuals and serve well over 300,000 of our neighbors in Butler, Harvey, Reno, McPherson and Sedgwick Counties. We support a healthy spirit, mind, and body through community development, education and wellness initiatives, youth and family programs, licensed child care and camp, and physical activity. Our more than 190,000 members have access to over one million square feet of fitness space across our 12 area branch locations in Andover, El Dorado, Newton, McPherson, Hutchinson and Wichita as well as four seasonal, outdoor water parks, three indoor/outdoor sports complexes, Camp Hyde and Camp Hiawatha. Our annual Strong Community Campaign, which funds our free and reduced-cost programs and enables scholarships, grants and income-based member and program pricing for those who qualify, allows us to honor our commitment to serve all, regardless of their ability to pay. Learn more at ymcawichita.org.