Volume 2 • Issue 2 • Winter 2011-2012
YMCA Connect A Community Magazine from the YMCA of Greater Richmond
Lacrosse Comes to Baseball, Football Town The Y brings a new sport and new skills to Goochland youth
Greater Lessons Learned at the Y | A Merry Christmas to All | Age Becomes an Asset You’ve Got to Start Somewhere | Winter Program Guide
your team for a fit future Join the YMCA 10K Training Team Through participation in a YMCA 10K Training Team, you become part of a team with coworkers, family, friends and neighbors who are also pursuing their own personal wellness goals toward a healthy lifestyle. The YMCA 10K Training Team is one of the best opportunities to engage with your community and participate in one of the largest recreation events in the region. You don’t need to be a member of the Y to join this 10-week training team. Training begins on January 21 (last day to enter is January 27) and is designed for runners and walkers. Join today, www.ymcarichmond.org/10K Includes entry in the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k.
Train with friends play with pride win with heart Register now for YMCA Youth Sports The Y offers opportunities for youth to participate in a wide variety of sports. Emphasis is placed on sportsmanship in a fun, competitive environment while incorporating the four core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Many of our youth sports include a wide range of programs and instruction classes to suit youth of all ages and abilities. Please visit www.ymcarichmond.org/youthsports to learn more about all of our youth sports programs. 2
contents
December - February
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Kaylee Eckert (left) and Max Collazo are geared up for lacrosse at the Goochland Family YMCA.
News 6 Volunteer appreciation Tony Stewart Makes Time for the Y Foundation Set at Swift Creek Manchester Dedicates Pool Claudia MacSwain to Chair Campaign Metro Teens Visit Shalom Farms
For youth development
for healthy living
Lacrosse Comes to Baseball, 8 Football Town: The Y Brings a New Sport and New Skills to Goochland Youth
for social responsibility Greater Lessons Learned at the Y
Atlee Station Family YMCA Opens A Merry Christmas to All
To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
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At the Manchester Family 16 YMCA, Age Becomes an Asset You’ve Got to Start Somewhere
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Winter program Guide
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On the Cover: Jack Alderidge (left) and Kyle Panas used skills developed in YMCA Leaders’ Club to help the Goochland Family YMCA start a youth lacrosse program.
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Building the Future The YMCA of Greater Richmond is ready to help you realize the greatest benefits from your planned gifts to the Y.
YMCA of Greater Richmond President & CEO Barry M. Taylor Executive Vice President/Operations Dick Lyons Executive Vice President/Operations Membership and Programs Karen Keegan Senior Vice President & CFO Randy Spears Senior Vice President for Philanthropy Nancy Trego YMCA Connect Editorial Board Vice President Marketing & Communications D. Todd Gray Communications Director Shelby Little Community Development Director Tito Luna Planned Giving Director Jane Hamilton Tuckahoe Senior Director – Membership and Wellness Steve Sylvester
Bequest Language We will provide you with legal language for your will including how to designate a specific YMCA branch for your bequest. Gifts we receive through wills ensure that the Y will continue its mission for future generations. You may also designate the YMCA as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance or other financial instruments.
Customized Illustrations We will prepare a customized gift illustration that estimates both income and tax benefits for charitable gift annuities or charitable trusts. Or you can go to www.ymcarichmond.plannedgifts.org and use our gift calculator to prepare your own estimate in the privacy of your home.
For more information, please contact Jane Hamilton at (804) 474-4332 or hamiltonj@ymcarichmond.org. 4
YMCA Connect Contributors Ryan Dalton, Stephanie Maddox, Deveron Timberlake, Bruce Yoder Designers Valerie Callahan, Beth Davis Contributing Photographer Scott Elmquist Contact 804.649.9622 ymcarichmond.org feedback@ymcarichmond.org
YMCA Connect is produced quarterly by the YMCA of Greater Richmond. The mission of the Y is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. The YMCA of Greater Richmond is a nonprofit, charitable organization. Contributions are deductible for income tax purposes to the extent provided by law.
President’s Letter
As I read these stories of individuals who have given their time and talents to the Y in 2011, it’s amazing to see how one person, or a small group can impact an entire community. It is not only the Y employees who live out our cause to strengthen the foundations of our community – it’s members like you who care for and give back to our neighbors. Two young men from Goochland demonstrate you’re never too young to recognize an opportunity to help others. “Lacrosse Comes to Baseball, Football Town” is an awesome account of how Kyle Panas and Jack Alderidge took their passion for a fast growing sport and structured a program to share lacrosse with many students who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to play. As you read “Greater Lessons Learned at the Y”, you’ll learn how Big Brother Chris Johnson teaches his Little Brother Kaleb the foundations of performing well in school by teaching him how to swim at the Y. Bev Jeannette is a woman whose reputation is synonymous with our cause. As a former staff leader at the Y, her personal passion has been to care for neighbors across our community. “A Merry Christmas to All” shares how Bev and committed business leaders who understood her passion began the YMCA Christmas Connections program that now serves many Richmond families each year.
At the Manchester Family YMCA, “Age Becomes an Asset” is the story of active adults who care for each other as they lead their own group exercise program. Seniors Olivette Robinson and Barbara Stewart not only keep themselves fit, but they also inspire others to maintain a healthy lifestyle and pursue life-long wellness goals by teaching classes at the Y. Lastly, in this issue that shares so many stories of new beginnings, “You’ve Got to Start Somewhere” profiles Nicole Tarrant-El who was inspired by Theanae Boersma to make a lifestyle change that has led to her becoming a certified group exercise instructor and use her own journey as an inspiration for others. I want to wish each of you a happy and healthy New Year. As the calendar turns and 2012 arrives, consider these stories about your neighbors and how you could be involved in the many outreach opportunities that exist at the Y. Perhaps you may be our next story!
Barry M. Taylor President & CEO YMCA of Greater Richmond
To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
Another new year is on the horizon as I write this letter and the stories in this issue of YMCA Connect inspire me again to think about the opportunities we constantly have to start something new!
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news Tony Stewart Makes Time for the Y Early in September, the Midlothian Family YMCA was invited by racecar driver Tony Stewart and the Office Depot Foundation to participate in their grand re-opening of the Office Depot on Huguenot Road. Five students from one of our fully subsidized YMCA after-school child care sites were able to attend and meet Tony. He presented these children with new backpacks filled with school supplies and donated 300 more to be dispersed throughout our child care programs. “Tony was gracious and spent a great deal of time with our kids; he was interested in who they were and what their goals were for their lives,” says Midlothian Family YMCA Community Development Director Becky England. Each child left with multiple Tony Stewart autographs. “We all left with gratitude that he uses his fame to help those less fortunate, and grateful for the commitment he has for the children of our nation,” says Becky. “We are all Tony Stewart fans now!”
Foundation Set at Swift Creek
Volunteer Celebration
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“I don’t think you’re right for Education.” Hearing these words from a professor as a college student, Jamelle Wilson decided that her mission would be to prove that an education degree was right for her. Mission accomplished. Widely known as an exemplary educator, Dr. Wilson began her tenure as Superintendent of Hanover Public Schools in July 2011, becoming Hanover County’s first woman and African American to hold the post. Dr. Wilson serves on the Y’s Association Board of Directors and is Chair of its Community Development Committee. Her husband James introduced her to racquetball at the Downtown YMCA in 1990 and the Y has been a family affair for the Wilsons ever since. She now enjoys working out at the Patrick Henry Y with her 13-year-old son Miles. Her youngest son Grant is enrolled in the Y’s after-school program at South Anna Elementary. And James can regularly be found at the Downtown Y. “Learning more about the principles of the Y, they touched my heart and my mind,” says Dr. Wilson. “Knowing that there is so much more that the Y does for the community at large really connects with me and my own belief system.” We are fortunate and honored to have Dr. Wilson on the YMCA board, and congratulate her on her recent appointment as Superintendent of Hanover Public Schools.
The foundation is set and the walls are raised at the Swift Creek Family YMCA in southwestern Chesterfield County. The 45,000 square foot facility includes a modern wellness center, group exercise rooms, family pool and eco-friendly design. You can view pictures and see the construction progress online at www.swiftcreekymca.org.
Manchester Dedicates Pool On September 27 the Manchester Family YMCA celebrated the completion of their new aquatics facility with a poolside dedication ceremony. Keynote speakers included board member Bill Collins and his wife Quita Collins, who spoke to the importance of educating children about water safety. Several second graders who benefit from the YMCA Learn to Swim outreach program were in attendance that evening. Another speaker, Andy Anderson, who led the capital fundraising effort, described how the pool was a response to community needs and the result of community support. The Manchester Family YMCA aquatics center is dedicated to the community and future generations.
Claudia MacSwain to Chair Campaign “When I was a Girl Scout, I didn’t even want to sell cookies.” That’s how Claudia MacSwain describes her initial experience with fund raising. How times have changed! Claudia MacSwain, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, will chair the 2012 Strengthening Communities Fund annual support campaign. Claudia is a deeply committed Y volunteer. “If I can do this, everyone can do this,” she says of her desire to raise funds that will strengthen the foundations of our community.
This summer the Metro Teens club from the Downtown YMCA volunteered for two days at Shalom Farms in Goochland County. They harvested more than 1,600 pounds of veggies over two days including: potatoes, collard greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini. Their bounty was donated to the Central Virginia Food Bank and a lowincome community on the south side of Richmond. “This service project made the teens realize what hard work goes into harvesting,” says Downtown YMCA Development Coordinator Katie Gholson. “It was a great experience for them to help communities that don’t have regular access to healthy foods.”
calendar
December Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k Training Teams Registration Opens – 12/1 Support holiday drives at your local Y Teen Leaders’ Christmas Tree Sales Tuckahoe Family YMCA
January
The Atlee Station Family YMCA in Mechanicsville officially opened to all members November 14. This facility is the sixteenth in the YMCA of Greater Richmond association and is an asset for metro members frequenting the Mechanicsville area. The Atlee Station Family Y is the fourth branch partnership with developer HHHunt. Jana Smith, former Downtown YMCA membership director, leads the new Y as operations director. The Atlee Station Family Y is located in the Rutland Commons Shopping Center off Highway 301 and Atlee Road. For a list of program offerings at this and other branch locations, view the program guide located in the back of this magazine or visit www.atleestationymca.org.
February
New Year’s Day – 1/1 Branches open at 9 a.m. or regular time if normal opening is later, close at 4 p.m.
Black History Month
YMCA 10k Training Teams First group run – 1/22
Camp Fair – 2/4 Tuckahoe Family YMCA
Summer Camp Registration Opens – 2/1
To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
Metro Teens Volunteer at Shalom Farms
Atlee Station Family YMCA is Open
Valentine’s Day – 2/14
Teen Leaders’ Christmas Candle Sales Midlothian, Patrick Henry and Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan Family YMCAs Christmas Eve – 12/24 Branches close at 4 p.m. Christmas – 12/25 All Branches Closed New Year’s Eve – 12/31 Branches close at 4 p.m.
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Youth development Nurturing the potential of every child and teen
Lacrosse Comes to Baseball, Football Town The Y brings a new sport and new skills to Goochland youth Kyle Panas and Jack Alderidge graduated from Goochland High School in the spring of last year with one shared regret: that they never wore their school jersey on the lacrosse field. It wasn’t for a lack of talent; Kyle had been playing since he could hold a stick, and Christopher Newport University awarded Jack an athletic scholarship for his skills. “We had to drive 50 minutes to practice to play the sport that we love,” says Kyle, explaining that there were no quality lacrosse programs in Goochland. This is a baseball and football town – but Jack and Kyle want it to be a lacrosse town too. Serendipitously, as Jack and Kyle were incorporating a youth lacrosse program into their required senior projects, Goochland Family YMCA Program Director Jan Kenney was meeting with local officials to determine the feasibility of a new youth sports program in Goochland. She wanted to expand the Y’s youth sports offerings and thought Jack and Kyle, whom she already knew well, could provide valuable insight into building a program at the Y. “Kyle and Jack put the program together and were very inspirational,” says Jan. To promote the program, Jan, Jack and Kyle visited local schools, where the young men demonstrated lacrosse at lunchtime assemblies. “Some teachers had played in college and they joined Jack and Kyle onstage and the kids loved it and cheered,” says Jan. She established a planning committee to get the program off the ground and to make it feasible for all children who wanted to play. The expense of the sport is often an obstacle to participation, as lacrosse sticks can range in price from forty to hundreds of dollars. The YMCA planning committee was able to make the program affordable for all families by securing discounted rates on equipment, and a $4,000 donation covered the expenses for forty sets of equipment.
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To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
Twenty-one Goochland youth participated in the Y’s fall lacrosse clinic.
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Volunteer Coach Rich Glebe helps one player adjust his helmet. Below right: Kyle Panas (left) and Jack Alderidge were instrumental in bringing lacrosse to the Goochland Family Y.
The spring clinic was a monumental success, led on a volunteer basis by Jack and Kyle. “Most of the kids had never played before, starting completely dry,” says Kyle. “We started with the basics, passing and catching and then tried to get them interested by playing some fun games.” He and Jack also ran a summer clinic with many of the children returning from the spring session. “A lot of the kids had bought a stick at home, a cheaper one, but you could see the interest fueling. They were eager to share with their friends that they had participated in a lacrosse program at the Y,” says Kyle. Kyle and Jack were no strangers to leadership roles. Kyle was president of the Goochland Family YMCA Leaders’ Club during his junior and senior years, and Jack participated in the program until it conflicted too often with lacrosse. “I stuck with it because of the kids underneath me,” says Kyle. “It was awesome to see them grow and mature, and it was awesome to know I had a small part in that.” The Goochland Y will be offering a full lacrosse program this spring to youth ages 8-12. Call Jan Kenney at (804) 556-9887 or visit www.ymcarichmond.org/youthsports for more details.
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Fun Friends Fantastic camp 15 neighborhood Summer Camp locations featuring: Day Camp Special Needs Camp • Preschool Camp • Teen Camp • Sports Camps • Specialty Camps Choose from a variety of Y camps for an experience your child will never forget. They can go rock climbing, zip line over a 10-acre lake, learn to cook, discover a love for science, experience nature, learn a new sport and make friends to last a lifetime. Registration begins February 1 www.ymcarichmond.org/camp
Social Responsibility Giving back and providing support to our neighbors
Big Brothers Big Sisters program participants like Kaleb (left) and Chris use YMCA facilities at no cost during mentoring sessions.
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“Whenever I ask Kaleb what he wants to do during our visits, it’s to go swimming at the Y,” says Chris Johnson, a 29-year-old Iraq War veteran and Big Brother of the Year. He began mentoring Kaleb four years ago when Kaleb was just 10 years old and Chris had just returned from his final tour in Iraq. Their involvement in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization has been beneficial for both; Chris says he has ‘become more grounded’ and Kaleb has improved his grades, social skills and learned to swim at the Y. Chris logged many hours at the Midlothian Family YMCA pool, seemingly teaching Kaleb swimming techniques, but much greater lessons were gleaned. “A lot of the principles of swimming you can apply to the classroom,” Chris explains. It taught Kaleb to be patient during the learning process. “You can’t just go out and swim until you’ve got the get the mechanics down… just as you’ve got to understand all the basics before you succeed in the classroom. You need to build your foundation.” Chris has mentored Kaleb through middle school, a pivotal time in any student’s life and academic career, and his grades have consistently improved. “He started out in the C and D arena and this past year he got a perfect score on his Social Studies SOL and was recognized by his middle school,” says Chris. Kaleb’s family also encourages his success, and together with Chris they are helping him make plans for the future. “We talk about how he needs to perform well and get good grades in order to go on to college,” Chris says. “I’m hoping one day he’ll give his time to be a big brother also.” All participants of the Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentorship program are welcome to use any YMCA of Greater Richmond branch with their “littles” at no cost during mentoring sessions.
To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
Greater Lessons Learned at the Y
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Social Responsibility Giving back and providing support to our neighbors
A Merry Christmas to All “YMCA people are kind and caring, and have many opportunities to make a difference,” says retired YMCA Vice President of Community Development Bev Jennette. She has a knack for identifying a community need and the uncanny ability to recruit the volunteers and resources to meet the need. She recalls a particular holiday season in 1982 when she was dressed as an elf, attending a YMCA after-school child care site with Santa. They were delivering donated hats and gloves to the children in the program. Bev remembers it like it was yesterday. “Santa spoke to a very shy, five-year-old child named Phu, and said, ‘Phu I remember you but I don’t remember what I brought you last year.’ Phu looked at Santa with tears in his eyes and said, ‘You didn’t come.’” Santa gasped and Bev was speechless. “I’m still speechless after all these years,” she says. Santa promised he would visit Phu that Christmas, and the Y made a commitment to ensure a merry Christmas for Phu and more children in YMCA programs. A few days later, Tuckahoe Family YMCA Board Chairman Frank Rennie shared Phu’s story at a Western Henrico Rotary meeting, after which members passed a hat and donated money for many of the children at the after school site. It was the start of YMCA Christmas Connections. When Bev took the Executive Director position at the Downtown YMCA, she inherited a similar holiday gift drive for children living in public housing, and she also caught wind of a YMCA family in dire need of help. Three children, whose mother was in prison, were living in deplorable conditions after their grandmother’s house was charred in a fire. “When the grandmother took the boys in, she had to choose between insurance and feeding the boys,” says Bev. Naturally, she chose to feed the boys. The fire caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage and left the family without power. Bev shared the story with Margaret Teal, whose husband was a local homebuilder. “Margaret said she had a group of friends who like to do projects around town, and she would see what they could do,” recalls Bev. It turns out Margaret’s friends were the Circle of Friends, a network of community volunteers who donate their time and occasionally their purses to community causes. With the help of Margaret’s husband and the Circle of Friends, the house was rebuilt and refurbished within weeks at no cost to the family. The founder of the Circle of Friends, Kathie Markel, asked Bev what else they could do for YMCA families, and Bev introduced them to Christmas Connections. They have volunteered with the program for more than ten years now, dedicating two December mornings each year to the wrapping of donated gifts. “Your real heroes are not the Circle of Friends,” says Kathie. “Your real heroes are the ones that adopt these children and buy them these wonderful gifts. We’re simply there to get the gifts wrapped.” Kathie says her group is dedicated to the Y after seeing first-hand the effect the Y has on people. “So many people think of the Y as a place to go for exercise and to take swim lessons but it’s so much more than that in the community,” she says. “The Y cares so deeply for these kids who don’t have things. I just don’t know that the community at large recognizes that the Y gets so intimately involved with the needs of the community they serve. It’s just an easy organization to rally around because of all they do for the community.” If you or your family are interested in participating in a YMCA holiday drive, look for signs and displays at your neighborhood branch or contact YMCA Director of Community Development Tito Luna, at (804) 474-4370 for more information.
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To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
Circle of Friends Volunteer, Martha Davidson, wraps donated gifts at the Downtown YMCA. Volunteers and members alike contribute to YMCA holiday drives so more people in our community may have a merry Christmas.
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healthy living Improving the nation’s health and well-being
At the Manchester Family YMCA, Age Becomes an Asset The active adult community at the Manchester Family YMCA is an energetic, dedicated bunch. Small crowds of seniors visit the Y each morning to participate in the Silver Sneakers® Yoga Stretch Class. “One of the busiest times of day for us is when people come in for mid-morning classes,” says Membership Director Mary Riddick. “You see anywhere from 15-20 people taking classes where they do all sorts of different exercises including chair yoga.” At least three times a week, 89-year-old Olivette Robinson or 69-year-old Barbara Stewart leads the classes. Olivette Robinson began teaching yoga at age 69, a time most people are focused on retiring, not starting a new career. “The age becomes an asset when you’re doing something of this kind,” she says. “People look at you and say if you can do it, I can too.” Barbara Stewart was one of those inspired by Olivette. “I had been doing yoga for 35 years,” she says. “Some [classes] you like, some you don’t, and I really loved Olivette’s class. I just wanted to go deeper in my yoga and she’s the one that encouraged me to become an instructor.” Barbara became an instructor when she was sixty. However, for some active adult members, the exercises are not the main attraction. “It’s not just that people come to the classes because they want exercise,” says Mary. “A lot of times people come because they want to spend time together.” She says the biggest social event for the active adults is the monthly Lunch and Learn potluck luncheon. At the September event, Barbara and Olivette celebrated the accomplishment of publishing their book, “Chair Yoga for You: A Practical Guide” with co-author Clarissa Adkins. They led their audience of nearly 50 seniors through a chair yoga routine. “This was really neat for us; to have everyone participating showed that this community really enjoys this type of class and supports each other’s accomplishments,” says Mary. Members can experience elements of chair yoga in the Silver Sneakers® classes offered each weekday at the Manchester Family YMCA. Silver Sneakers® programs are available at thirteen YMCA of Greater Richmond branches. More information about active adult programming is available in the Winter Program Guide, or call Mary Riddick at (804) 276-9622 for more information on activities hosted by the Manchester Family Y.
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To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
From left: YMCA Yoga Instructors Barbara Stewart, Olivette Robinson and Clarissa Adkins incorporate elements of their chair yoga book into their group exercise classes.
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healthy living Improving the nation’s health and well-being
The Y has changed Nichole Tarrant-El. She’s learned to swim, developed a lasting friendship and dropped 85 pounds of excess weight.
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“You’ve got to start somewhere,” says Nicole Tarrant-El. Her weight loss and fitness journey began at the Chester Family YMCA nearly three years ago, a time when she was unemployed. “I had just gained too much weight and needed to do something other than sit on the couch and eat muffins all day and wait for my oldest child to get home from school,” she says. At her heaviest, Nicole weighed 265 pounds, which was not healthy for her frame. However, she has a vibrant personality and quickly made friends at the Y who helped her meet her fitness goals. One day while working out on the wellness floor, Nicole noticed Theanae Boersma. “I would see her in classes and I noticed she was taking two classes back to back. I would take one class and was trying to figure out why I wasn’t losing weight.” Nicole approached Theanae as she was running on the treadmill and asked if she could show her how to use the treadmill. “I said, ‘We are either going to have to be best friends or I am going to have to follow you around for a while and copy what you do.’” They have been best friends and workout partners ever since. “We’re like sisters. We work out like crazy because we don’t want to give up sweets totally; we’re making lifestyle changes,” she says. Nicole’s lifestyle has changed completely through her Y membership. She turned 40 years old this year, and achieved her goal of learning to swim and finishing not one but three sprint triathlons. “I’m breaking down all the barriers,” she says. Two of her group exercise instructors, Tracey Brook and Mary McCargo, encouraged her to get her group exercise certification and teach classes. Nicole was hooked. “I love being the leader. I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I do,” she says. Nicole also earned her Zumba and lifeguard certification so she could teach Aqua Zumba class, and still has enough energy for her two children. “We have little people looking up to us. We have got to make sure we’re OK so they will be OK.” Nicole has lost more than 85 pounds to date and teaches group exercise and water exercise classes at least three days at week at the Chester Family YMCA.
To make a donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, visit www.ymcarichmond.org
You’ve Got to Start Somewhere
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YMCA of Greater Richmond 2 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220 P 804.649.9622 www.ymcarichmond.org
non-profit u.s. postage paid richmond, va permit no. 2077
making a difference An 84-year-old woman who had trouble walking from one room in her home to the next and who had limited flexibility now carries her groceries into her house and stretches to the top shelf of the pantry to put away her canned goods. She and scores of men and women like her benefit from the Y’s Growing Younger Program. Genworth’s $35,000 grant will support an additional location for our Growing Younger program in
partnership with Senior Connections, United Way and the Village Presbyterian Church Friendship Café. For years a generous supporter of the Y’s programs for children, Genworth’s philanthropy with the Y now focuses on helping older adults maintain their health. In addition to its corporate philanthropy, Genworth encourages its employees to volunteer their time and talents. This summer, 40 volunteers readied Camp Thunderbird for summer campers by painting fences and cabins; 12 volunteers participated in the Shady Grove Y camp carnival; and 40 additional volunteers weeded the North Richmond YMCA Community Center’s Flatiron Garden, created new planters with tires and rail road ties and worked with children on nutrition activities.