After a couple holiday messages and last month’s “state of the Y”-themed note, I realized that it’s been a little while since I’ve shared my normal type of message. I pray that each of you have started the year off well and that you’re enjoying these last few weeks of really nice weather before the sauna gets turned on for the next 6-7 months.
I’m led today to revisit one of my more common themes – the power of relationships.
At the Y, relationships are the secret sauce that make us special. It’s that ability to bring together people of every walk of life together under one roof where titles, income, and ability all fall to the wayside.
I spent a good portion of the day Tuesday visiting several of our Ys in support of the Y’s Day of Giving activities. And with over $160,000 raised that day from nearly 750 gifts, the energy in our family centers was contagious. I saw everything from lemonade stands “staffed” by preschoolers, to teens bringing incredible energy to photo booths, to one of our own leaders donning a banana suit as she jumped in the pool when her Y exceeded their fundraising goal for the day.
And while this energy is exactly what I love to see as the leader of this organization, what warmed my heart the most were the quieter things I observed on those visits.
I saw a member hugging a group ex instructor she hadn’t seen in a while. The genuine and loving embrace they shared is hard to convey in words.
I stepped aside as two school-aged girls burst out of their mother’s car and rushed into the building so they could join their friends in a homeschool gym class.
I watched friends enjoy a fiercely competitive game of pickleball, but the real joy was overhearing the guys that had just exited the court kid each other over whose knees were the worst.
I heard two members, easily in their 80s, who hadn’t seen each other in weeks catching up on the happenings at the Y (you gotta love Y gossip!) and encouraging each other to stay active and “not let the young folks show them up”.
These are the stories of the Y and they happen every day. It has been the blessing of my life to serve an organization that changes lives and brings people together in such a simple way.
Thank you all for being a part of our story and thank you to those who made our Day of Giving so successful. The more we raise, the more impact we can make.
Until next time…
Kevin Bolding, President & CEO
YMCA of Central Florida
The Y. For a better us.®
First Friday messages offer a monthly peak behind the veil of leading through change from the Y’s President & CEO.