Just another day at the Y
After talking last month about the importance of finding JOY, I found myself spending a good deal of time at our family centers over the last few weeks observing the joy that happens in our Ys every day.
We work hard to create a place where neighbors of all ages, incomes, and abilities can come together. And when they do so, that joy takes the form of healthier and happier communities.
I’ve witnessed the start of a new adult kickball league and I’ve seen members from 7 to 70 years old participate in a Thriller dance class. Yeah, Michael Jackson’s Thriller. (I understand there’s another one scheduled at the Downtown Y this Sunday at 2:30 PM for anyone who wants to give it a try!)
Summer camp ended with a bang as hundreds of kiddos went home tired, wet, and happy as foam parties and slip ‘n slides have become the expected send off after 10 great weeks of camp. And perhaps most importantly, several hundred kids also learned how to swim in our camps, a milestone we’re most proud of.
These communities are what make our Ys special. It’s the Ocala community preparing for the 40th Annual Frank DeLuca Y Turkey Trot and the increasingly famous “Swimmin’ Women” at the Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family Y. It’s a group of campers at Lake Nona Y hurling really thoughtful questions at State Representative Booth and the nearly 80 people dancing in unison in the Latin Dance class at the Dr. P. Phillips Y.
All ages, all backgrounds, all abilities.
The Y Community.
Thank you for allowing the Y to be the place where you find community, a place to come together with neighbors, friends, and even that nice person you always chat with in your favorite class, even if you don’t quite know their name. :)
At the Y, we believe community isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. We know that when people feel connected to others, it shields us from anxiety, depression, and stress. And I’m sure all of us could use an extra buffer from that.
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.