Hello to all, and welcome to my YMCA fundraising page.

I am here fundraising for the YMCA because of what the Y has given me over the past 59 years, and what it continues to offer me as I age. I have memories of the YMCA as far back as about five years-old. My mother was a member of the Cranston YMCA when I was a child, and she brought my sister and I there for swim and other activities weekly. I specifically recall my swim lessons, and yoga classes, as well as some aerobics (dating myself!).

But, it is when I had my own children, that we really needed the Y. A single mom, without family around, I gravitated to the Y most afternoons so I could exercise while my children had a safe place to play and meet others. The visits gave me the much needed mom-exercise, while my children, Meg and Seth, got to run around, play, jump in bouncy houses.

But, that's not all. When we moved to South Kingstown, I became n avid member of the Y there - taking SPIN classes, and strength training, yoga and Pilates. I even used to do STEP class. And my oldest daughter began to work there - in the pool as a lifeguard, to start, then as Aquatics Director, until she graduated from URI with her bachelors in Kinesiology, and was recruited to go run the Mystic YMCA's program. Meg has worked her way up through the Y's administration all the way to becoming the Executive Director of the Westerly-Pawcatuck YMCA. I honestly could not be prouder of her for the work she does every single day.

So, your donation to the Ocean Community YMCA is not and never will be just a number. It’s a swim lesson for someone's child, a safe place after school for them to play and find friendships, a visit by both parents and children for exercise and play, a class that helps someone feel strong again, or a friendly face that turns a hard day around. It has been all of these things for me and my family, and for so many others.

Last year, thousands of children, families, and older adults across our community relied on financial assistance to be part of the Y. Some were parents like me, who had little family or financial support, some working two jobs who still couldn’t quite cover the cost of camp or swim classes. Some were seniors living alone, who needed a place to move, to laugh, to feel connected. Others were children, like mine, who just needed a safe, positive place to belong after the school day ended.

When you give to the Annual Support Campaign, you help ensure that everyone in our community can access the programs and support they need, regardless of their ability to pay. Your gift helps open doors, build confidence, strengthen families, and create connections that last a lifetime.

The other day I walked into the Westerly Women's locker room after a swim. That's my exercise of choice these days. And there was just one other woman there, also changing. We smiled, said hello, and then struck up a conversation (I' don't know how) about our dogs. We both have rescues, both love them intensely, and at the end of the conversation, told each other how nice it was to talk.

That's the Y. Give because the Y gives us so much. Give so everyone can experience what we do at the Y. Give because you can and because others need us. That's what live is all about.