“There is no way to hold down my enthusiasm for our Y. I love giving tours to first-time visitors and watching their faces as they take in our bright, sunny, open building; our beautiful pool looking out on the Southern Woodlands; the amazingly equipped wellness center with its cardiac equipment, strength-building machines, its extensive free weight area, and its always active group exercise room. Best of all, I love taking guests through Alex’s Place, our incredible teen center. The Vineyard is so fortunate to have such a marvelous community center right in the heart of the Island. During my tenure on the Board, I want to bring in all those people who have not yet crossed our threshold. I want to open our doors to everyone!”

It has been a great experience participating in the progress of the organization from just an idea of a small group of individuals to a community gathering place.

“I decided to make the YMCA a career when I was hired as a Fitness Director at the YMCA of Metropolitan Mobile in 1986. I loved inspiring and encouraging others to grow, change and be better than they imagined they could be. I realized that the Y was a about both personal and community development. My favorite part about working for the Y is creating opportunities to enrich the lives of many different types of people. Every day is a new opportunity to touch the life of someone in a new way. I feel grateful to have the ability to offer people ways to be brave and courageous, to find the power within themselves and their community to have a fulfilling and healthy life. The Y has had tremendous impact on those that have made the Y a part of their routine. Whether it is personal fitness or community service, the Y has offered Martha’s Vineyard a community center that is a lifeline for many, physically, socially and emotionally. I donate to the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard so that we can continue to offer financial assistance to those individuals and families that cannot afford the many services and facilities that are available. I often have people stop by my office to say, “I don’t know what we would do here without the Y. Thank you for making it possible for me to be here.” Personally, I could never give too much money to the Y. I hope someday I will have the ability to be much more generous. I have firsthand knowledge of the impact the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard has made on the island in the last 8 years.”