Y Stories

“I am a senior on a fixed income and thanks to the Reach Out Campaign, I am an active member at the YMCA. My doctor recently commented on how my physical condition had improved. He told me I was in the best condition he had seen me in and my strength and mobility had increased. He said, 'Whatever you are doing at the YMCA, keep doing it.'”

“Six months ago, we awarded a family membership to a mom and her two children thanks to the Reach Out Campaign. They come in twice a week to swim, play in the gym and eat dinner in our conference room. As shelter residents, our Y enables this mom to give her kids stability, dignity and quality family time, just like every other family here.”

Yola, a single mother of four children, knew she needed to make a change in her life after being laid off from her job of 20 years at a nursing home. She discovered that her lack of technology and office skills made finding a higher-paying job difficult in a very competitive job market. 

After graduating from YMCA Training, Inc’s 20-week intensive hands-on program, Yola wrote, “I now know Microsoft Word, Excel, I love PowerPoint and Publisher and other various skills that I have learned that will make me successful in the work place.” Yola is now employed as a Clerk for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

“My name is Rae-Jonay and I attended Y overnight camp in New Hampshire last summer through a Y camp scholarship. This was the first time I had ever gone to overnight camp and it would not have been possible without the scholarship. I can’t wait to go to camp again and I am grateful that someone gave me and other Y kids the chance to go to camp.”

“This program is so powerful and necessary for young men of color it must continue after we leave. Watching male role models that look like us inspired me to do something great with my life.”

“The decision to donate time and money was an easy one for me. The Y has given so much to us and I feel it is important to give back so that others may have the same wonderful opportunities.

I know that there are many worthy charities that need support, but the Y has so many programs, including camps, which help to strengthen the community as a whole, but also help guide young children and teens towards productive and healthy activities. And for those people who cannot donate money, there are many opportunities to donate time and volunteer. The opportunities to donate time and money are endless!”

"Shortly after joining the YMCA my daughter was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and spent a good part of that year in hospitals and rehab. When this former healthy young woman was discharged in a wheelchair, we were just so overwhelmed. The Y became an integral part of her determination to get back on her feet. The Y is the only pool in our vicinity to have a handicapped access pool. We came on a daily basis and she worked very hard on her physical therapy program. I cannot say enough how much it meant after months of her hard work when she graduated to a walker. On that day, your staff gave her a standing ovation! The Y became part of our family... THANK YOU!”

"First and foremost I would like to thank The Constitution Inn YMCA for allowing us the opportunity to attend the Family Camp at Sandy Island. I have done 2 tours of duty in the Middle East and when I get the time off and a chance to spend it with my family, that time is priceless.  It was an amazing experience and unlike no other family vacation we have ever had.  It’s hard to afford a vacation with a family of 7.  Where do I begin?  From the moment we were greeted at the boat dock the staff was very friendly and helpful.  We were given a clean and comfortable lakefront cabin that comfortably accommodated our large family of me my husband and 5 kids.  We were served 3 meals a day; family style meals, including breakfast and luncheon buffets, cookouts and Sunday brunch.  My three small children attended the little red school house every day 9:00-12:00 (3-5 yr olds)."

Paul lives in Charlestown and is a veteran of the Iraq War and suffers from PTSD.  Paul participates in Charlestown Y’s Welcome Home program where we provide him with an Access Scholarship that gets him a free membership to any YMCA of Greater Boston location.  Paul frequently works out at the Charlestown Y where he has the opportunity to feel competitive and stay healthy.  He has met numerous friends and active duty military members while lifting weights and playing basketball at the Y.  Thanks to the Y’s Welcome Home Access Scholarship he feels like he is part of the C