News and Stories

How Community Helped Shape a Champion Athlete

Zachary Bernier-Michaud’s Ironman journey shows how community fuels greatness. Discover how the YMCA helped shape this record-breaking athlete—and why he believes no dream is achieved alone.

From feeling lost, to finding hope

Lindsay once felt lost and overwhelmed—but everything changed when she joined the YMCA’s Jumpstart program. In a safe and supportive space, she rebuilt her confidence, learned to manage anxiety, and f

Vince & Karla's Story

In 2018, while working as a welder, a crane broke and dropped a 7,000-pound beam on my body. I was lucky to survive, but it broke my leg and all my ribs, bruised my heart, punctured my lung, broke my

Jennifer Meyer's Story

The Y played an integral role in my childhood As a kid, I only ever saw the Y as a source of pure fun and joy, but as an adult, I see just how much more opportunity it provides. The Y empowers sing

Derek’s Journey from Surviving to Thriving

My husband and I were so lucky to have been gifted with our son Derek 3 years ago, but our introduction to parenthood was not typical as our son was born with three separate birth defects.  At

Melody's Story

For the majority of my life, my brothers and I were raised by a single mom, my grandparents, and various friends of our family. I lost two members of my family in a car accident that nearly claimed