Our Impact | New Jersey
At the Y, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. We strive to give everyone the opportunity to test their own limits, explore new goals and reach their fullest potential.
Stories of Impact
We take pride in the work we do in the community we serve. Our stories of impact go well beyond one person - each life we positively impact affects so many others in turn. And every year, there are new stories to tell. Do you know of a story that needs to be told? Please share it with us.
More Impact Stories
When I walked into my Y at nine years old, neither my mother nor I could imagine what the experience would do for me. Growing up in East Orange can be challenging and honestly it can be dangerous. My mother wanted me safe and she wanted me to excel in my studies. My YMCA would help me do that and more...
The journey to wellness started unexpectedly when I stepped off the bus with hundreds of middle school science students. I volunteered as a parent chaperon during my son’s week long environmental trip. I remember bringing my three children, now 17, 19, and 21 to summer camp...
Ground Zero … it was a life-altering experience for so many. Working at the site after the crash certainly changed my life, leaving me with many physical challenges. I had to stop working and my health suffered...
"My name is Xavier Harris and I am a sixteen year-old Junior attending West Orange High School. I was introduced to the Y when I was a three year-old participating in a mommy and me swim class. After several successful YMCA swim lessons, I joined the Y swim team at age seven. Then, in High School, I relied on my skills and confidence that I learned from my swim coach at the Y to propel me to the...
Katie was only 38 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Anthony, the future quarterback for the Raiders, was only five years old, and Ava, with her blond curls and big blue eyes, was just two. Both children have been part of the Wayne YMCA’s programs since they were infants. As is a natural occurrence at the Y - a true community center in every sense of the word...
Fairview Lake is more than just a camp to me. It’s a place where I see kids everyday grow and become the best version of who they are. It’s a place where dreams come true. Years ago I was a camper who came to Fairview Lake YMCA Camp for the first time. I was 11 and felt very awkward. I lived in a community in which I did not fit in. I was a little overweight...
I’ve been working for the East Orange YMCA for almost 4 years now and I love every minute of it. The kids call me Mr. DJ. I’m really just a young man (turning 30 soon) who grew up in Brooklyn and later in Newark with a big heart that realizes God has blessed me with the YMCA in my life.
Willie called the Fairview Lake office to talk about his camp experience from 50 years earlier. Although he retired to Florida he said he would be back in New Jersey for a visit and was wondering if he could come out to walk around and show his wife and son. When the day arrived he was slow to remember...
Bernadette O’Brien and her husband joined the Y in Wayne in 1989. They had both just retired from the New York City Public School system. We both had stressful positions and had both developed diabetes. They were told by their doctors that exercise would be helpful to control the diabetes.
Bernadette’s Y experience began last spring, when she visited the West Essex YMCA and learned about our Biggest Winner Program. To a single Mom, looking for work and having put on many unwanted pounds in recent years, the program sounded intriguing.
Michelle has been a Y member since 2006 and has always loved working with kids. When there was an opening available in the child watch room, she didn’t hesitate to apply as this was an opportunity to combine her love for the Y and kids.
Michelle is a part-time...
Grayson Thompson started attending classes at the Maplewood YMCA at age 2. He enthusiastically joined in any class in which he was enrolled from funky dance, to kinder sports, to floor hockey. His favorite class quickly became basketball. Initially, Grayson would become easily frustrated...
While our mission is clearly to make the community stronger through our three areas of focus, there was a remarkable event in our East Orange Branch last week…The community made the Y stronger.
Tom Conroy and his family have been Y members since 2011. “Coach Tom” volunteers his time to lead and mentor a 1st grade team in our Y’s Youth Basketball League, along with Coach Dave Beckman.
West Essex Y Member Richard Mohan was diagnosed at the age of 16 with a benign brain tumor. The good news was that it was benign, but the bad news was that operating on the tumor was very challenging.
My weight loss story. Where do I begin? Let's see. In second grade we had to write a small all about me story. The beginning of the book says "My name is Allison. I
I have been so inspired by all of the stories shared that as ancient members of the Y tribe I thought, why not, here’s our story...
We became members of the Y Family in 2002 after
KIDS WILL BE KIDS…
if they are given the chance.
For some kids the summer experience is just so special because it is not every day that they can have so much freedom to act silly, take risks and just BE A KID.
Our People
While our programs and facilities are always based on the unique needs and interests of our communities, every Y has one thing in common: our people. We count on the generosity of our members and partners to keep our doors open to whomever needs a place to go to help them be more healthy, confident, connected and secure.
Our Annual Community Support Campaign
Having a Y membership is one way you support our nonprofit charitable organization, but did you know that membership dollars do not cover all of the cost needed to keep high-impact programs running? That is why donating to the Annual Community Support Campaign is so important. The Annual Community Support Campaign raises dollars to keep programs running and ensures the Y remains affordable to all who wish to participate.
