Family Info: Mother of four children – oldest child is a daughter age 22 who now lives and works in New York City. My other daughter is 20 and is a sophomore in college. My twin sons are 13 and attend Rye Middle School. We have lived in the Rye community for 15 years.
Pets: One dog – Rosie
Name of your Organization: The Rye YMCA
Before this, what was your career?
I spent almost 20 years working in corporate America. I worked in corporate banking for six years. I then got an MBA and transitioned to finance and marketing roles within telecommunications firms for many years before retiring and becoming a stay at home mom.
How did you get involved with your work at the Y?
I have always been a big believer in the importance of volunteering and giving back to my community. My volunteer experience over the years has included The Junior League, The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs and 2 time Chair of the fundraising committee for The Alabama Ballet.
In Rye, I have volunteered for the Twig, Christ Church Nursery School, Midland School, Rye Middle School and Rye High School POs, the Rye Library Auxiliary Board, Impact 100 and the Rye YMCA.
I have been on the board of the Rye YMCA for almost seven years. I have been involved with strategic planning, fundraising and finance. I served as the treasurer of the board for three years. Most recently, I have been serving as the Chair of the Executive Campaign Committee. This committee consists of six individuals. The role of the committee is to provide the strategic leadership for the Growing Stronger Together campaign. I assisted in the campaign planning process, goal setting, recruitment of team members and support with gift identification and engagement.
This campaign is raising money to support the buildout of The Studios at the Rye YMCA, a dynamic state-of-the-art center for health, wellness and fitness. The Studios at the Rye YMCA will be located at 1037 Boston Post Road (former Mrs. Greens building). The new building will include four new modern studios for yoga, HIIT, indoor cycling and group exercise and space for events, chronic disease prevention classes and healthy living work shops and lectures. The new building will also allow for space in the main Y building for an Early Learning Center to provide full-day licensed child care for children 18 months to 5 years. As a former working mother who relied on day care, I know how important it is to have good reliable day care programs in the community.
The campaign goal was $1.2 million. With the help of many generous donors in our community, the team has met the goal but we will continue to try and raise additional money as the total cost of the renovation is expected to be $1.9 million and we would like to be able to offset more of this cost for the Rye Y.
Why did you choose the Rye YMCA?
I think our community is very lucky to have a strong, vibrant, well-run YMCA. It brings together people of all ages in the community. I joined the YMCA with my family when I moved to Rye. My twins learned how to swim at the YMCA and we would spend many days there in the sports classes. Over the years, our needs have changed but you can still find my boys at the YMCA in the gym with a basketball. The Y is a strong part of the community and I am excited to be part of an organization in a position to deliver more services especially now.
What would you like people to know about the Rye YMCA?
The Rye Y is not just a place to work out. It is a community service organization which welcomes all people and promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body. The Rye Y runs a summer camp and a summer child care program and runs several after school programs to help out working parents in the community. The Rye YMCA also runs programs to help out those with high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and other health conditions.
What do you love most about what you do?
I like being able to help the Rye YMCA stay a vibrant community center. I am also very excited about the addition of the The Studios at Rye YMCA and am thrilled that I was able to help with this development in some way.
If you would like to support this exciting new chapter for the Rye Y, you can make a gift or pledge online at www.ryeymca.org/giving/capital-campaign.
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