Share Your Y Story

If you come to the Y, volunteer with us, work at a branch or give to a campaign, we want to know what it means to you.

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My Y Story: Martha O'Neill

MARTHA O’NEILL: REACHES A MAJOR MILESTONE AS SHE SWIMS OVER 5,00 MILES IN THE MERRIMACK YMCA POOL YMCA member Martha O’Neill knew she was close to a milestone, one that many of us would be in awe of! As an avid lap swimmer, Martha has been using this form of exercise since her college days… Read more »

My Immigration Story: Terry Reiber

TERRY REIBER: A DESIRE FOR BETTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM MOTIVATED HIS IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES   There is a story behind every decision to migrate, what was yours (or your parents)? I wanted better economic opportunity and freedom. What were your (or your parents) hopes for your new life here? My parents stayed… Read more »

My Immigration Story: Helen Salgado Santos

HELEN SALGADO SANTOS: FULFILLING A DREAM, THE AMERICAN DREAM, THROUGH DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK I was 6 years old when I was watching movies with subtitles and listening they speaking English when I knew I needed to learn how to speak English, it sounded so beautiful… Back in Brazil since 5th grade, you learn English… Read more »

My Y Story: Jack Olson - Board Member

JACK OLSON: INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN MYSELF AT THE YMCA Jack Olson had a plan for retirement. He spent many years traveling extensively for his job over his 27 years in the high-tech industry and in his words, “I wasn’t taking great care of myself. I was overweight. Stressed out, irritable, not sleeping… Read more »

My Y Story: Steve Cleveland

STEVE CLEVELAND: THE Y HAS CHANGED ME FOR THE BETTER. I WANT TO INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE. YMCA Member Steve Cleveland loves the Y. “I’ve never been happier. I’m a very active member. I’m there no less than five days a week. I work out 2 to 3 hours at a time, sometimes a little longer…. Read more »

My Y Story: Kyle Schneck

KYLE SCHNECK: FROM Y KID TO YMCA BOARD MEMBER, A NATURAL FIT FOR ME Kyle Schneck has been a Y member almost his entire life, starting as a kid when he grew up in Concord. For him, it was a natural fit to connect with the Y when he and his wife Amanda moved to… Read more »

My Y Story: Ryan Terruso

RYAN TERRUSO: THE Y IS HIS HAPPY PLACE; ALWAYS FULLY ACCEPTED, A SECOND HOME Kristine Terruso loves talking about her son Ryan’s Y experience. 15-year-old Ryan started coming the Y at age 2. Kristine and her husband, John work full-time and needed childcare for Ryan.  Initially, Ryan started at an in-home daycare. After two years… Read more »

My Y Story: Rebecca Manning

REBECCA MANNING: COMING FULL CIRCLE, FROM CAMPER TO COUNSELOR Meet Rebecca Manning, one of our newer staff members, and self-professed Y kid that grew up through Y programs.  One of the first programs she attended was “Mommy and Me” classes at the former Y site on Prospect Street. “I was always doing something at the… Read more »