Don Winn’s Y Story
When Don Winn first stepped into the YMCA in the mid-1990s, he already carried a lifelong passion for youth leadership and community service. Before the Y, Don was deeply involved with the Boys and Girls Club, serving on the board and leading youth leadership programs. Giving back was already in his DNA.
By the early 2000s, Don and his wife, Maureen, joined the Y in Merrimack to enjoy year-round indoor walking—something Maureen especially loved. Just five minutes from home, the Y quickly became their place for healthy activity and connection. Their grandchildren grew up in youth development programs, from dance to enrichment activities, making the Y a family tradition.
For Don, the Y became more than a place to exercise. In 2017, COO Joe Manzoli invited him to bring his leadership expertise to the Y, running programs similar to the ones he had pioneered at the Boys and Girls Club. Soon, Don was teaching classes on speaking, leadership, and personal development. He found deep fulfillment in mentoring others and sharing his knowledge.
“It’s been rewarding to get to know a lot of staff,” Don says. “The Y gave me another opportunity to give back. It’s not just a place to come for exercise—it aligns with my interests in leadership, personal development, and organizational growth.”
Don’s story is rooted in hard work and lifelong learning. Growing up on a dairy farm in Piermont, NH, he learned responsibility early, driving tractors and helping with chores alongside his five siblings. After a year at UNH, Don married his high school sweetheart, Maureen, and together they built a life filled with family and perseverance. He worked his way through school at night, earning a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Bridgeport while raising three children in just two and a half years—later adding a fourth. His career took him into sales, marketing management, and eventually entrepreneurship when he launched his own sales company in the 1980s. Along the way, he earned an MBA from Northeastern and later, in 2015, a master’s degree in leadership from Granite State College.
Today, even in semi-retirement, Don remains committed to growth and service. Through the Y, he’s not only stayed active and healthy but has also built meaningful relationships, mentored others, and expanded his impact across other human service organizations.
The YMCA has been more than a convenient wellness center for Don and his family—it has been a place of community, connection, and purpose.
More Than A Gym : A Place To Belong
For Don, the Y became a place to give back, share his knowledge, and help others grow. It’s more than a gym, it’s a community where people connect, find purpose, and empower one another through service. Your gift helps ensure the Y continues to be a place where individuals of all ages discover belonging, friendship, and opportunities to thrive together.