For A Better Us

The Summer Olympics has begun in Paris, and continues through the middle of August, as the world’s best compete in a variety of sports and events. The First Coast YMCA has a unique connection to several of these sports and are introducing more people to them every day.

Click the images below to learn more.

Joyce Delifus Swimming

Laura Tomaselli Gymnastics

George Oancea Swimming

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There is a connection to international swimming at the Brown Family YMCA in swim coach George Oancea. George is a native of Romania and was on the Romanian national team before coming to the United States to swim collegiately at the University of Indianapolis. George is having a clear impact on the children he’s coaching at Brown, as several of his students have become state champions. When he’s not coaching youth swimmers, George serves our community as an analyst with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

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The Dye Clay Family YMCA recently invested in new gymnastics equipment in the back portion of the branch. There isn’t an extensive amount of gymnastics resources for the community, including in Orange Park, which makes this equipment especially valuable for kids.

Branch Executive Director Brooke Foerman, Instructor Laura Tomaselli, and several of the parents of child participants were recently featured in a series of stories with the local sports program In The Game, which highlighted the program’s impact on local families.

Among the equipment they have at the branch are a spring-loaded tumbling surface, balance beam, uneven bars, and additional resources for unique programs like Ninja-nastics, Nerf battle, and cheerleading.
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The YMCA has been a starting point for many Olympic hopefuls in swimming – here’s a list of this year’s Olympic and Paralympic trials qualifiers who have a YMCA connection.

Here on the First Coast, we have several ties to world-class swimming, including with one of our most beloved partners, Joyce Delifus. Joyce is an incredible advocate for children learning how to swim and has partnered with the YMCA to offer those services to the community through the Shawn Delifus Foundation. The nonprofit is named after her late son who was a swim instructor with several organizations in the community – including the YMCA – and taught Olympic gold medalists and former Bolles School swimmers Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel. Shawn passed away in 2016 but Joyce has kept his memory, and love for swim instruction, alive in the community.

Joyce’s team instruct hundreds of kids at the Johnson Family YMCA and was recently interviewed by First Coast News about the foundation and Shawn’s legacy.  Watch the First Coast News story here.

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We’re proud to share an inspiring story from Becky Richmond, a dedicated member of the First Coast Y family. Becky has written a heartfelt piece for YUSA, reflecting on the importance of allies in our journey towards greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her words resonate with our commitment to fostering an inclusive community for all.

Read Becky’s full article, Thank You to My Allies, on the YUSA blog and join us in celebrating the allies who make a difference every day.

Read It Now

By: Jewel Hardwick

When I was just a young student at YMCA Tiger Academy, the idea of attending college always loomed large. From early on, the teachers and staff instilled in us that we were the “Class of 2024” — a graduating class with a defined path to earn our bachelor’s degrees after completing elementary, middle and high school. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of what that meant – 2024 seemed like a lifetime away.

Our classroom themes, field trips, guest speakers – everything was oriented around exposing us to the college experience from an early age and making it feel achievable. I’ll never forget the big trip we took in 5th grade to tour Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. It was my first time really traveling out of state, and the fact that we toured historically Black colleges in Atlanta made a huge impression on me. The teachers wanted us to see the full path of possibilities ahead.

The expectation that college was the next natural step after high school became deeply ingrained. So, when it came time to apply to universities, the process felt like an exciting milestone rather than an intimidating unknown. With the guidance of YMCA Tiger Academy and the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, I was awarded a QuestBridge scholarship to attend Colby College, a private liberal arts college in Maine, where I have pursed a double major in Global Studies and East Asian Studies. My YMCA Tiger Academy origins opened doors while simultaneously empowering me to walk confidently through them.

Tiger also provided an incredibly supportive, tight-knit community during my foundational years. With small class sizes and teachers who went the extra mile, they weren’t just educating us, they were looking out for us holistically as young kids trying to navigate life. From staying late to reviewing my college application essays, to even providing meals for my family when we struggled – the YMCA Tiger Academy staff became an extended family.

My mom had to stretch every resource to get me and my sister through those years. Not living near where Tiger was located, she’d wake up early and drive us across town each morning, then volunteer at the school during the day. Tiger opened up opportunities my family wouldn’t have had access to otherwise.

Now, I can’t help but look back in awe at how far I’ve come — and how much I owe to those earliest seeds planted by the staff at YMCA Tiger Academy. Their model works, as they reach kids from underprivileged communities early and wrap them in a supportive environment of high expectations and exposure to possibilities.

The expectation set by YMCA Tiger Academy ultimately became self-fulfilling, as I’ve earned the incredible honor of a Fulbright Scholarship. This will allow me to spend the next year after graduation immersing myself in the culture of Taiwan as an English Teaching Assistant while fostering cross-cultural connections.

I’m deeply grateful to YMCA Tiger Academy, the First Coast YMCA, and the Episcopal School of Jacksonville for their unyielding support and belief in my potential. None of it would have been possible without being empowered from that very first day when I learned I was part of the “Class of 2024.” YMCA Tiger Academy changed my life’s trajectory in ways I’m still understanding. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.

YMCA Tiger Academy is a privately funded, public charter elementary school established in 2006 with the mission of preparing students for future academic success. The school goes beyond just enforcing rigorous academic standards by encompassing character development, personal and social responsibility, and strong family involvement. Tiger Academy’s environment nurtures a love of learning and sets high expectations for all students while bridging the achievement gap. From an early age, the school emphasizes college readiness, with curriculum and experiences designed to make higher education a natural and achievable next step.

The transformative impact of YMCA Tiger Academy is made possible through the generous support of individuals, businesses, and organizations who believe in the power of education to change lives. Donations help ensure that Tiger Academy can continue to provide a high-quality education and supportive environment for all students. These contributions provide essential resources like classroom materials, technology, transportation for field trips, meals, and professional development for the dedicated teachers and staff.

Support from the community allows Tiger Academy to continue providing this distinctive educational model that has proven transformative for many young lives.

To be a part of YMCA Tiger Academy’s mission and life-changing work, donations can be made at ymcatigeracademy.org/about/donate. Every gift helps ensure more students like Jewel can benefit from Tiger Academy’s empowering combination of high expectations, access to opportunities, and caring support system.

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Their journey at the Y began in the spring of 1996 when they started their first jobs as high school students. Starting in Youth Development, they began their careers in our Summer Camp and Before and After School Programs. Over the past 28 years, they have worn many hats within the First Coast YMCA. Today, Burt can be found at the Winston Y as the Associate Executive Director, while Kathy leads as the Vice President of Membership and Experience at our Metropolitan Office. What started as a high school friendship blossomed into a beautiful love story – they were married in the Spring of 2002 surrounded by their Y family. The Y isn’t just a workplace for them; it’s a second home where their two children, Avery and Will, have grown up surrounded by love and community.

Kathy and Burt are fully dedicated to their work at the Y . Their commitment to the Y’s cause of strengthening the foundations of the community aligns perfectly with the organization’s values. Working for a cause that directly impacts the lives of those they serve is not only fulfilling but also enriching, which is why they continue to choose to serve their community in their roles at the Y. Kathy and Burt’s experience at the Y exemplifies the power of dedication and belief in a shared mission. Their unwavering commitment to making a difference reflects the core values of the organization and serves as a beacon of hope for those they serve. As they continue to work towards strengthening the community, their determination and passion will undoubtedly inspire others to join in the cause and make the world a better place for all.

Candace is the Associate Vice President of Day Camp, Family Programs & Community Engagement. Tim is the Vice President of Operations and Healthy Living.

Candace and Tim met back in 2013 when they were assigned on a new project together. As they were working together, there was definitely a spark and chemistry. After spending time together, they began dating.

After a year of dating, Tim and Candace were engaged and will celebrate their eight year wedding anniversary this coming May. Their wedding was truly a Y wedding. The First Coast YMCA CEO Eric Mann officiated the wedding; the marketing team designed all the signage; the Y’s accountant was the DJ, a few other Y staff were the day-of wedding planners and the engagement photo and rehearsal party were hosted by the Y’s Healthy Living team. More than half of the guest list were people we meet or worked with through the years at the Y. It was a magical evening full of so much love and always lots of laughter. 

Tim and Candace truly found their community at the Y. 

“We’ve dedicated our lives to serving people and doing good. We hope pass this along to our sweet kiddos, Lincoln and Willow. Plus, we even found our fur baby, Pepper running around the Y,” says Candace.

The Burrows thank the Y everyday for finding one another! They truly have a YMCA Love Story and continue to write more chapters as it continues.

The Bombachs get to live and serve in the booming metropolis of Keystone Heights, home of YMCA Camp Immokalee.  Jessica serves as the Group Retreat and Events Director and Richard is the Executive Director.

Why They Love the Y:

Our faith is a big part of our marriage, family, and our purpose. At camp, we get to practice what we preach each day. Camping is not just a job for us, but a lifestyle & a ministry. We’re called to Love Our Neighbor, and we get the opportunity to do that by creating a safe, healthy community at YMCA Camp Immokalee.  We live the mission of the Y and ensure we are a place for all to thrive.

 Marriage & a Union of Impact:

We actually met at a summer camp in Texas back in 2008, got engaged at camp in 2009, and had our Camp Director officiate our wedding in 2010!  We knew that if the opportunity ever arose that we would love to serve in a camp setting.  We moved to Keystone Heights in the spring of 2022 and have been so fortunate to have a wonderful community in this small town. As a family living at camp, we love that we get to be “mom & dad” to our summer staff over the course of 12 weeks of camp.  We couldn’t imagine a better place to raise our two daughters, which have the greatest role models and influences in our summer camp counselors.  With Richard being diagnosed (and beating!) cancer two different times since 2017, we get the opportunity to be an example of positivity, joy, and perseverance to our campers and counselors. We are beyond fortunate to be a part of the First Coast Y and live life not only with purpose, but ON purpose!  

Georgette, Brooks Family YMCA Group Fitness Coordinator, coordinates a group exercise schedule that encompasses 92 land and water based classes. 

Tony serves as the Property Manager of North Jacksonville and Nassau County YMCAs, including the YMCA Tiger Academy Charter School, Johnson Family YMCA, YMCA at Wildlight and McArthur Family YMCA.  

Military Meeting

Tony and Georgette have a 48 year combined military service career with the United States Navy (27 for Tony and 21 for Georgette). They met March 1985 on Diega Garcia, a remote British-owned island in the Indian Ocean and married two years later in Cleveland, Ohio July 1987. 

Diego Garcia is where Georgette found her love of teaching group fitness classes to a captive audience of military personnel mandated to attend Physical Readiness Training. 

In 1996, both Tony and Georgette transferred to Afloat Training Group, Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida.  Tony’s duties, which included ship inspections, required many days deployed away from home.  Georgette, though on “shore duty,” responsibilities required many long hours in support of ship operations and manpower.

Their Y Story

In search of an opportunity for physical fitness and knowing the base gym/fitness center did not allow children, Georgette recalled her membership with the YMCA in Cleveland, Ohio.  With Anthony and Jordan in tow, she found the Arlington YMCA, formerly located on Fort Caroline Rd.  

The Y became her salvation, support, and family. The dedicated and loving individuals in Kidzone nurtured and cared for Anthony and Jordan as if they were their own. They helped them with homework, social interaction skills and taught them the importance of being part of a team. Anthony and Jordan both learned how to swim and play basketball at the Arlington Y.  Later, Anthony joined the swim team and a lifeguard. 

“I sometimes look back and wonder what would we have done without the Y,” said Georgette.

Looking Forward

In 2025, the couple will celebrate 40 years together. Many of their first 20 years were spent apart due to our military obligations. Nothing could ever diminish or replace the pride and honor they have expressed serving their country. Now, they share pride and honor in serving their community through the Y, an organization that gave to them in their time of need.