Over the past four months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting people across the First Coast who care deeply about their families, their neighbors, and our community’s future. Those conversations have made me feel at home—and reminded me why I’ve spent nearly 40 years in the YMCA movement.
The strongest Ys are built on relationships. A child discovering confidence because someone believed in them. A member finding encouragement on a difficult day. A volunteer giving back. A staff member who knows your name and makes you feel you belong.
Our October theme, Stronger Families Start Here, reflects what those relationships make possible. During National Work and Family Month, we’re celebrating the ways the Y supports families: opportunities for children to learn, support for parents and caregivers, and a place for everyone to belong.
I see that commitment in the stories below. Each offers a different picture of what it means to be there for one another.
They Serve. Their Families Serve, Too.
When Ashley’s husband deployed overseas, she was balancing work, parenting, and the daily demands of keeping her family moving forward. At the Y, she found encouragement and time to care for herself. Her children found friends, activities, and a favorite place to make memories: Camp Immokalee.
Ashley’s story reminds us that military service touches the whole family. Nearly 200,000 active-duty military personnel and veterans call Northeast Florida home. As an Armed Services YMCA affiliate, the First Coast YMCA serves 10,000 military-connected individuals each year, supporting those who serve, those who have served, and the families beside them.
With Military Family Month and Veterans Day approaching in November, I hope you’ll help us reach another family like Ashley’s. Sometimes, a simple introduction to the Y can open the door to much-needed support.
School’s Out. Opportunity Stays Open.
For many parents, summer brings a difficult question: How do we keep our children learning, active, and cared for when school is out?
Nearly 40% of households in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties struggle to afford basic necessities. For those families, the cost of summer programs can put meaningful opportunities out of reach.
At the Y, we want every child to experience the friendships, discovery, and fun of camp while building skills that last beyond the summer.
This summer, that commitment came to life through:
- More than 4,880 campers participating in our day and overnight camps.
- Nearly 1.6 million reading minutes that helped keep learning part of campers’ routines.
- More than 400 children receiving swim lessons each week during camp.
- More than 175,000 healthy meals served to children and families.
Behind those numbers are children discovering a favorite book, growing more confident in the water, and making a new friend. There are also parents who can go to work knowing their children are cared for.
To every staff member, volunteer, donor, and partner who made these experiences possible: thank you. You helped families meet everyday needs and gave children more opportunities to learn and grow.
A Lifetime of Leadership. A Lasting Legacy.
Many of you know Bob Dye’s name from the Dye Clay Family YMCA in Orange Park. This September, we had another reason to celebrate the person behind that name: his induction into the YMCA of the Southeast Hall of Fame.
The honor recognizes Bob’s leadership and lasting contributions to the YMCA movement. The tribute shared at the ceremony brought that legacy to life through cherished memories for Bob and his family and the relationships at the heart of his work.
After so many years in the Y, I know how much those relationships matter. The influence of a caring leader carries forward through the people they encourage and the communities they help strengthen.
Bob, thank you for the years, heart, and care you’ve given to the Y. Your legacy lives on in the people you’ve supported and in the generations still walking through our doors.
If Bob has been part of your Y journey, I hope you’ll take a moment to share a favorite memory or a personal note of thanks.
🎥 WATCH: Celebrate Bob Dye’s YMCA legacy.
A Community That Gives. A Mission That Lasts.
You may have first come to the Y for a workout, swim lessons, or activities for your children. Along the way, you became part of a charity rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and belong.
At the heart of that mission is a promise: no one is turned away because of an inability to pay.
Keeping that promise takes a community. Membership and program fees support our daily operations. Charitable gifts help provide financial assistance and sustain programs for neighbors who need them. Volunteers give their time and care, and partners help us reach more people.
That generosity runs through every story here: a military family finding support, a camper discovering confidence, a leader dedicating his life to service. One person’s care creates opportunities that reach far beyond that first act of kindness. That is the ripple effect of the Y.
I’m optimistic about our future. The Y is needed more than ever, and I’m encouraged by the momentum we’re building to strengthen families and support our neighbors.
Through The HEADline, I’ll continue sharing stories of this work and the people who make it possible. When you see me at your branch, please say hello. I’d love to hear what the Y means to you.
Thank you for welcoming me and for the many ways you support our YMCA. I’m grateful to be part of this community as we move forward together.
Help keep opportunity open to all. Start a Ripple.
