When Jacob Eschenfelder talks about the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, he doesn’t just describe a nonprofit organization. He describes a place that shaped his life.
As a child, Jacob attended youth programs at the Y run by Don Brevik, who now serves as the Youth and Government Program Director. Under Don’s leadership, Jacob found what so many young people need: a safe place to belong. He remembers the staff at the Y as present, steady, and deeply invested in the kids they served.
“Everyone at the Y were Titans to me. They were my heroes,” Jacob says. “They showed up for us every day. That stuck with me.”
Throughout his youth at the Y, Jacob experienced opportunities that stretched far beyond his everyday world. As a teen, he participated in the Summer of Service program, traveling to the Cheyenne River Reservation in Dupree, South Dakota to work directly with the community there to help run a day camp for local youth.
The experience focused on service, cultural understanding, and relationship building. It challenged Jacob to step outside his comfort zone and think beyond himself. He also travelled to Canada through Y programs, building friendships he still maintains today.
“I learned how to be a leader, and I learned that I'll never stop learning,” says Jacob. “I don't want to.”
Today, Jacob is giving that same experience back as a leader in the Community Learning Center program at Claudia Thomas Middle School in Lakewood. In his afterschool program, he listens closely to what students want and need. When his students repeatedly asked for a cheer club, Jacob didn’t dismiss the idea. He connected with parents, spoke to the school district, and worked with YMCA leadership to create a safe way to launch the program.
Recently, the new cheer club attended its first basketball game. The students sat int he stands and performed a simple cheer. Their pride in their team and themselves was unmistakable. According to Jacob, their energy helped lift the team to a win. What began as a small group quickly became a source of confidence and school spirit.
Jacob’s leadership also shows up in quieter ways. Before winter break, he organized a table filled with nonperishable food, hats, gloves, soap, and other essentials. Students were invited to fill paper bags with items to take home, knowing that during the break they may not have the same daily access to meals and support they receive during the normal school week.
“When they get through our programs, we get a little window into their lives,” Jacob says. “Making sure kids are taken care of and learning new things is something I got from Don.”
CCI has been serving Jacob since his youth. Now, he serves the next generation. The safe space he once depended on is the same safe space he works every day to create.
This is the long-term impact of the Y. A child finds belonging. A teen discovers purpose. An adult returns to lead.