Our Y Stories

"If you want to live a healthy life, you can, you just have to be mindful of the choices that you make."

"It’s more than friendship, it’s family.”

"I got to see so many people [at the Y] and fellow peers, it really felt like a sense of community."

“Coming to the Y has given us purpose and opportunities to get out of the house, keeping us all active and healthy.”

"The Y has everything we need, but the people keep us coming back.”

"[The Y] helped me grow up."

"Even if the Y didn't offer free memberships to foster children, we would still bring the kids to the Y."

"I feel that when you’re part of the Y you feel like you’re part of a community."

"The staff here have helped me reach my goals. They are so encouraging and understanding."

"Developmentally, this has been huge for him."

Sisters Daisy and Lisbeth were always afraid of the water.

"There are people here who are here to learn alongside you. We are an open door for everyone."

"It’s nice to be greeted by people who take the time to learn your name."

“Giving to the Y has become a family tradition,” says

“Once we retired from the railroad, we found ourselves missing

A public school teacher for 11 years, Kent Sampson worked

John is a high school teacher and has been volunteering

For many, creating a healthy fitness routine is like learning

Haisell learned to swim not only with special needs, but also while overcoming a language barrier.

"I'm thankful for the atmosphere here, where everyone is trying to better themselves. It's contagious!”

Before Steve stared at the YMCA his resting heart rate

After joining the YMCA a year ago, Brian immediately discovered

"The Y has definitely helped us. The kids are learning to use their words and not their hands, but there are always barriers."

From defeat to victory

Renee has been a member of the Y for most

Bob was geared up for the adventure of a lifetime

“What I like most is that the staff are patient with the kids."

Arwa is a junior at the University of Washington Tacoma. She

Amy is at her weekly circuit class today and will be giving birth tomorrow.

Since deciding to be a part of the Tacoma Center

“It’s almost our second home,” says Joshua. “My family comes here and plans their days around the YMCA. It’s become part of our daily norm.”

"I have been a gym goer for almost a decade

Gary and Chuck share more than just a friendship—they are

Since Raymond started coming to the Mel Korum Family YMCA

Steve and Sandy’s story began 10 years ago on February

Autism brings several challenges for Jessica, but that doesn't stop

In the winter of 2006, Chris' life dramatically changed when

Carol had been caring for her father, a longtime sufferer

"When I see my daughter come home from work, she feels like she is truly part of the team.”

Terry has been a loyal member of Tacoma Center YMCA

It is easy, especially as we get older, to stick

When Brenda first started taking Journey to Freedom classes looking

When he joined a Journey to Freedom small group in

After hearing how highly his wife spoke of the Mel

After a change in employment by her father, Ashley Jones

With the inspiration of a YMCA staff member, Mia gained

Flipping backward off a high-dive platform was barely a challenge

The SUV was traveling 55 miles per hour – roughly

Tanya was a supportive wife and identified herself as a

Patricia and her granddaughter, Michelle, joined the Mel Korum Family

ENERGIZE YOUR CYCLING When my wife

ENERGIZE YOUR PREGNANCY My son Titus

ENERGIZE YOUR CHI We are the

ENERGIZE YOUR WARRIOR POSE In 2012

ENERGIZE YOUR GOALS Personal training at

ENERGIZE YOUR MORNING It all started

ENERGIZE YOUR HEALTH The Y has

ENERGIZE YOUR GAME My family and

Meet Jacob

ENERGIZE YOUR WELL-BEING I am a

When Tim’s doctor told him that there was a spot

ENERGIZE YOUR FAMILY I started at the Mel Korum

ENERGIZE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS I have been a member of

ENERGIZE YOUR JOURNEY My name is Kimberly, and I

ENERGIZE YOUR CLIMB The first day that I walked

ENERGIZE YOUR TIME TOGETHER Though our oldest son Kellen

ENERGIZE YOUR  WORKOUT Working out at the YMCA for

Jason now weighs right around 200 pounds, lowered his fat

Addy had an awakening when she realized she couldn’t let

Our Camp Seymour experience is a major high point of

When Alana first came to the Tacoma Center YMCA, it

By her mid-30s, Jolene had already developed several medical issues

Charli Davis’ story is one of perseverance. Charli began coming

Kwame had been attending Late Nite for four years and

When Constance Childs first stepped into the Morgan Family YMCA

Health is more than building muscle mass, it is also

Nicholas Packer first came to the Y to recuperate after

When Emily Kovacs first stepped foot into the Gordon Family

As a homeless young adult on the street, Samuel suffered

For someone living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), life

Theron and his family have been part of the Y

John was worried that he wouldn’t make friends when he

When Kiara started summer camp at the Y, she struggled

Known for his huge smile and tremendous energy, Reggie also

School wasn’t easy for Bryce. She was bullied and didn’t

As a teen, Tyler lived in a community riddled with

After suffering from a stroke, Rich was looking for a

When Fatulegaee or “Fatu” was a new student at University

The Komarov family left their homeland under great distress and

After a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Bob was ready to do

Isabel, “Izzy,” knows first hand that the Y’s programs are

Growing up, David Jenkins Sr.’s life was surrounded by gang

For as long as Crystal can remember, she has been

Raised by a single mother with several children, Roger often

For nine-year-old Victor, the world is a distraction of sight

Having a brother with Parkinson’s, Denny was all too familiar

Jamaal was accustomed to sitting around at home playing video

As a single foster mom, Tiffani wanted to give the

After a breast cancer diagnosis and several exhausting treatments, Jolyn

Carsen joined the Gallion family when he was just two

Zeal was placed in foster care with Anastacia when he

Bobby and Connie Torres knew they had to make a

After a deployment and a lengthy custody battle, Bryan was

Unlike many who begin their journey at the Y, Susan

Despite two years of working out on an elliptical, Sarah

Every Saturday night, youth in grades six through eight have

For many families, the effects of financial hardship make it

During a doctor’s appointment, Matt was blown away to see

Ty arrives at the Y like clockwork- three days a

Lori is a regular at the Y, known for her

For years, Sheryl searched for a fun and active summer

Chloee has been taking private lessons with swim instructor, Danielle

Jason went from being a guitar-shredding rock star in his

As a third-year Teen Late Nite participant at the Tacoma

Many young people often do not get to experience life

In the summer of 2015, Sarah Golbeck found a lump

Kat's Y Story began at the age of seven, when

As a class instructor, Annie is always dancing front and

After being diagnosed with cancer, Katie resolved to put her

Sabrina joined the Mel Korum Family YMCA when she was

When Tamara first joined the Y two years ago, she

As a Tacoma-native born and raised, Michael says he loves

Megan's Y journey started over 13 years ago at the age

We all spend most of our days at work and

When Barry entered the Y, he was a recovering alcoholic

Alison and her husband joined the Bremerton Y several years

Joining the YMCA was a new choice for Denise. Having

The Y is a place for change. Some people come

The Y values youth development, and through Child Watch children

After her business closed, Victoria found solace at the Y

Courtney has been a camper at the Haselwood Family YMCA

Susan Harris joined the "Y" in July, 2014. Her goal

Jackie says her Y story begins with a "better late

Individual anxieties come in different shapes and forms. For Crystal

Sometimes, youth are often pressured to grow up sooner than

Pat admits she had never been a fan of water

“Camp is like a family. Being able to sleep in

It was Keona first time at a sleep away camp

School wasn’t easy for Bryce. She was bullied and didn’t

"I went from being afraid of the water to loving it.”

Rich's life was turned upside down after he suffered from

When Gaye Lynn first came to the Y, she didnt know

For almost three years, there has been a constant, smiling

Marcus' Y story began when he was in fifth grade

As a young kid, Dill was overweight for his age

Dee had always struggled to keep up with her fitness

For 47-year-old Dana, how he feels about his road to

As a recent sociology graduate from a small college in

Caleb started his Y experience when he was a child

Sixth grade teacher, Rodney was skeptical about taking his class

Group Fitness instructors teach for a variety of reasons. Sarah

When Katie first joined the Y, she was intimidated by

When Michael first moved to Washington in the late 1980s

A native of Tacoma, Lucas says the Y has always

Ashton first joined the Y when she was in the

Fifth-grade teacher Sandra looks forward to taking her class to

When you first meet Lori Seljestad-Brodigan, the first thing she

For more than 30 years, Michael lived an almost entirely

Like most health seekers, Karen says she was uneasy about

"It helped me cope with the idea of living the rest of my life without a lung. I just can't say enough for this program."

"The YMCA gave me a safe environment to stay out

Marilyn had lived her whole life without exercising and was

As a long time Tacoma Center Y member, David Young

Before Matthew Mouton joined the Y last year, he found

Just over a year ago, Heather ?Hardcore? Kerr was suffering

June and Howard Peterson first joined the YMCA 14 years

When Kateri's sister, Megan, asked her to teach her how

Marie first attended YMCA Camp Seymour as a Women's Wellness

Larry always knew that heart disease ran in his family, but he never realized how this family history could affect him until he had a stroke.

Mark is an incredible transformational story. Working with us through

When six-year-old Kellen first came to the Y he was

Carolyn started volunteering the Y in 1961 with an adaptive

Many longtime Y members attribute their positive health and youthfulness

In January of 2014, Mae went to the hospital for

Five years ago, Joey began volunteering at the Y to

Upon returning home to Washington after living in Germany for

As a young kid who struggled with managing his weight

They say you can't judge a book by its cover

When Spencer isn't at Shasta Junior College pursuing an education

Many members know Chelsea's friendly face and welcoming demeanor as

Maria is a homeschool mother to her three children. When

In 2011 Weston and Cora splashed into Parent-Child swim lessons

Being from a military family, Julius moved a lot. Before

Dating can be scary. Getting dressed up on a Saturday

When Rai Nauman is not running around the Y racking

It's hard to believe that the Chris who listlessly walked

Like most people trying to lose weight, Jenn tried to

Brandon Ortega frequents the Y on a daily basis. He

After John suffered from a stroke, his pace of life

For Emily, the Y is more than a place to

Known for his huge smile and tremendous energy, Reggie also

As a self-described rambunctious, enthusiastic young child, Scott spent countless

After moving to Washington from Las Vegas, Valerie wanted to

This year, our fifth grade classes were able to experience

Chronically plagued with fibromyalgia, a disorder causing amplified pain throughout

The average adult can walk approximately one mile in 20

Dean was at work when he felt the first shooting

In June 2014 Danielle was diagnosed with stage four breast

Marty first became a member at the Y in 2010

After working three seasons as an Event Coordinator for Spotlight

Allen has fond memories of his childhood days at the Y where

For as long as he can remember, Joseph has always

For as long as he can remember, competitive sports have

After going through a difficult divorce Shavonne wanted to ensure her nine-year-old daughter, Yalaynah, had a positive influence in her life.

Maddie was just five years old when her father, Special

The scene looked almost like an intervention - Larry's wife

Prior to coming to the Y, Todd worked a stressful

It's a regular occurrence to see Michael passionately participating in

After working in the corporate world for 20 years, Cindy

After crawling on her hands and knees out of a

Rob had a lot of health issues (blood clots, liver

College professor Ryan Syler, a true Southerner, embraced everything about

When Nini stormed angrily into the front office at First

Since Kelley and her daughter Gabby first joined the Y

 Y-USA Grant Recipient   Kay-Jana had never been to

Richard is what some would call a lifelong athlete. He

After a particularly painful and challenging season in her life

Tanya knew her son Sam was behind in his development, but

Jerry's Y story began with a nasty knee injury, debilitating

Donald first joined the YMCA almost ten years ago as

Eddie came to the Y seeking the motivation to lose some

Tae Kwon Do is a way of a life for

When you're swimming laps in the Lakewood Family YMCA pool

YUSA Access Grant Recipient   Annie readily admits that

Jackie 's smile is her trademark as she helps lead

When Bailey first joined cheer at the Y, she was

Kurt has spent a lifetime giving back to the community

YMCA staff and members all agree that when Chuck Wood

Werner was never the kind of person to exercise regularly

Laura Jane Brougher was a competitive paddle boarder until she

Hannah has come to the Y almost every day for

Previously intimated by other fitness facilities, Liz could never quite

Josh Masters stared at the number on the bathroom scale

"From the moment I entered grade school, I was bullied

Eleven-year-old Harrison is a seasoned Day Camp veteran. A long

"I have a fifth grade student who is a

Ivaline's journey back to health started three years ago while

As James will tell you, "every blind squirrel finds an acorn

Peggy's brother Timothy, was born with Cerebral palsy. In the

80-year-old "go getter" Joan is the grateful recipient of the

The first time Breanna tried out for the YMCA's gymnastics team

Tani began her career with the YMCA in 1992. The

Ezra Fournier's grandma was a bit concerned about his future

Like most people, Tara initially envisioned joining a gym to

Jordan learned the importance of running a tight ship from

Bobby Moorehead is what many might call an underdog, though

The first thing Carol noticed upon entering the Y was a

Having grown up in a military family, Margie is no

Michael Carter never intended to come to the Y for

As a clinical physiology major at Central Washington University, Daniel

Brian first joined the Y to meet new friends and

Most would agree that 16-year-old Penny and 93-year-old Bruce are

As written by 16-year-old Y member Penny R.:  

Like most working young adults, scheduling time into your fitness

As a young adult working and attending school full time

Corina has something in common with an estimated 2.8 million

Two years ago, Heidi came to the Y bogged down

During Jasmyn's first swimming lesson in California over a year

While on Christmas vacation with his family, David's mother pointed

Lisa got a wake up call when her daughter was

Cancer took a wicked toll on Dennis' body. It left

When Bea found herself eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for

"To have this place to go to, and feel safe

Jacqui joined the Y in 2012. She wanted to get

When Jasmine was 15 years old, her mother bought her

For years, Sarah felt like she didn't belong anywhere. She

Jim's interest in rowing goes back to his college days

Suzzi started coming to the Y in 1994, when she

"Reach Your Peak," the flyer read. For too many years

Most of us may never know the price of freedom

Kenny began attending Tacoma Center's Late Nite program about four

The aftermath of a difficult divorce left Jonelle in great

After moving from Michigan to Nashville, Tennessee in 2006 for

Tasheon has earned some substantial bragging rights. The 26-year-old resident

By the time Avril discovered the Y in 2011, her

Betty arrived at her first Journey to Freedom class with

Norman uses a mantra to motivate himself during a workout:

I went to camp in 6th grade. It was a

Sheryl Johnson's life changed dramatically last year when she had

Stephen first joined the Y in an effort to improve

It all began with a step aerobics class over 20

Fatu Tuupo found motivation to improve his grades, not just

You may know him. If you don't know him, you've

World War II veteran Ken Wheeler has a courageous background

For Kim Bauer, the bathroom scale and the sight of

While Ed and Lyn had been making healthier choices for

In 2013, Kristi Tilson was shocked to learn she had

Jamie has faced the challenges of cerebral palsy, tourettes, and

Through the generosity of donors and caring staff, Demone found

Jessica decided to join the Y to get back in

Service to the community is the heart of the YMCA

Dallas has come a long way since joining the YMCA

Madelyn started dancing at the Morgan Family YMCA when she

As a military spouse, Yasuko is constantly faced with separation

Growing up in Italy, Sabina always struggled with her weight

Tiffany was practically born at the Y. As a child

A former middle school teacher with an art history background

Jerrell has big ambitions to be a professional basketball player

Marquise comes to the Y at least five days a

Primarily a participant in dance, Kat has been a member

Shortely after Alashia joined the Y as a dance instructor, she suffered

Weighing 278 pounds, Kelly's joints hurt every day and made

Cancer survivor Patricia needed a weight loss surgery, but told her

After losing his job, Anthony was in need of spiritual

"The YMCA was very important in my life long before

First introduced to the Y at the age of nine

After finishing their medical residencies, Jessica and Nathan were wanting

When Jackie arrived at the Y for her first Journey to

After over ten years of being a staff member of

Cari was raised in a family that had very little

After hearing about the Y at school, Latravion "Tra" Satterwhite

Before Sarah came to the Y, the only exercise she

Bruce Carey was introduced to the Y after completing chemotherapy

In 2010, Kelly Buchanan was clinically obese, suffered several health

Martha always gets asked "Do you run?" To keep it

Denise was looking for something more challenging to add to

Key player on the Teen Late Nite staff team, Athrettis

After college, Laura Barnes drifted from her athletic background. Realizing

Vera's journey toward healthy living started in 2006 when she

Growing up, Danny Lara was bullied at home and school

Often an inspiration, Jamarae Finnie credits the YMCA Teen Late

Fitness superstar, Kina Reandue has been an avid Y member

Twenty-five-year-old recovering drug addict, Sagan Parker, finds a healthy path. 

With a real heart for his town, Mayor Dave Enslow

Marianna and Robert joined the YMCA In October 2009. Marianna

After five years of marriage, like many families, the Howards

When James began his Y membership in 2002, he didn't

About as active of a person as you can get

After three hip surgeries, Sharon Taylor was struggling. She had

For children with special needs, finding before and after school

At the age of 37, successful at her job and

Shilo began her journey at the YMCA in fall 2010

"The YMCA impacted my life by giving me a safe

Ilse Walters was discovered at the pool on Joint Base

Laura saw herself in pictures and thought, "That can't possibly

"The YMCA has impacted my life by having the Teen

Mel Korum Family YMCA member Donovan Arndt recently competed in

Michael recently graduated from the YMCA's FitPath  program. He credits

Brent Hu is a Palamino Rabbit. His favorite group all

Gil was finally ready to start his journey to health

One year ago, while at her heaviest weight, 22-year-old Megan

A year ago, Karen pinched a nerve in her lower

Judy has Type 2 Diabetes and relied on an insulin

Jon was raised in a home school setting on a

YMCA athletes and twins Katiana and Kirandra Welsheimer are no

Luci's face lights up when she talks about her favorite

Jodie is a military spouse, and after moving to the

When Andy's father got word of a year long deployment

Quinn, 8, a member of the YMCA since 2009 has

When Jayden was 6-years-old he was adopted, and his new

Hunter's first time in the pool was while he in a

Jessica joined the Y and was immediately connected with the

When Aden started kindergarten, his teachers used sign language to

After nearly drowning in the ocean at age 13, Annie

Very few people can honestly claim to have beaten the

It all started with a 5k run/walk. Darius set a

Jayden Thomas is an active and athletic third grade student

Military wife Jessica Lee discovered the Y in 2007 shortly

Kyle and Julana Hardtke recently settled into a new home

At the healthy age of 69, Carol Grisso is in

Before joining the Y, Beatrice had no motivation and was

After living in Sumner for 32 years, Barbara Bitetto's love

When Evan first entered the YMCA Child Care Program, he

When Bethany's son entered third grade, her long-time caregivers retired

MJ and his mother Lakesha have encountered a lot of

For Bella, a fourth grade student at Bryant Elementary School

Athena recently competed in our first annual Strongman Competition. She

Lisa Frankowski and her family were hit hard in the

Katie Burton has an issue not many people share. She

Twin sisters Nicole and Melisa Parsels were looking for a

Jennifer's mother, Shannon, says that even at age 6, Jennifer

Joey has been showing the world his strength since he

Kim had always been a walker. She played softball growing

Easter Monday marks a day of joy, and signals the

For many, a trip to the bank involves merely an

Kent led an extraordinary life, traveling abroad with his girlfriend

As cadets in the ROTC program at Clover Park High

In 2009, Lynn weighed nearly 400 pounds. Her prosthetic hip

When Y staff describe Quincy, her leadership skills and individual

Patrick loves basketball and the Bremerton Family YMCA. He has

At Green Mountain Elementary in Bremerton, YMCA Child Care is

After struggling to find a plan that worked, Mark joined

"Coming to camp has changed my life," said Darwin. After having

"I think it's important to pay it forward because you

Dany S, a Youth and Government participant since eighth grade

Ashley, age 20, started attending YMCA Child Care in the

For a child with a developmental disability, life in a

Second grader, Sammy, had a near drowning experience when she

Having never been away from her family for two weeks

Battling her weight for nearly 20 years, Wendy was determined

A Facebook post about the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program changed

Thanks to a grant from the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

When Charles went to the doctor to find out about

After beating cancer, Patricia decided to try getting back to

Before this March, 10-year-old Jimmy was terrified of the water

When Joe first started coming to the Y, he was fresh

Megan started gymnastics at the Lakewood Family YMCA when she

A family history of diabetes and the desire to get

At the tender age of two, Alfredo had brain surgery

Dehonta's passion was playing football, but he knew his career

The trauma of a cancer diagnosis and months of treatment

CaseyRay has Congenital Myasthenia Gravis (CMG), a muscle fatigue syndrome

Kathy Larsen teaches the 5:30am water exercise classes and has

When Peter realized how difficult it was to get in

Liza is one of Tacoma Center's brilliant Yoga instructors. She

A place to belong, for some it's easy, but for others

Jenna Dehoney is excited to be your Gordon Family YMCA

Kyle Eggenberger is excited to serve as your Senior Youth

Kari has been an active member of the Y since

When Evan started in the Y's Pre-Kindergarten program, he had

John ended the school year struggling with reading, so his

When second grader Iulio started attending YMCA Before and After

When parents enroll their children in the Y's Youth Basketball

Jeanne's body had been through the ringer by the time

A foster parent to six children, Barbara came to the

Six-year-old Trenton Weis had more than a few reservations when

In 2008, Kacey's husband passed away, leaving her with severe

Since 2013, Marie and her husband Dennis have opened their

Tom's first memories of the YMCA began many years ago

Janis Lindley joins the Gordon team with over 20 years

In  2013, Belinda found herself at a crossroads. She  weighed

Jarad and Becky were excitedly awaiting the arrival of their

During a family vacation, Whitney's son Max refused to go

Ruth joined the Y years ago. But when her son

To Louise Snow, the Gordon Family YMCA means happiness, health

A victim of bullying, Brianna found refuge and confidence from

Before Summer participated in the Third Grade Swim program, her

Marquis has been a member of other gyms, but never

"Our small group celebrated our successes together. We cried at

With a history of eating her way through the holidays

After five years of being out of a gym, Melissa

For many families, the effects of financial hardship make it

When Stephen first joined the Y, he quickly learned that

For someone living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), life

Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, Lorenzo was surrounded by

For Krystal and Mark Ripka, sending their children to YMCA

Middle school is already a jungle of challenges for most

For the majority of his children's lives, Wes was a

Anita was tired of being overweight and unhealthy, and when

Before joining the Y, John weighed 280 pounds and his only

The Rec Gymnastics classes participated in a coin drive for

When Will came to Lakewood from Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit

Stephanie and her family became Y members soon after moving

Hayden was born with microcephaly (a small head) and a

Obera knew it was time to start making healthier choices