I grew up in the area and attended the Y, so it was a natural transition for me to bring my own kids to Y programs when they were young. The family enjoyed the Y so much that when the kids were 3 and 6, I started volunteering as a coach.

The staff are great, the people are friendly and I love being with the kids. The time was right. I left my full-time job to care for my kids and joined the Y staff. I now coach t-ball, soccer and basketball and teach preschool and kindergarten physical education.

Teaching kids the basics of sports and watching them improve is great. I love seeing their faces when they learn how to throw a ball or dribble correctly. It’s very gratifying. To me, the Y is family.