Many of the Y stories below are made possible through community support. When you give to the Y, 100% of your gift goes to programs and financial assistance for children, families, and individuals in need. Together, we can close the achievement gap, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide life-changing experiences to families. Help transform lives by Donating today.
Ayanah Jones
Ayanah “AJ” Jones exudes the kind of welcoming energy you aim for in someone who works the front desk at your organization. Her confidence is such a natural part of her presentation that most would be surprised to know that AJ was struggling just a year ago. “I had issues with anxiety,” she says. “And I didn’t know how to break out of that...
Gary and Kathy Chaffee
Upon retiring, Kathy and Gary Chaffee moved to Central Delaware. Not long after their move, both had a knee replacement and were working hard to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. They knew they needed to find a place that would help them continue their weight loss journey ...
Tomorrow Monroe
After the loss of her oldest child and a cancer diagnosis, Tomorrow was in search of some much-needed stability and normalcy for her and her two children. “I was struggling. I couldn’t work. I had depression, anxiety, and PTSD. But I knew I had to keep moving.”
Audrey Smith-Bey
When Audrey Smith-Bey found out she had uterine cancer in 2016 she was shaken by the diagnosis. A few months after her surgery, she found the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA. This free 12-week exercise program creates a welcoming community in which cancer survivors can improve their quality of life ...
Kourtney and Kymani
“We were struggling financially from all the medical bills and the loss of my job. I didn’t want Kymani to suffer. Finding a way to send her to camp was my problem. She has had enough to deal with,” ...
Rena Baldwin-Baxter
A little over a year ago, Rena Baldwin-Baxter’s husband, Kaheem, suffered from serious medical conditions and was unable to return to work. Then, four months after her husband was declared disabled, Rena lost her job to company-wide restructuring ...
Charesse Benjamin
Charesse Benjamin is a single parent who was at the end of her rope. She had split with her daughter’s father and moved from New Castle to Wilmington. Her daughter Cyani had begun to act out. “It was hard on Cyani with all those changes. She was lost and I didn’t know how to help her,” ...
Jayce
In describing the role that the Y played in her family, Jayce Leon uses the word “essential.” In 2014 the Leon family moved to Delaware because of Luis Leon’s job with the Air Force. Just a few years later, Jayce was diagnosed with breast cancer. She completed most of her treatment while Luis was deployed...