"When Miracle smiles because she feels pretty, it makes me very happy that she now feels better about herself. This is just one of the many ways we as staff members of the YMCA are able to make a difference in a child's life."
"I am one of the Administrative Assistants at the Harbordale YMCA. I met Miracle after she enrolled in the Y-Achiever's after school program at our facility and I saw a little girl in need. Miracle is a beautiful 7 year-old that has a priceless smile but who always came into the center after school with her head hung down. One day she came in off of the bus and I noticed that she was crying. I pulled her aside and I asked her why she was crying. Her reply was that the children at school always make fun of her hair. My heart was torn, but I assured Miracle that she was a beautiful little girl and sent her to her group. I began to think of how I could make the situation better and put a smile on Miracle's face. I spoke with my director, Elena Stowers, and told her of the situation. I expressed my concerns and volunteered to groom Miracle's hair. We asked Miracle's mother for permission to do her hair and she was pleased to say yes, as she suffers from severe arthritis in her hands and wasn't able to. Elena and I began buying hair accessories for Miracle. The next afternoon when Miracle arrived at the YMCA, I took her into the classroom and began the process of doing her hair. After Miracle's hair was finished she looked in the mirror and started giggling and smiling. When Miracle smiled, it made me very happy that she could now feel better about herself. When Miracle arrived at the YMCA the next day her head was held up high and she had a huge smile on her face. She's been smiling ever since! Mrs. Elena allows me to take the time to groom Miracle's hair every week! This is just one the many ways we as staff members of the YMCA are able to make a difference in a child's life. "
-Regina Cooper
"I began feeling a lot happier and needing less therapy and medications. The YMCA and positive people became my medicine."
"There are so many routes that a person can take to fitness at the Y because of the variety of programs and equipment available. I have to rate the Y as an excellent Christian modeled place to be. I encourage anyone who is not in an exercise program to visit the Y and experience the better side of the human experience. It has really had a positive effect on my entire person, from muscles to mind, and heart to heart. It's like the Y staff and members are one team. After doing a 21 year tour with the U.S. Navy and retiring, I was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder-combat related. I was classified as permanently disabled. My whole being seemed to dissipate, I spent much time in the hospital going through therapy sessions and taking psychotropic medications to control the bouts of depression and rages that I felt. I started being a very regular pupil of the YMCA and I enjoyed the positive vibe that hits you when you enter the door. I began feeling a lot happier and needing less therapy and medications. The YMCA and positive people became my medicine. I usually go to the YMCA 4-5 times a week and, at 56 years old, I feel very good about how I have developed at my age. I have never been able to lift as much as I can now. I must give a lot of credit to the staff and my fellow members who never seem to be in a negative mood, everyone is quick to advise and help and this makes for a family environment. I am well aware of the efforts put forth to help those who may be in a tight squeeze by offering financial aid programs. I myself ran into some rough times. The YMCA was able to provide a plan that I could work with, so I thank YMCA Strong Kids Campaign for the assistance."
-Paul W. Wilson
"Thanks to the staff and training facilities at the Y, I wasable to reach my goal of entering the Florida State Senior Games Powerlifting Competition and set 3 state records!"
After retiring to Florida in 2005 and having more time, it was important for me to start an exercise program and get in shape. Several of our friends told us about the YMCA in St. Petersburg so my wife and I took a tour of the facility and – we joined. I enjoy swimming and using the fabulous equipment in the workout area. My wife loves the spinning classes and working out. In the summer of 2010 I decided it was time to lose some serious weight and get back in shape! I started a workout and training program at the YMCA with a goal of entering The Florida State Senior Games Powerlifting Competition that was being held in Ft. Meyers Beach in mid-December. The results of my hard work and training produced the following results. At the powerlifting competition I received 3 gold metals and set 3 Florida State Records. Thanks to the staff and training facilities at the YMCA I was able to reach my goal of entering the competition and surpass my expectations by setting 3 state records for my age group. In order to stay in good physical shape I am now committed to a regular workout and training program. Also to keep me mentally inspired I have recently entered two powerlifting completions, the first in late February and the second in late March.
-Chuck Venable
"My life is better because of the Y. I have made longtime friends and my students are the best.I get so much out of teaching."
I have been using the Y since the early 90's when I was in the military and wanted a place to workout where I felt welcome and at home. I have always felt that way at pretty much any Y I visited. After retiring from the military and starting a career in the fitness field, I went from being a member of the Y to working at the Y and teaching Tai Chi and Yoga. My Core values of honesty, commitment and acceptance are pretty much equal to what you receive at the Y. I have been teaching at the Y in St. Petersburg for almost four years and love it. My life is better because of the Y. I have met long time friends here and my students are the best. Even members who just want to talk to me about something make me feel like we are a family. I have been told time and time again how my classes help the members. But, really I do it for selfish reasons. I get so much out of teaching. I love the fact that the Y is affordable to everyone. We are able to provide a product that would not be available to some of the members if they had to go to a private yoga studio. My students tell me all the time how much they get out of all the classes that are provided at the Y, not just mine. I also like that the members are listened to. There is an open clear line of communication between the members and the staff and it flows both ways. It sounds sappy but I really believe we are a family. I am thankful to have this gift to give and receive at the Y.
-Jeff Navarre
"The YMCA has changed my life by allowing my son, as well as me, to meet and interact with other families."
"The YMCA has changed my life by allowing my son as well as me to meet and interact with other families. It is a place where I can go and talk with staff members concerning personal and family matters. The Y-Achievers program has been a life saver for me – allowing me to work knowing that my son will have a way home from school and be somewhere that I know is safe. Without this program I really don't know where I would be financially. The Y has made a difference in my life because I have allowed myself and my son to open ourselves up to everything they have to offer, which in turn has helped us to succeed in things that we do. I have noticed a major change in myself due to the Y because it offers me a spiritual aspect on a lot of things. The staff always there to support and speak with me when I have felt that my life was in turmoil. I am greatly appreciative of the YMCA. "
-Sabrina Edwards
"The Y was my first home when I moved here. I have become a familiar face here and when I walk in the door people smile and I immediately feel at home."
When I moved to St. Petersburg from New York I was a stranger in a strange land. I had lived in NYC (Manhattan) for 34 years when I decided to make the move. The fact that I hooked up with the YMCA was a lifesaver! The Y was my first "home" here. I moved into a condo development and didn't know anyone, my brother is in Tampa but I didn't know how to drive there and he was always busy working. I had to sink or swim in Florida. The Y responded to my needs by giving me a scholarship as soon as I asked and I have come to the Y almost every day since. It has helped me settle into my new surroundings. I use the Fitness center 5 times a week and the change in my body is noticeable. I have more strength and have lost a few pounds. Mentally and spiritually it has been terrific – when I come early in the morning the rest of my day is brighter. I love the fact that the fitness center is so readily available and everyone is so non-judgmental. I have become a familiar face here and when I walk in the door people smile and I immediately feel at home."
-Iris Levy
"The YMCA provides me with mental peace knowing my daughter is in a safe environment after school. The staff at the Childs Park Y support the ideals and values of family and community."
The YMCA has changed my life in a number of ways. It has helped me to increase my physical activity and changed the direction of my activities by offering Zumba Fitness classes. Exercise is very important to me and Zumba has become an integral part of my life. Physically I can see a change in my body since attending Zumba twice a week. The YMCA also provides me with mental peace knowing my daughter is in a safe environment after school. A place where she is allowed to openly express herself and where she receives tutoring through the Y-Achievers program which will help her be better prepared. The YMCA has also made me more aware of the people in our community. The staff at the Childs Park Y support the ideals and values of family and community. They are committed to the community and take personal initiative to express that support.
-Peggy Barney-Sands
"The YMCA has affected my life by giving me the strength and hope I need to believe that I will walk one day."
The YMCA affected my life by giving me the strength and hope I need to believe that I will walk one day. It has given me courage to know that I can be accepted into society as an individual, not just as a handicapped person. The Moving Forward Program at the YMCA provides me with twice weekly water therapy treatments which I plan to continue. The program also gave me a place during the beginning of my changed life to see that if I work hard towards my goals, I can become a self-sufficient member of society. After my accident, I was told by the doctor that I would be on my back with a respirator for the rest of my life. However, because of my determination, my YMCA instructor's belief in me, and the continued availability of the water therapy, I took those first steps in the pool at the Y. Those first steps gave me the encouragement I needed to continue working towards my goal of walking one day! The program at the Y has given me a place where I can come twice a week and receive therapy without the worry of a financial burden. It gives me a program that is affordable when all of my other therapy has been terminated due to insurance funding, etc. I know that the water therapy and the belief in me by my instructor have made all the difference in my recovery.
-Jason Strickland
"When I first joined the YMCA, I desperately needed to improve my health."
When I first joined the YMCA, I desperately needed to improve my health. Stress and personal tragedy had taken their toll, and I was determined to regain my health and vitality. Those first few months, I remember spinning my pedals in spin class as my sweat would often mix with my tears, my mind wandering to the recent loss of my brother Bo. Working out at the Y provided a physical outlet for some of the pain I was feeling. I would think of Bo cycling the hills of LaJolla, CA, before he died. I would also think of how much he would want me to get back into cycling shape, too. As I worked through my brother's death I became more at peace and lost twenty pounds in the process. The YMCA's friendly staff and members also provided a social connection for my family. My family and I had recently moved to Pinellas County, and even though we were going through a dark time, we were able to find joy and friendship through the physical activities and community the Y offers. Today, my family and I can often be found at the Y. My husband and I want to be healthy role models for our daughter. We also want to encourage our students to be active. Because of the strength and endurance we gain from our exercise, we have more energy to give to each other and the young people in our lives. Once I gave myself permission to exercise regularly, I feel so much better! I know this makes me a better wife, mother and teacher. Early on, when we first joined, we received a scholarship to help us afford the membership fees and classes for our daughter. The generosity of the YMCA's
scholarship program made it possible for us to be here at that time. For that gift, we are very grateful.
-Beth Myers
"The Y is where I go to improve my health; a safe environment that I love to return to again and again. It is a place where I am not just recovering but strengthening so I can lead a balanced, enjoyable and longer life."
The Y, for me, is a place where people are committed to self growth and development along with sharing and healing. Shortly after turning 31 years old, I was diagnosed with a rare form of Lupus. This condition later caused me to have a stroke, nerve damage, muscle atrophy, heart problems, and severe anemia. I weighed 88 lbs. and was in a wheel chair. I knew I had to find a way to transform my life and rebuild my health. Tireless optimism became my friend. Strength flowed from my wonderful husband and my six year old son. A friend suggested I try Tai Chi, so I began practicing to help me on my path to rebuild a little muscle tone. After moving to St. Petersburg to be closer to family I started to search for a place I could get back into Tai Chi. My doctor also suggested I keep up weight bearing exercise to stay ahead of any bone density issues. My husband, an Ironman World Champion of 2006, wanted a place he could swim and work out. We were looking for a place that was down to earth, not pretentious and part of the community; a place where people were seeking and developing their gifts, talents and power. We toured the YMCA in St. Petersburg and noticed how very clean it was and how much it had to offer. We thought it was a great place to bring our whole family. I began to try different classes that might suit me – including yoga. My first class was a bit hard but I was quickly instructed not to do more than my body was telling me and there should never be any pain. Judgment and competition were not part of the class. The Y is where I go to improve my health, a safe environment I love to return to again and again. It's a place where I am not just recovering, but strengthening so I can lead a more balanced, enjoyable and longer life. It is a place where people honestly respect each other. The Y is a place where teachers and staff sincerely look after the members and treat them like family.
-Lisa Douglas