150 Years of Impact: Celebrating the Volunteers Who Power the YMCA of Greater Seattle
Last updated: April 28, 2026, at 12:59 p.m. PT
Originally published: April 28, 2026, at 12:59 p.m. PT
Before there were paid staff, there were volunteers
When the YMCA of Greater Seattle was founded, it was built entirely by community members who believed in something bigger than themselves.
They gave their time, their energy, and their care, not because it was their job, but because they saw a need and answered it. That original spirit has never left us. For 150 years, the Y has been a place where community comes to life, where neighbors support one another, where children and teens discover their potential, and where everyone is welcomed with dignity and care. While programs, facilities, and needs have evolved over time, one thing has remained constant: volunteers have always been at the heart of this work.
Today, that commitment shows up across every corner of our region. Volunteers coach sports teams for children and teens, tutor and mentor students, support food distribution efforts, help welcome new members, and serve on boards and committees. They are students, working professionals, retirees, and families, each bringing unique perspectives and a shared commitment to strengthening community.
Behind the scenes, more than 150 board and advisory members, your neighbors, colleagues, parents, and community members, continue to shape the direction of this organization. Together, they reflect how deeply the people of Greater Seattle believe in this work.
What makes volunteers so powerful is not just the time they give, but the connections they create. A volunteer coach becomes a role model. A tutor becomes a source of encouragement. A friendly face at the front desk becomes a reason someone feels they belong. These moments, small as they may seem on their own, add up to something enduring.
As we celebrate 150 years, we also recognize that the Y’s impact has always been a collective effort. Volunteers have helped us respond to challenges, grow our reach, and remain rooted in our mission. Whether stepping in during times of crisis or showing up week after week in quiet, consistent ways, volunteers have ensured that the Y continues to be a place where everyone can thrive.
Volunteers who make it real
This April, we are proud to honor a group of volunteers whose contributions have made a lasting difference in our communities. Their stories represent the thousands of people who give their time to this work each year.
Jaylen Diamond Swanson
2022 Youth/Teen Honoree
Matt Griffin YMCA
Jaylen Diamond Swanson did not wait for the right moment. As a volunteer youth sports coach at the Matt Griffin YMCA, he showed up and used sport as a doorway into something deeper, helping young people build teamwork, emotional resilience, and the confidence to show up for each other.
Outside the Y, Jaylen carried that same leadership into student government, the Black Student Union, and conversations around restorative justice. He was not looking for a title. He was looking to make things better.
His story is a reminder that changemakers are not defined by age or experience. Sometimes, you just have to step in and give what you have.
Jayma Erker
2022 Youth Honoree
Jayma Erker started with a simple belief: dignity should never be out of reach. That belief moved her to expand access to free menstrual supplies for people facing financial hardship, turning awareness into something real and tangible. She did not wait for someone else to act. She started where she was, with what she had.
Her story is proof that everyday people, showing up with purpose, can change the conditions around them.
Sarah Gavin
2024 Board Chair
AK Guy Honoree
Sarah Gavin joined the Y’s Board because she saw an organization that was not just talking about community, it was doing the work. That credibility moved her to step in and bring her voice, experience, and commitment to making meaningful, lasting change.
For Sarah, volunteerism is fundamentally about connection. It is about seeing people as people, and helping build a community that works for everyone.
As Board Chair, she has helped shape the direction of an organization that serves hundreds of thousands of people across Greater Seattle. Her story is a reminder that leadership does not require waiting for the perfect moment. You just have to step in.
Jeane Allison
2024 Hero Everyday
Bellevue Family YMCA
Ms. Jeane sees a need and shows up, consistently, and with care. Since 2020, she has been a cornerstone of the Bellevue Family YMCA’s Mobile Meals Program and the Bellevue food truck initiative, helping ensure that families have access to food and that every person they serve feels welcomed, not just fed.
As a volunteer, donor, and advocate, she brings all of herself to this work.
Her story reflects something true about the best kind of service: it is not about doing everything. It is about doing something, and doing it with your whole heart.
Doris Turner
2024 Hero Everyday
Coal Creek Family YMCA
Since the Coal Creek Family YMCA first opened its doors, Doris Turner has been there. From meal packing to holiday giving to everything in between, her presence has been so steady and so consistent that many assume she is staff.
She is not. She is something equally powerful: a volunteer who never stopped showing up.
Doris does not just give her time. She builds belonging. She brings energy into every room she enters and makes people feel like they are exactly where they are supposed to be. Her impact has not come from one big moment. It has been built, quietly and powerfully, one act of care at a time.
Looking ahead, the role of volunteers is just as vital. The needs of our community continue to evolve, and so does the opportunity to make a difference. Volunteers will continue to lead, innovate, and inspire, helping us build a future where all people have the support and resources they need to reach their full potential.
To every volunteer who has been part of this journey: thank you. Your dedication, compassion, and generosity are woven into 150 years of impact, and will carry us forward for generations to come.
As we honor this milestone, we invite you to be part of what comes next. Whether you are returning to volunteer or getting involved for the first time, there is a place for you here. Together, we can continue building stronger, more connected communities, one person at a time.
Join us in continuing that legacy.