Stephanie had a lot of firsts in the Y. Growing up, her first camping experience and her first experience of playing team sports were at the Y. Though initially scared, she wound up not wanting to leave camp and gained the confidence to join sports teams at her school. It all had a lasting impact. Now a mother, she loves to bundle her son and dog into her travel trailer and take off into nature.  

Those memories and the confidence built, are some of the reasons she gives back to the Y. And she does it by serving as a volunteer board member. It's not a huge time commitment (only around 20 hours a year), but it is something she finds tremendously worthwhile and something that has a real impact on her local community. It’s meant organizing block parties, festivals, and sponsored races, and engaging with city councilmembers and state representatives to gain support for community improvement projects like getting a pool installed. 

“You can show kids and families that time is a precious commodity and, if you have it to offer, you can brighten somebody’s day or give them a new experience. I think we’ve all been on the receiving end of that, and it feels good. It’s a mindset.” - Stephanie Santiago