For most people, the year ends in December, but for the Lynch/van Otterloo Y Board of Drectors, our annual business concludes in June and resumes in September.
The past 10 months have been, to say the least, eventful. The Y observed its 15-year anniversary with two celebrations: A breakfast in January for current and former board and staff members, and a May 2 community-wide reception that featured a 10-minute video titled “Beyond Our Wildest Dream” that chronicled the eight-year capital campaign. There was also the presentation of the 2024 David Sherman Community Strengthening Award to Marblehead’s Lisa Gery.
It was both heart-warming and pride-inducing to relive the Y’s arduous journey to fund and build our 90,000-square-foot, full-service facility that sits at the top of a ledge-laden, inhospitable site at Leggs Hill Road. The video can be viewed by using this link: youtu.be/3islrhIVBSE
Gery, a benefactor and 15-year Y fitness staff member — who reflects the munificence of the many volunteers and donors who contributed to the new building — was presented with the award named for David Sherman, the Y’s most generous capital campaign supporter, who epitomized selflessness and community commitment. She was the honor’s seventh recipient.
It was a banner year for membership, too, as registrations nearly reached the pre-pandemic, 15,000-member total. The Y also increased its financial support to over $900,000 for those unable to fully pay for their membership, and for “camperships” that allowed youth to attend Children’s Island Day Camp or on-site programs. We are committed to the Y motto that no one is ever turned away due to their inability to pay.
To underwrite those subsidies, the Y conducts an annual fundraising campaign, which I’m proud to report increased over last year’s total. We are very grateful for the many people who contribute each year, and who make the Y a high priority for their personal philanthropic gifts.
We’ve augmented the annual campaign with our second annual golf tournament in June at Tedesco Country Club, and our annual squash Raise A Racquet fundraising event.
Some of our most exciting developments, however, are only visible by boat. A new building for our youngest Children’s Island campers, ages 5-6, was completed before camp began on June 24, and two, state-of-the-art restrooms that feature eco-friendly composting toilets, will be finished this fall. This construction reflects the first phase of a $5-million campaign to upgrade the camp’s facilities and protect the environmentally vulnerable property owned by the Lynch/van Otterloo Y.
This summer our camps will serve more than 3,500 children from our primary communities of Marblehead, Swampscott and Salem. It also marks Children’s Island’s 69th year offering a timeless, technology-free summer camp experience for North Shore youth, and we look forward to celebrating our seventh decade next summer.
All these achievements would not have been possible without the strong, effective leadership of Y Executive Director Brian Flynn and his terrific, professional staff. His business acumen, wisdom,and strategic focus are the ingredients for the Y’s continued growth, effectiveness and ongoing success in delivering high-quality service and programs to the community.
Lastly, we said goodbye to four board members — Kevin Hogan, Sarah Manoog, Ryan Nestor and David Simonson, but we welcome Jeff LeClair and Sam Munoz. We thank all our board members for their time, service and commitment to the Y and its values.
We’re already looking forward to our 2024-25 board year, and I’m very proud to lead this group of highly dedicated and selfless volunteers.
Marblehead Resident Pat Milner is the Board President of Lynch/van Otterlo YMCA.
