Success Stories
Andrea found a place to recover and regain confidence
"I was homebound and unable to exercise for most of May – August. Returning to the Stonestown YMCA has been most helpful both physically and emotionally.
I am working with Ruel Lico, personal trainer, several times a week to help regain my strength and stamina. I was relatively weak when I began working with Ruel. But I feel stronger every week. I’ve also worked out on my own in the strength and conditioning room. When I returned to Theresa’s Y-Workout class last month, I initially was only able to stay for 30 minutes. I gradually increased my time there and am nearly back to full participation in the class. Seeing many familiar faces and being welcomed back by so many Y members and staff has been a real emotional boost. I am very grateful for the Stonestown YMCA’s classes, services, staff, and members in helping me with my recovery." Andrea
A World of Possibilities
“I really look forward to my weekends now because I know my mentor will be taking me to do something fun. I used to look out the window at home in Chinatown to see what other people were doing.”
Diana is eleven years old and is one of the 25 mentor-mentee pairs matched up in the Building Futures program. A vital program serving low-income Asian-American youth and their families, Building Futures uses mentoring as a way to move youth from risk to resiliency. The adult mentors work one-on-one with their youth mentees to improve academic achievement and interpersonal relationships, enhance social and family functioning, help identify negative relationship models and cope with grief and anger, and become involved with their community through volunteerism and service learning. The program is offered at no charge to the youth and their families.
Jakob knows the Y will always offer opportunities to become healthier and stronger
"Because I live in walking distance from the YMCA Senior Center, the YMCA is my second home.
I am very active, playing Bridge, enjoying all kind of lectures, having almost daily lunch. The most important activities are in the swimming pool and the gym. I am 88 years old and my belief is that these kinds of activities are prolonging my life and making me healthier, stronger, and feel better and younger. I am not a rich man, but for all the help I am getting thanks to attending the YMCA, I certainly will make a cash gift for the YMCA in my will." Jakob - Member since 1984
Veevi found a community to help achieve her dream of finishing high school and attending a UC
"I’ve gotten over a lot and I actually like going to school here. I do the work and the teachers help me whenever I need help. I keep telling myself that I might get into UC San Diego and that keeps me trying."
When Veevi Deng’s boyfriend was killed in a drive-by shooting, the native San Franciscio Excelsior teen became depressed, fell behind in her studies at Galileo High School and dropped out for two years. Eventually, a friend brought her to a YMCA supportive services program called CARE and her case manager there told her about Youth Chance High School where she is now in her second year. Veevi plans to graduate with AP courses this spring and would like to become a vetrinarian.
The YMCA introduces youth to nature.
Sherlock joined our Earth Service Corps program at Marina Middle School to fulfill a community service requirement. Having recently emigrated from China, he has struggled to learn English and adapt to a new lifestyle.
Through Earth Service Corps, Sherlock went hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and camping, all for the first time. He developed a passion for the outdoors through his participation in service projects in the Presidio. Sherlock built friendships, became engaged in his new community and is now a life-long steward of the environment. “During one project, Sherlock used a camera for the first time. He was so excited that he told me that day he wanted to be a photographer. For the rest of the school year, we let him take pictures on all of our trips and service projects.” – Sina, Earth Service Corps Coordinator