Merrimack Valley YMCA

The Merrimack Valley YMCA staff had a great time celebrating, connecting and learning at the Mass Alliance of YMCAs annual meeting this week at Gillette Stadium. Several of our talented staff were honored by the Alliance during the award ceremony. ?? Congratulations to: Emerging Leader ?? Silvana Sanchez Grullon ?? Luisa Perez Jimenez Unsung Hero ?? Ellen Henry Team Award ?? Child Protection Team, led by: Mary Jane Dinsmore, SCP, Cathy Flynn Redard, and Anne Whalen Director of the Year ?? Lenis Perez And of course, our CEO Francis Kenneally III snagged a picture with keynote speaker Two Time Super Bowl Champion and NE Patriots legend Rob Ninkovich!

Welcome Aliali! We're so lucky to have you on our board.

Thank you partners, friends, board members and staff who joined the Y for our 144th Annual Meeting, held at the Vault in Lawrence. Together We Thrive! We had a great time celebrating the volunteers and community partners who embody our mission and do the work needed to develop youth, support healthy families, and lead with social responsibility. Congratulations to: ?? Socratic, Inc - Community Partner of the Year And our Volunteers of the Year: ?? Donna Aldrich ??Linda Buell ??Alan Dorson ??Melanie Griffin ??Chris Sullivan This year, through memberships, camps, youth programs and social services, the Merrimack Valley YMCA impacted more than 75,000 people.?Some highlights of the Y’s work in 2024 include: -?????Provided 126,000 pounds of food to 7,300 families through the Lawrence Food pantry -?????Cared for 900 children in child care and after school care programs across five locations -?????Awarded 150 youth and teens with scholarships to attend day and overnight camps -?????Held over 13,300 swimming lessons to teach youth this life-saving skill -?????Supported 133 eighth graders through the Lawrence Y Adelante Program with skill building, mentoring and scholarship?

Join the Merrimack Valley YMCA for an evening of celebration and community for our 144th Annual Meeting! Thursday, November 14 at 6 p.m. @ the Vault, Lawrence Register: https://lnkd.in/g5YxMwEH

We proudly present the Volunteer of the Year Award to Socratic, Inc., a longstanding mentor and generous contributor to the Merrimack Valley community. Socratic, Inc., founded by Socrates De La Cruz, inspires and empowers youth to recognize, develop, and achieve their full potential. Through scholarships and support, Socratic, Inc., is dedicated to helping youth in the Merrimack Valley grow, thrive and succeed. Under the leadership of De La Cruz, Socratic, Inc., has created positive change in our community and shows a commitment to advancing youth development—a mission that is closely aligned with the work of Merrimack Valley YMCA. We are honored to recognize Socratic, Inc. for their work and dedication with this well-deserved award. Register today and join us for a night of celebration and community. Click here to register now: https://lnkd.in/g5YxMwEH

Join us on November 14, 2024, at The Vault in Lawrence, MA, for an evening of celebration and community building as we honor the impact and efforts of your YMCA in the Merrimack Valley. This annual meeting is a time to come together, reflect on the past year, and recognize the positive changes we’ve made as a community. It’s a celebration of everyone who has contributed to making a difference, and we look forward to acknowledging all that we’ve accomplished together. Register now at mvymca.org/annual_meeting

Guyotte Joins Merrimack Valley YMCA’s Senior Leadership Team as Vice President of Marketing and Communications ? Merrimack Valley YMCA welcomes new Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Stephanie Guyotte. In this role, she will oversee and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy to support the mission. She will work closely with media outlets and serve as the leader for brand awareness while also supporting YMCA membership and development goals. Additionally, Stephanie will work closely with Board members and committee volunteers to reach the organization’s long-range goals, including the Annual Meeting, Auction & Gala, and Golf Tournament. “We are excited to have Stephanie join our senior leadership team. She comes to us with a strong background in strategic communications and has a vast network in our region,” said YMCA President & CEO Francis J. Kenneally, III. “As a senior leader in the Y, she will play an integral role in defining, developing, and executing strategic and tactical plans to achieve our business and mission objectives.” This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Most recently, Stephanie served as the Associate Director of the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub Haverhill, a business incubator and coworking space driving startup innovation and entrepreneurship. Stephanie spent 15 years in communications, public relations, and community education, including five years with Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in several roles, including Director of Communications. She worked at a Boston-based public relations firm where she led communications strategy for some of the region’s most recognizable non-profit organizations, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the New England Aquarium. Stephanie started her career as a reporter at newspapers, including the Boston Globe, Eagle-Tribune, and Newburyport Daily News. Active within the community, Stephanie is the chair of the Feaster Five Road Race, part of the Merrimack Valley Striders running club, and is a youth soccer coach in Methuen, where she lives with her family.

In case you missed it: We’re thrilled to share that the Merrimack Valley YMCA was featured on NBC Boston! The spotlight was on our Andover/North Andover synchro team and our amazing ANA Synchro alum, Ruby Remati, who brought home a Silver Medal in Artistic Swimming at the 2024 Olympics! We couldn’t be prouder of Ruby!

Thank you to our Silver Sponsors, Wharf Industries, Tom Childs, The Barry Kara Foundation, The Carolan Toney Wealth Management Group, and LMCG Investments for supporting the Merrimack Valley YMCA Golf Tournament! All MVYMCA Golf Tournament and Virtual Auction proceeds benefit two transformative programs for kids: our YMCA Camps and the Tom Sager Golf Academy.

Thank you to our Silver Sponsors, The Howe Insurance Agency, Boston Hockey Academy, Innovative Roofing NH, and Carl Berger for supporting the Merrimack Valley YMCA Golf Tournament! Stay tuned for more Silver Sponsor announcements coming soon. All MVYMCA Golf Tournament and Virtual Auction proceeds benefit two transformative programs for kids: our YMCA Camps and the Tom Sager Golf Academy.