I’m sharing my Y-Story because of my mom. She was the keeper of our family tree & always told me that stories have to be told or they die & when they die, we can’ t remember who we are or why we’re here. As a little girl, I watched as she collected photos, wrote down the stories, preserved the documents & gathered information for the next generations to come. She felt a responsibility to keep the information alive. In our house, it wasn’t hard to find a box with old photos inside & she would be so happy to share all that she knew, but some of them she would tell me, if only someone had taken the time to tell who, what, where & when the faces of those photos would come to life again. Make time to save your stories, seize the opportunity when it knocks, or someday you & yours could be the strangers in the box. I know she would be proud to see me sharing my story as she knew how much the YMCA meant to me.
I never thought when I first started my job at the Marysville YMCA that I would one day want to share my story & the impact it has made in my life. When I first moved to Marysville back in 1997, my oldest son was in 2nd grade & I was 26 years old. I was full of hope & energy as I began to realize what I was passionate about & what made me happy. Little did I know then that the YMCA would become a part of who I am today.
In the beginning, I was just hoping to make some money & have a job where I could be with my son. So, I started in the child care department & worked at my son’s school doing before & after school care. Shortly on I met JJ frank, the new teen director at our YMCA. It was during this time of my life where I learned to walk by faith not by site. Before I left in 2004 to have my second baby I had the privilege of working with JJ, as I got paid to do something that matters, helping kids make the world a better place. It was our job to show them a better world our organization helps to create. As I said goodbye I truly hoped that one day my path would bring me back to the YMCA. The Days turned into months & months into years & in 2013 I returned to the Marysville YMCA. I have come to realize how fast time goes by & to make the most of each day because tomorrow is never promised. It brings me pure joy & much happiness when I get to help inspire & watch kids go camping, give back to their community thru service projects, discover & see new places on field trips & enjoy our teen center where we hang out after school doing homework, playing games, cooking, doing art & science projects & making friendships. From summer camps, travel camps, teens service projects, late nights, field trips, before & after school child care, etc. It’s where I get to make a difference in the lives of young people. I feel privileged to watch that transformation happen year after year. I enjoy watching the kids grow up through our programs & seeing the incredible young adults they become. I LOVE coming to work & being a part of something that makes our world a more generous and compassionate place.
A hundred years from now it won’t matter how much money I made or how many hours I worked or what I drove but what will matter is that I made a difference in the lives of the kids that came to the Marysville Family YMCA.
SO PLEASE ASK YOURSELF:
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE YMCA DIDN’T EXIST AT ALL?
Our Youth Development Center is here because of the donations given by many in our community & this is how we offer all our programs & transportation during the year to each kid that comes thru our door, at little to no cost. So, it is my hope that you may want to join me in continuing to provide a place where youth can come together for safe fun, with friends, adventures, seeking experiences & making memories that they will never forget.
TO LIVE TOGETHER WE MUST GIVE TOGETHER
With love & appreciation I thank you,
Tammy J. Cox
Teen Programs Coordinator
Marysville Family YMCA
Giving isn’t always easy but it sure makes people smile
Please help me raise money for the Marysville Family YMCA Annual Support Campaign for the Teen Department.
At the YMCA, we're dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. An easy way to double your contribution is through employee giving programs.
Many corporations match employee donations (or the tax deductible component of your membership) to our organization. If you volunteer with us, your employer may also provide us with a grant as a way to recognize your ongoing support.
Here is a helpful link or you can go to:https://doublethedonation.com/ymcasnoco