On Thursday, January 25, the Merrimack Valley YMCA held its 143rd Annual Meeting at the Vault in Lawrence, MA. With over 160 attendees, YMCA staff and volunteers celebrated the accomplishments of the organization in its last fiscal year, especially the initiatives that the YMCA and its community were able to achieve together.
A highlight of the evening was the Y’s Volunteer of the Year Awards. The awards are an opportunity for the Y to celebrate the achievements of all of its volunteers and to recognize specific volunteers for their outstanding participation and impact on the organization. This year’s award recipients were Enterprise Bank, George Fantini, Ruby Balborda, Sara Saldana, Mark Kristiansen, John Champagne, Donna Luisi, and Tish Bachmann. Members of the Board of Directors and Branch Boards were also sworn in. The night was filled with empowering conversation, impactful stories, and most of all, community.
For over 140 years, the Merrimack Valley YMCA has been a beacon of hope in the Greater Lawrence community and has been a convener in conversations and actions to make healthy living achievable for everyone. 2023 provided the Merrimack Valley YMCA the opportunity to further strengthen and expand its partnerships, which ultimately allowed it to serve more people. This year brought more people together at the Y through membership, programs for children and teens, camp, and outreach services to 55,000 people.
The Merrimack Valley YMCA works to provide children, families and communities with the resources and opportunities they need to learn, grow, and thrive. That’s why the Merrimack Valley YMCA offers a range of programs and services to meet the unique needs of each community we serve. The breadth and scope of its program variety incorporates all ages, abilities, and diverse groups.