Meet Ruby Balborda
From Y Kid on the Basketball Court, to Local Businessman, to Y Volunteer Leader
Growing up at the Lawrence YMCA, Ruby Balborda found mentors and leaders who saw potential in him long before he saw it in himself. That foundation served Ruby well as he’s grown in his career, and now he pays it forward as volunteer serving on the Merrimack Valley YMA Board of Directors.
When Ruby was a sophomore at Lawrence High School, he found more than a practice space at the Lawrence YMCA. Thanks to former basketball coach Paul Neal and YMCA CEO Frank Kenneally – who then was the director of the Lawrence Y – the team was given free memberships and a safe place to train year-round. “They set all of us up for successful teenage years,” Ruby shared. “The Y became our home practice facility.”
More than basketball skills were developed there. Coach Neal saw leadership potential in Ruby and nurtured it. “I wasn’t the best player, but I organized the team and made sure everyone showed up,” he said. “Sometimes someone sees your potential before you see it yourself.”
Born in St. Martin and raised in Curaçao, Ruby moved to Lawrence at 13 when his family chose to pursue greater opportunity in the United States. Like many immigrant parents, his mother and stepfather worked multiple jobs, leaving Ruby and his siblings on their own after school. The Y provided structure, belonging, and positive direction during those critical hours.
Ruby’s first job was at the Y as an afterschool counselor. For three years, he helped children with homework, served snacks, and led games at the park. “I loved it,” he said. “We kept kids busy, safe, and supported.”
Today, Ruby is Executive Vice President at Silverio Insurance Agency in Lawrence, leading a growing team and living out a people-first philosophy: helping individuals before focusing on price. He credits mentors like Cliff Howe, a former YMCA Board member, for shaping his path. Howe hired Ruby and his teammates for their first meaningful jobs and made them feel they belonged. “He made the impossible possible for us,” Ruby said. “I’m proud to be following in his footsteps.”
Ruby and his wife, Ana, are raising a blended family with four children: 18-year-old Juliana, 17-year-old Dinaya, 11-year-old Joseph, and the newest addition, 2-year-old Aria. Juliana and Dinaya both attend Central Catholic High School and were part of the YMCA’s Adelante Scholarship program for high-achieving 8th grade students to improve their educational opportunities by guiding them through the process of applying to public and private high schools.
“By being a part of Adelante, the girls learned more about available resources that they might not have known about. It was especially helpful by giving the assistance with applying to schools. I’m a huge advocate of the program.” he said.
Since joining the Lawrence Board of Managers in 2017, Ruby has served in multiple leadership roles and now sits on the Merrimack Valley YMCA Board of Directors. As part of the Board’s leadership, Ruby has helped develop the Y’s Strategic Plan, updated organizational Bylaws, and served on the interview committee to select the next Lawrence YMCA Branch Executive Director.
“Without the Y, I don’t know that I’d have this story,” he reflected. “The Y invested in me. Now I get to give back.”
