OLEAN — The rainy and dreary spring day did not put a damper on the community spirit at the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours season closer, held at the YMCA on Wednesday.
GOACC was joined in hosting by YMCA CEO Jeff Townsend and new Y executive director Stephanie Brown.
“This [job] opportunity came up and it was an expansion of the things that I’ve done in my life and the things that I’m passionate about, too,” said Brown, who has years of experience in nonprofit work and banking. “But, really, in my mind, it’s all a people business.”
Brown joined the YMCA as executive director about three months ago. She is passionate about her community, nonprofit work and health and wellness, and exemplifies the core beliefs of the YMCA.
“The YMCA’s mission is to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities,” she said. “That’s really more than a slogan — it’s actually a way of life here.”
The YMCA was founded on three pillars: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
“We are a welcoming, safe and inclusive charitable organization,” Brown said. “We work to strengthen the foundations of the communities we serve by valuing and cultivating the potential of every person.”
Currently, the YMCA is fundraising for its annual campaign that supports the scholarship fund.
“Because of this campaign, we can keep one of our most important promises, which is that no one is turned away from the YMCA due to the inability to pay,” Brown said.
Townsend has a meaningful connection to the annual campaign. Without the scholarship fund, his life would be on a completely different track.
“I need to take you on a journey,” he said, as he addressed the BAH attendees. “Some of you will be able to follow me back to the ‘80s. Others may not have been with us back in the ‘80s. Lucky!” he joked.
Born and raised in Attica, Townsend described his younger self as “energetic, rambunctious and a risk taker.” The product of a hard-working single mother, Townsend’s aunt watched him over the summer. Only one problem — she had a pool that he wanted everything to do with, yet he didn’t know how to swim.
Townsend’s mom visited their YMCA to inquire about swimming lessons for him, but quickly realized that while it was affordable, she still couldn’t make it work. The front desk attendant recognized her distress and told her about the scholarship fund — a confidential application, you provide the Y with the pertinent information and see if you qualify for a scholarship.
And so, Townsend learned how to swim at the YMCA. After taking a lifeguarding class at Brockport, he got a job lifeguarding at the Y when he came home on summer break. His love of swimming caught their attention, and soon he was teaching kids how to swim.
One day he came home and practiced his first annual campaign pitch on his mom, who began to cry at the full circle moment presented to her.
“That moment, whoever that was in 1982, who decided to write a check for $50 to the YMCA to support the scholarship fund, changed the trajectory of my life,” Townsend said. “I don’t know them. My mom doesn’t know them. We’ll never know who it was.
“But one, single act of generosity … 29 years later, working here, I’m now the CEO,” he continued. “My entire life changed because of one generous act that I can never repay.”
And at its core, that is what the YMCA is all about — supporting and nurturing connections, and community — which was the theme of the night.
The YMCA and the GOACC were joined by Attendance Fund Sponsor ACME and special guest 3 C’s Catering, which catered the event.
Rich Davis of ACME gave some business updates and announcements, and owner Jim Finch thanked the attendees for embracing the business for the past 63 years.
Attendees also heard from YMCA chief volunteer officer and locally loved baker, Ann Marie Wright; Lendel Lanier of Complete Roofing Systems, one of the GOACC’s newest members; the local Enchanted Mountain Roller Derby team, which is hosting June’s BAH; and other members.
Join the GOACC next month for the BAH Summer Season Opener, June 18, at the William O. Smith Recreation Center with Enchanted Mountain Roller Derby — and remember to check out the YMCA.
“[The YMCA] brings people together in amazing ways,” Townsend said. “It supports people in amazing ways. It gives back in amazing ways and I just feel really special and proud to be a part of that.”
