Our Mission
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Our Values
Y programs, activities and relationships teach and model Christian values—caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith are evident in all that we do. The Y is community centered. Since 2007, we’ve been listening and responding to our community.
The Y brings people together. We connect people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs.
The Y nurtures potential. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. The Y has local presence and national reach. We mobilize local communities to effect lasting and meaningful change.
Our Cause
We are committed to strengthening community. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves the community’s health and well-being and provides opportunities to give back by supporting our neighbors.
Our Impact
There is no other nonprofit quite like the Y. That’s because we have the presence and partnerships to not just promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. The impact of the Y is felt every day when an individual makes a healthy choice, when a mentor inspires a child and when a community comes together for the common good.
Our Vision
To create a community where people have the opportunity to live healthy, all youth can be safe and reach their potential and the elderly have support to live quality, independent lives.
Our Leadership
Executive Leadership
CEO
Trey Oakley ~ I work at the Y to make an impact in the community. The Y changed my life as a child and I hope through my involvement, that I can do the same for someone else.
CFO
Holly Magid ~ I work here because… It feels great to be a part of something that is making an impact in our community in so many ways. We are changing lives and I see the difference we are making in people every day.
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Avery County Associate Executive Director
Bonnie Clark ~ I love working for the YMCA because I get the chance to have a positive impact on someone’s life every day!
Mitchell County Associate Executive Director
Katie Willet ~ I am so excited to be a part of the YMCA team and the Mitchell County Y initiative. As a physical therapist in the community, I can see firsthand that bringing YMCA opportunities to Mitchell County will make a large impact on the greater health and wellness of our community. I love working with all ages, encouraging movement, building relationships, and community interaction.
Association Business Manager | HR Administrator
Edie Young discovered the YMCA as a girl, participating in gymnastics, swimming, and summer camp. She is always smiling and believes “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” (Helen Keller). She chose the Y because it feels amazing to know that what she does every day makes a difference to our shared community.
Funds Development Leadership
Director of Funds Development
Lauren Wilson ~ “I work for the YMCA because I believe the YMCA is positioned to assist the most pressing community needs at the local level while strengthening the community as a whole.” Lauren has several years of program development and evaluation experience that she uses to seek, apply, and receive funding for all of the YMCA’s programs and services through grants and annual fundraising.
Fund Development & Accountability
Dennis Betz ~ more than thirty years of nonprofit and business management experience. Sixteen years proposal and budget development, data management and program evaluation. Successfully designed innovative projects, budgets and developed proposal for and secured over $40M for nonprofit organizations.
Youth Development Leadership
Association Director of Youth Development
Jessa Cannon ~ I love working here at the YMCA because of the impact I get to help make in the lives of the children of Avery County.
Avery County Director of Youth Development
Maren Sumner ~ “I am so excited to work at the YMCA, especially as the Director of Youth Development, because I know how impactful these programs can be in children’s lives. As a child, participating in my YMCA’s programs and summer camps helped me build confidence, independence, social skills, and memories I will always cherish. I am passionate about giving children those same positive experiences!”
Mitchell County Director of Youth Development
Burton Blankenship ~ has a Bachelor’s Degree in K-12 Physical Education with 29 years experience as a physical education teacher at various levels. “I love seeing young students enjoying their after school hours completing homework, creating artwork, interacting with community volunteers and socializing with friends and staff members.”
Outreach Leadership
Community Outreach Director
Sheila Bauer ~ I absolutely love helping people. Watching their faces when we at the YMCA have helped them to make a difference in their lives is a wonderful feeling. Knowing that when you have helped to make a change for the better in someone’s life is one of the best feelings in the world. That tells me we do and can make a difference. Our mission statement is being fulfilled thru spirit, mind, and body.
Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) Coach
Anabel Zayas ~ I recently received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Appalachian State University. I want to use my degree to give back to the community by helping the Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey communities with food security and healthy living. I am determined to reach the Hispanic population in all three counties and serve as a bilingual resource for them and all their health needs.
Community Health Worker
Carlos Lopez ~ “The YMCA has a significant impact in the community as a beacon of healthy living, social responsibility, and fellowship, and I am more than glad to be a part of the team. I was brought on board to expand outreach to our Hispanic & Latino neighbors across Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey counties. My role as the Community Health Worker is to connect community members and local resources to tackle social factors affecting our overall health, such as access to healthcare, mental health, stable housing, job security, youth development, substance use prevention, etc. I am thrilled to be able to support the Y in making sure its mission and impact reach all communities in the area. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!”
Membership Leadership
Senior Program Director
Erin Spear ~ Working in the wellness center and with healthy living at the Y has been such a great opportunity to not only be the change in somebody’s life, but to help them create the change they need for themselves to feel better. I enjoy experiencing the impact the Y has in the community.
Member Services Coordinator
Jessica Hurlbert ~ “I feel so honored to work at the Y because I get to see the positive impact we have on people’s lives daily. Whether it be a program, a hand up, a class, a simple word of encouragement, or even just a smile, we get to help change lives for the better.”
Wellness/ Group Exercise Leadership
Mitchell County Healthy Living Director
Jessica Thomas ~ I enjoy working in the evidence-based health interventions and community assistance services offered by the Healthy Living Center in Mitchell County and being a part of the larger Williams YMCA of Avery team. I am a Registered Dietitian with 12 years of experience working with the local community on preventative nutrition care.
This position allows me to continue that work to include a whole body, mind, and spirit approach
Wellness Program Coordinator
Adam Phillips~ “I work at the Y because of the relationships I build with the community here. I love being a part of a healthy lifestyle change in our members and seeing how it changes their lives.”
Aquatics/ Recreation Leadership
Aquatics Director
Faith Boyette~ “I love working at the YMCA, especially the pool, because it’s one of the few places where I get to interact with members of all ages. On any given day, I get to babble with babies, argue with middle schoolers about Marvel movies, work with high schoolers, and receive advice from members older than me. I truly love working here!”
Facilities Leadership
Facilities Director
Dan Winters~ “After more than 30 years of coaching, working out, and working in gyms, the Y is a natural fit for me. I am happy to be a part of an organization that follows Christian principles of caring for and loving people. In my first few weeks at the Y, I have discovered that in addition to working out, playing, and swimming, the Y brings hope to those who are struggling and food to those who are hungry. Providence brought me to the YMCA, realizing a dream I had as a young man to be part of such an organization. The people here are fantastic! They are like-minded in that they care about people and the community, they work to improve lives, and they have a lot of fun doing it! Thankfully, I get to be a part of it!“
2024 Board of Directors
Vice Chair
Ms. Talia Freeman 2020
Dr. Kyle Wilson 2021
Mr. Josh Aldridge 2023
Ms. Janna Avery 2023
Mr. John Wilson 2023
Mr. Mark Smith 2024
