Ester Marsh: When you’re keen on your job

Ester Marsh: When you’re keen on your job

Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 14, 2026

When you’re keen on your job, you by no means work a day in your life.

I’ve been so fortunate and grateful for falling right into a YMCA job 28 and half years in the past. Yep, I began on the one on Fulton Street. I additionally know we had been financially challenged because it was an previous constructing with previous facilities. We are getting into our twenty fourth (!) 12 months at our Jake Alexander Boulevard tackle. This 12 months, the YMCA is celebrating its 175-year anniversary!

Since the institution of the primary U.S.-based YMCA in Boston in 1851, The Y has grown into the nation’s most influential and enduring nonprofit organizations, constructing connections and belonging in additional than 10,000 communities. And what I really like essentially the most, we work intently with the group and can reply to essentially the most urgent wants, corresponding to warming stations, emergency shelters, vaccine clinic throughout COVID and a lot extra.

All folks could make connections and get the help they should attain their full potential. I’ve met my greatest mates on the Y. Our mission is to place Christian ideas into follow via applications that construct wholesome spirit and thoughts for all. We work exhausting to implement respect, duty, caring and honesty (our 4 core values) into all that we do. And on this day and time, we want that greater than ever.

One of our large supporters is our native United Way. Because of them, our Rowan County YMCAs can run applications to assist with Parkinson’s, motor habits and energy/stability/mobility, for free of charge to our members and low price for non-members. Our different non-profits, beneficiant donors and companies are also an amazing assist. It is really humbling, and if it wasn’t for his or her generosity, we couldn’t do what we do now.

This upcoming Tuesday the seventeenth, we’re kicking off our annual help marketing campaign with an exquisite breakfast. This marketing campaign helps our Open Doors Scholarship Fund which gives scholarships for memberships and different programming the YMCA affords to kids, seniors, different people and households who qualify. Even if you happen to don’t get authorities help, you may nonetheless qualify for reductions on the YMCA.

My dad all the time instructed me (in Dutch):” You have already got a no, you may all the time attempt to get a sure”, and boy was he proper! We need to proceed to make sure a brighter future for our group. When you give to the YMCA, your present will assist folks obtain their potential, empower folks of all ages to steer more healthy existence and strengthen the bonds of the group. Together, we will tackle most of the best challenges dealing with our younger folks, our well being and our group. I’ve already donated in reminiscence of certainly one of my expensive mates whom I used to be fortunate to private practice, and to be in my life. She has been certainly one of our best supporters of our J.F. Hurley YMCA, and peace is together with her.

Ester H. Marsh is director of wholesome dwelling on the J.F. Hurley Family YMCA.